Fourth Quarterly 97th Engineer Newsletter, 2013:

Updated: 18 December 2013

Our veterans group mailing list is an opt–in/opt–out type arrangement. So long as you wish to receive our group email messages your contact information will remain in the MailChimp email box groups named: Longtrip Email List, Engr Email List, or Catkillers Email List. If you wish to no longer receive messages within any group mailing, just send me a private email and ask to be removed from the group, opt–out when you receive a group email with an available unsubscribe feature, or use the confirmation email receivced from MailChimp. Again, if you desire to be included in a group’s email list, you must complete a separate form for each group on the form and Subscribe. This is how we remain compliant with CAN-SPAM Act. Donald M. Ricks, Webmaster. Click here for: Direct Source for Sign–up Form [or use the sign–up link on the left side bar below ADMIN:]

LOST AND FOUND ENGINEERS AND FRIENDS: (August 17)

Engineers contacted this quarter (more info to follow):

If I failed to enter your name, please email me and I will quickly do so (I have been on a long trip).

97TH ENGINEER BATTALION CREST ON ORDER:

John Neil Jednoralski, who served with the 97th Engr Bn (Const) at Fort Riley, Kansas, July thru November 1970, before going to Vietnam, now has 25 sets of battalion crests ordered. Anyone desiring a set can contact Neil at Jednoralski Enterprises: jednoralski.enterprises@cox.net.

BG LEPEILBET TRAVELS TO FORT RILEY AND FORT LEONARD WOOD:

BG Michael LePeilbet recently spent several days either on the road or in the air to help set the pace and place for a planned 97th Engineer Battalion reunion in 2014. Below is a summary of his visits and accomplishments at the two installations:

"First, I went to Fort Riley and met with Dr. Robert Smith, Director, Fort Riley museums. He and I looked through old records and newspapers and copied articles pertinent to the 97th Engineers. A college student is getting the rest of available articles from newspapers (1968–1971).

Once I finished at Fort Riley I headed for Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I got there on 25 September and spoke with CSM (Ret) Julius B. Nutter, Director, Regimental Operations, and CSM (Ret) Glenn A. Stines, Regimental Store Manager at the museum. I received a form letter explaining what needs to be done to put a plaque in their Engineer Museum. While I was there I took a tour of the museum.

Next I met and had a productive conversation with Ryan Thompson, the Public Affairs Assistant who will coordinate with the Protocol Office for our reunion, 3–5 October 2014. More on that as we get it throughout the year.

Then I went by post headquarters. The Military Police Brigade was putting on a Retreat Ceremony so I went to see it. When I got there, Protocol was going to seat me in the front row as a visiting dignitary, retired BG. When they asked how to spell my name, I gave them my card from California Senior Legislature. When they saw that I was a Senior Senator they moved the entire row down one to put me first. I was announced as ‘The Honorable Senior Senator from California, Retired BG Michael A. LePeilbet.”

After the ceremony ended Brigadier General Mark Spindler, Military Police Corps Regiment Chief and U.S. Army Military Police School Commandant came over to see me. As we talked I mentioned our reunion and that I would be back. He looked forward to our next meeting and said that he would assist us if necessary. I said he would receive an invitation.

Then I headed for Huntsville and met Don Ricks for breakfast:
BG (Ret) Michael A. LePeilbet and CPT (Ret) Donald M. Ricks, Huntsville, Alabama
I left with Don a prototype hat (the one I am wearing in the photo). The production hat color will be all black, but embroidered the same [see photo below], with an Engineer castle. I’ll give a hat to each 97th soldier that comes to the reunion in October 2014.

Sincerely, Mike
BG (Ret) Michael A. LePeilbet hat design

97TH ENGINEER BN REUNION 2014 CHAIRMAN AND REUNION LOCATION DECISION:

All reunion committee member positions are not yet filled but BG LePeilbet agreed to serve as our Reunion Chairman, and he asked Don Ricks to be the Chief of Staff (operations) and Larry Castleman is the Communications Director. Whatever we are called won’t adequately identity the jobs we will perform leading up to the reunion. We need your help, advice, and active participation. Bring your wives, bring your children as this will always be a family affair.

The location selected for the planned reunion came about after much consideration of logistics issues and factors and from conversations held at Fort Leonard Wood during BG LePeilbet’s visit. At the previous 97th reunion held at Fort Wood we enjoyed outstanding support and reception from the post commander and his staff. It appears there might be at least that level of care available for our upcoming reunion. So, with that in mind, we have decided to go with a reunion schedule at Fort Leonard Wood, 2–4 October 2014. Activities and location of our reunion hotel are yet to be decided, but you can bet we will have a facility with a necessary Hospitality Room and comfortable beds. Your recommendations will always be considered and are solicited. Larry and I will commit to personally make a trip to any facility we select to confirm we have made the right choice. If you attended the last reunion, you will like the next one as well or even better.

Since this decision eliminates any formal group participation at Branson you might consider visiting that famous tourist destination as you wish on you own either before or after the reunion. The 126 miles, 2–hour trip separating that city from Fort Leonard Wood was the deciding logistics factor in favor of having the reunion at the post. We are certain there are comfortable accommodations and attractive activities to keep us smiling in the Fort Leonard Wood area, and with so many friendly assets available within our group and in the community there is great expectation of a memorable reunion. Our tentative plans are to have three evening events—a Thursday evening Pizza Night get together at the Hospitality Room or some other appropriate place; a Friday

Volunteers that want to serve on the reunion committee should contact Larry Castleman and let him know how you can best help and serve the unit. One thing we considered was that early October just happens to fall within the traditional Organizational Day period for the 97th Engineer Battalion. We hope to have at least 100-150 members attend, and if there are more we will make room. We are going to have fun!

GROWING NUMBERS:

Larry Castleman has effectively placed ads in military oriented publications that brought our web site to the attention of several new members. Thanks to the hard work of our Communications Director we now have 102 members on the email list and several who receive information via mail. Larry also sends out updated unit rosters.

I have asked Larry to keep track of his expenses as we want to reimburse his continually mounting personal assets burden gets heavier. The Engineer fund has sufficient funds to cover these expenses for the foreseeable future but we might consider a small donation sometime after the end of the year to help continued efforts. Thank you, Larry. We all appreciate your hard work!

EARLY REUNION ATTENDEE LIST:

Before the location of our reunion was established, these men and their wives indicated they will attend the reunion in 2014:

NAME:

OBITUARY FOR HERMAN LEE HALE, DECEASED 2006:

You will find an obituary and photo of Herman L. Hale, Headquarters Platoon, Company A/D 97th Engineers mechanic, 1959–62 now posted at the obituary section. Herman was a good man and a very good mechanic, always sought after by company drivers. Herman died 6 December 2006.

PLAQUE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENT:

97th Engr Bn (Const) Members,

As you know, there are plans to present a 97th EBC plaque at the Ft. Leonard Wood museum during the reunion Oct. 2014.

We need members to serve on the Plaque Committee. The Chairman is Lloyd Mullins. If you would like to be added to the committee, please contact Lloyd via this email address.

In addition, $$$ FUNDS $$$ are needed to pay for the plaque. If you would like to donate to the plaque fund, please contact Chairman Lloyd Mullins.

LARRY L. CASTLEMAN

EDITOR’S NOTE: On 17 October a test 97th EBC plaque design went via email to COL (Ret.) Jack O’Neill, Executive Director, Army Engineer Association (AEA), for comments and suggestions, perhaps prematurely, and we have not heard from Colonel O’Neill. This process could take more time than initially anticipated as the design must agree with unit lineage and history. The final recommendation for our plaque design will come from the Plaque Committee being formed. Your ideas, suggestions, and recommendations are needed by the committee who will duly consider them before final version submission. We are aware that changes to our committee’s final design submitted to AEA can still be made by that organization before approval and production of the 18 inch X 24 inch plaque:

Sample 97thEBC Plaque Design

RECENT WEB SITE ACTIVITY (17 November):

A few days ago I had an interesting afternoon of research following the receipt of a book I purchased off Amazon.com: The World War II Black Regiment That Built the Alaskan Military Highway, William E. Griggs, edited by Philip J. Merrill. That day, I located the mother of the editor in Baltimore and spoke with her in the late afternoon. She gave me her email address and asked me to send a note stating my interest in speaking with her son, so I did. Now waiting to speak with him in the near future.

Based upon what I found in the book, I began to search for any confirmation record on the commander of the regiment in Alaska, as indicated in our history document, Colonel Stephen Whippel (sic). It took a few hours of searching that name before coming up with the correct person being Stephen Carson Whipple. Our history records poorly reflect the spelling of his name as “Colonel Samuel Whippel.” Unfortunately, our only easily available history document has several such incorrect spellings and even missing names. Much is being updated in that area. We now have a photograph of Colonel Whipple


Colonel Stephen Carson Whipple was the son of another famous California native, Stephen Girard Whipple. Stephen Carson Whipple was trained in engineering at the University of California and at Berkley. Captain Stephen C. Whipple was Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics at West Virginia University at Morgantown, on a leave of absence from 1932 to 1933. He returned to United States Service with troops, February 1, 1933, but was also a member of that university’s summer staff in 1933.

During the month of October I made contact with three families of officer’s who served in command positions within the battalion. I have posted the names of those men at the obituary page and have received indications from those families that there are valuable historical records available. The family of Colonel Fernand M. Achée (another given and surname incorrectly spelled) revealed there is a battalion scrap book in their possession from the period their father served and immediately before Colonel Harold Myron took command and made the move to Germany. This scrap book is similar to the one received from Stephen Dupont which contains significant photographs and a text index. This will be an exciting gift and historical item for the web site.


Based upon my findings I have changed three history pages now posted on the site (In Alaska, France, and Appendix I & II), and I’ll change/update the graphic prepared for the unit plaque when I have time. The changes are so numerous that I cannot brief you on each one. Please review the pages, to include one PDF file added to the In Alaska page titled, Building The Road To Alaska.

Don Ricks

1LT WILLIAM EDWARD GRIGGS, ALCAN HIGHWAY PHOTOGRAPHER, 97th EGNINEER BATTALION:

1LT William E. Griggs died 26 October 2009. His obituary and abstracted biographical information is now posted at the obituary page:

Sample 97thEBC Plaque Design