Invitation to the 2019 Boston Reunion of the 31st Engineer Battalion Association

Official announcement of the 31st Engineer Battalion Association Reunion in Danvers, Massachusetts October 3-6, 2019

The Veterans of the 31st Engineer Battalion Association cordially invite you and yours to gather and rekindle the bond of brotherhood, share stories of our service together and enjoy the attractions and spectacular beauty of Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding area.

Boston (as in Boston Tea Party), Lexington and Concord (The Shot Heard Around the World) are where the whole American Revolution started in 1775. Come and visit the birthplace of our nation!

This represents a change from our original venue for the 2019 reunion, which was to have been Williamsburg, Virginia. The unexpected passing of our fellow 31st EBN veteran Harley Brinkley, who was heading up the planning for Williamsburg, made it necessary to change to our #2 most popular choice, which was Boston.

LOCATION: Double Tree by Hilton Boston North Shore, 50 Ferncroft Rd, Danvers, Massachusetts 01823.

AMENITIES: Free parking, free WiFi, 32-inch TV with HBO and on-demand movies, free area shuttle (within a 5-mile radius). Hotel restaurants (Tradewinds & Tradewinds Lounge). Indoor pool, and the Atlantis Sports Club 24 hour fitness center.

AREA ATTRACTIONS: Besides being in the Boston metropolitan area, there are many local attractions close to the hotel.

 The Ferncroft Country Club and 18 hole Golf Course.

 CoCo Key Water Park.

 Alfalfa Farm, a historic farm that mixes New England charm with the best wine making technology.

 Village of Salem, with its history of ghosts, goblins and witches, plus the Peabody Essex Museum.

 The town of Gloucester.

 Boston, Lexington and Concord.

(Trips will be organized to both of these venues). Visit the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau website www.bostonusa.com for tourist information. 2

ACCOMMODATIONS: A block of 70 rooms are reserved with a cutoff date of Tuesday, 3 September 2019 for individual reservations. You can reserve a King or Double Queen bed for $139.00 plus 11.7% tax. A 15% discount at the Tradewinds inhouse restaurant will be honored for the period 3 October through 6 October (alcoholic beverages not included). Rates are available 3 days prior and 3 days after the Reunion dates.

RSVP: Make room reservations as soon as possible, but not later than 3 September 2019, by calling (800) 222-8733. (Explain that you are with the 31st Engineer Battalion Reunion).

TENTATIVE AGENDA: To be supplied at a later date.

BATTALION WEBSITE: 31stengineerbattalion.com is ready for viewing, get updates on the reunion and past photos and postings. Webmaster – June Robbins, (941) 348-4925 junekeywest@yahoo.com. Please get to know the site and contribute information/photos if you wish.

POINTS OF CONTACT: Wilson (Louis) Brown, Director, (508) 294-5869, wilsonbrown46@yahoo.com ; Warren Dubois, Treasurer, (573) 729-8157, dubois@embarqmail.com.

2017 Reunion is October 5-8 in Colorado Springs, Colorado!

The 31st Association’s mission is to encourage our 31st Engineer Battalion Veterans family to reunite again, rekindle our brotherhood, share stories about our time together then and now; to enjoy fellowship with old friends and new; and to enjoy the tourist attractions and amenities. Our next reunion is in Colorado Springs, Colorado in October 2017.

The 2017 reunion is less than a year away… start making your plans now!

After much research by the planning team, a hotel has been selected: Hotel Elegante Conference and Event Center. We have secured a Sales Agreement with the Hotel Elegante. The hotel appears to be an elegant and military-friendly.

Details to follow shortly. Look for an email this week from our Executive Director, Leo Farias! We look forward to seeing you in Colorada Springs!

If You Build It, They Will Come

By Paul Sharp

HHC, 31st Engineer Battalion (Combat), US Army, Vietnam

Our battalion of the 31st Engineers was attached to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Blackhorse base camp in 1968, during the Vietnam War. Base camp was about 6 miles from Xuan Loc village, which was about 30 miles east of Saigon. During our first few weeks we were busy with our regular duty as well as trying to improve our living quarters (Army tents stretched over wooden frames) which was referred to as “the hooch”. Our hooch provided a home away from home for me and my buddies James D. (“JD”) Gillis, Douglas Leo Neely, Sam J. Van Riper and Joseph P. (“Joe”) Shahum.

After duty hours we typically spent time cleaning gear and weapons, writing letters to loved ones back home and reading letters after mail call. We spent time just talking with our buddies about the day’s challenges as well as what the next day might bring and routinely drank a few or more beers. In base camp time passed slowly and we constantly sought various ways to avoid the boredom. We had some fun playing poker, talking, laughing and reliving the events of the day.

On evening before dark I noticed a couple soldiers outside, playing catch. I walked over to them and mentioned to them how smart they were to bring their gloves and a ball. They told me they got the gloves and ball from the supply section. The next day I went to supply to see what kind of equipment they had. I was surprised to find gloves, balls, catcher equipment, bases … even a home plate! They had everything you needed to play a softball game.

The next morning I excitedly mentioned what I’d found to Lt Leo Farias, the company commander and suggested that we capitalize on the find by building a softball field for the troops – it would give us something to do in the evening, help keep us in shape, great for morale and would be fun and a distraction from the war.

Lt Farias was immediately supportive, but wondered where we would find an area that could be used for the ball field. Having already checked out several potential areas, I showed him the best one I’d found and explained how it could be done. He agreed that it would be good for the morale of the men and arranged for me to present the proposal to Colonel Patterson, the Battalion Commander.

Farias jumped right on it and a short time later he informed me to report to Headquarters to talk to the commander. Colonel Patterson listened intently until I was finished and then responded, “That sounds good to me, but where can we find space for a field?” I gave him my thoughts and he asked me to show him the exact area. I pointed out the area and a few trees which we’d have to take down and showed him how we could lay out the field. He asked me if I could get enough men to volunteer their time to accomplish and I assured him that I could. He said “OK; approved! You are in charge of getting it done ASAP” and that he would arrange to have a grader at our disposal the next morning at 0700 hours to remove the trees. He finished our conversation with, “I’m looking forward to playing some softball myself, Sharp; as I’m sure the men will.” With an emphatic “Yes sir; thank you, sir!” I was quickly out of his office headed to pass the good news to the rest of the guys.

A number of men from Headquarters Company promptly volunteered to help build the ball field and work began immediately. We worked on the field as time permitted and all had fun doing it. It was only a few days later that we had finished the field, complete with a chain link back stop, wooden benches and lime to mark the foul lines. What great excitement we all shared working on this together!

Our first game began with 2 teams: Officers versus enlisted men! The game was marked by varying levels of athleticism and lots of good sportsmanship. We urged our team on and razzed our opponents, laughing and kidding all the while. That first game on our new ball field provided us a venue and sport just like we’d find if we were back home, even though we were very far from home.

That was just the beginning of our ball games. As the word spread, other teams comprised of 31st Engineer Battalion soldiers were formed and the great fun continued, long after I left my buddies to go back home. We all said it didn’t matter who won and I suppose that was true. At the end of the game both teams left the field with heads held high, still discussing the high and low points of their efforts that day.

I will always remember that softball field and the times we played ball in that very tough place during that very hard time. You learn a lot about a person during an athletic endeavor and our efforts on that field taught me much about those with whom I served, regardless of their rank or years of service. The undertaking provided substantial exercise in which all the men could take part – on an equal basis. It increased morale, built esprit and provided a positive focus for what would follow a tough day operating heavy combat engineer equipment in the hot southeast-Asian sun.

Those games on that ball field brought us all closer together. I will always remember my comrades and buddies, young as we were; but also those we did not know so well, but lived and served with us in Vietnam – the great officers, NCO’s and men we were with every day. We laughed with each other and we cried for all those who were wounded and those who died. Although far from home, we cared for all who served with us at Blackhorse base camp no matter what rank, color, or religion.

We were a Band of Brothers, eternally bonded with those who served our country in the past, those who serve now and those who will serve America in the future.

LTC Jason Railsback attends the 2013 Las Vegas reunion

Article by LTC Jason Railsback, CO, 31st Engineer Battalion

Vietnam veterans who served with the 31st Engineer Battalion held their biannual reunion in Las Vegas, NV.  It was my honor and privilege to attend as the current battalion commander but also as a representative of Fort Leonard Wood and the Engineer Corps*.  I decided before even getting on the plane that these men would be old timers, telling war stories – trying to relive their glory days.   Sure, I might learn a little about my battalion’s lineage but this would probably end up being just a nice vacation for me and my wife.   I couldn’t have been more wrong.  Instead, I met a vibrant group of strong, relevant leaders active in their communities and government.  Nearly all these men experienced tough, hard combat and many of them were wounded and yes, they did have some incredible stories.  I am amazed how much their stories mirror mine albeit separated by 30 years and even more amazed how war, and only war, creates a lifelong unbreakable bond.

In early 1968, the 31st Engineer Battalion was declared combat ready and cleared for overseas movement. The battalion’s equipment was delivered by rail to Beaumont, Texas for transport to Vietnam aboard cargo ships and the Soldiers were given a short leave to say farewell to family and loved ones.  The trip to Vietnam took 22 days by sea aboard the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) transport ship USNS Barrett.  With one stop for water and fuel in Naha, Okinawa, the Barrett arrived at Vung Tau, Vietnam where the Soldiers were transported close to the beach aboard US Navy landing barges, then waded ashore.

31st Engineer Battalion (Combat) April 1968 landing in VungTao, Vietnam
31st Engineer Battalion land in Vung Tao

The Soldiers were then flown by C-130s to Blackhorse Base Camp near Xuan Loc where they provided engineer support to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and III CTZ Airmobile units.

Although our Nation has been at war for over 12 consecutive years and Soldiers now routinely have four or more combat deployments, I have yet to see a bond as strong as these men share.  Whatever this bond is, it brings these heroes back together every two years.  They laugh, tell stories, cry, and heal together.  The stories shared are not of death and loss – they are funny and lack political correctness.  As we laughed together, I could just make out a hint of pain or maybe fear behind the eyes of the long lost 18 year old boys sent far from home to fight a war they didn’t understand.

I am still overcome by the gratitude these men and their families showed me for attending and for serving.  These Soldiers who gave so much and were given so little by the country they love are some of the most generous, kind, proud, and resilient people I might ever meet.  I am both inspired by their service and encouraged by their willingness to forgive.  Being a part of this reunion will surely be one of the most important contributions I make during my time in command.

* LTC Jason Railsback incurred no cost to the government, using personal funds to attend.

Article by LTC Jason M. Railsback

Commander, 31st Engineer Battalion (One Station Unit Training)

31st Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, MO

31st Engineer Battalion Reunion article by LTC Jason Railsback, CO of the 31st Engineer Battalion