Dear fellow Vietnam Vets,
No doubt you and I, and all the men of the 31st share a brotherhood, and a special bond based on our experiences, our accomplishments, and our service to country during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American history. As our 2017 Reunion draws near, I am reaching out to former members of B Company, 31st Combat Engineer Battalion, Vietnam.
In 1968 during the Battalion’s first year of deployment to Vietnam, Camden McConnell and I each served in succession as Company Commander. In friendship, Camden and I respectfully encourage your attendance and participation in the 2017 Reunion, October 5-8, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The location is Hotel Elegante Conference and Event Center, 2886 South Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, 80906 or on-line www.hotelelegante.com. If you know of others who served with you and might be interested in attending the Reunion, please reach out to them or contact me and I’ll do everything I can to connect with them. Other points of contact are Leo Farias, Director, 31st Combat Engineer Battalion Association, (361) 815-7749. Leo is overseeing the 2017 Reunion and has planned an attractive program of events and accommodations.
One other point of information: PBS (public television) will broadcast a documentary about the Vietnam War on affiliated stations across the country in mid-September. Filmmaker Ken Burns has produced many notable and award-winning documentaries. Two of his most significant are “The Civil War,” and “Baseball” – both were well-researched, and presented the perspectives of the common man. As a former member of the board of directors of PBS in northern California, I conveyed my views to Mr. Burns and his team last year. In response, his team asked for a couple of images of the men of the 31st in a noncombat setting. They are attached to this email. I don’t know if they will be used or not in the film or in promotional materials, but I wanted you to see them. I believe the pictures were taken around April-May ’68.The location is Black Horse Base Camp, Xuan Loc, headquarters of the 31st and the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. You may recognize some of these men.
In closing, I hope you hold your service and your memories as dear as I do.
I look forward to seeing you in October.
Best Regards,
Stephen L. Johnson
415.320.2295 Cell
