97th ENGINEER BATTALION (Construction)
DYNAMIC YEARLY E–NEWSLETTER, 2017
Final Updated: 22 December 2017
Newsletter discontinued: 1 january 2018
LIST OF ARTICLES: (click to go direct)
DEAR EDITOR:
We received a photo from Lynn Hayes (Command Aircraft Company (CAC), December 1968–December 1969) for posting on the CAC roster back in 2016, which was taken some time after Vietnam (LTC Hayes in that photo). Well, stranger revelations have come to me as webmaster over the years but none as memorable as this one. This officer served a short time with Lynn in CAC and he later served in a unit in which many of you served in the 97th (I also maintain the CAC web site). Here is part of the email sent to me from Lynn Hayes, just before the end of the 2016: D. Ricks
My reason for writing to you is that I also was in the 97th Engineer Battalion (Construction) and seeing you in several of the photos it appears that you and I have crossed paths on several occasions. When I left Vietnam in December 1969 and reported for assignment to Fort Riley, Kansas, I was reassigned to 24th Infantry Division, later redesignated the 1st Infantry Division. As an Engineer Branch captain I expected to be assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion; however, that did not happen. The Battalion was already overstaffed with officers and the decision was to further assign me to the 1st Infantry Brigade.
Yes, I did complain; however, the assignments officer told me that if something come up for an engineer officer he would call me. Long story short, I went straight in as the Brigage’s S1, with about 2 weeks over lap with the departing senior Major, just before the Division deployed to Germany on Reforger 2. We were in Germany for 41 days, and, about three weeks after our return from a very successful (their words) deployment, the brigade commander called me into his office. I was reassigned as battalion executive officer of the 97th Engineers (a big step for a junior captain), where the commander, MAJ Martin Rogers, and I worked hard to pass a previously failed command maintenance inspection (occurred under another commander). Later, when the commander of C Company left the Army, I was given command of that company.
LTC Pressley Ancil R. Pressley assumed command of the 97th Engineer Battalion (Construction) in late January 1971. Marty Rogers went to Brigade Operations, and Major Orbinson came in as the exceutive officer, who was the cousin of Roy Orbinson the singer.
Story and photos of the CH 54 lifting the slide for life in place, additional details:
This aviation service was procured by me thru a friend that I met in Vietnam when CAC moved to Vung Tao (after we began getting a lot of mortar and Ketusha rocket attacks at our previous base at Long Thanh North). We CAC guys moved in with the Hill Climbers at Tiger Towers Bachelor Officer Quarters. At Fort Riley, and since I was still an aviator and was required to maintain minimum flying skill hours, I checked out a T–41 and flew to Topeka to met up again my friend and former Vung Tao roomate, who was then flying the CH54 helicopters for the Kansas National Guard. I asked if his chopers could lift the slide for life and set them into the post holes that C Company had already dug. He firmly said they could and would! When the CH 54 arrived and placed the slide for life, it made a lot of noise and thus alerted the Group Commander. He was concerned that the Group would have to pay for the lift and I told him that the Guard was using this as a training mission. That brought a broad smile, and I had his approval.
I finally found some photos regarding the Engineer Ball at Ft Riley:
Lynn Hayes, LTC, USA Retired
- C Company Change of Command photo. CPT Lynn Hayes is on the right.
- Command photo of CPT Hayes that was posted in Battalion Headquarters with all the company commanders.
- Couple on the left were from the 1st Engineer Battalion and the small woman in the center is my wife, Billie Hayes. The handsome couple on the right is MAJ Martin Rogers and his wife, Cathy.
- The Engineer Ball: The lieutenant on the left was the C Company Heavy Equipment Platoon Leader, center is LTC Ancil Pressley and right is CPT Lynn Hayes.
- 5th and 6th photos are of me reenlisting 97th Engineer soldiers in my office. (Note the 97th. OJO DE DIOS on the side of my file cabinet that my wife made for me.)
REUNION RELATED: (30 June)
We have 34 on our growing list of those who indicate they will attend the planned 97th Engineer Reunion in North Carolina next year. George and Anna Gail Workman are the volunteer reunion chair persons. If you wish to attend or lend a hand, please let Larry Castleman or me know and we will get you connected to the right person. We will pass on additional information when available. Look for a good time coming!
Don Ricks, Editor
TREASURES FROM STORAGE:
It’s a story which the photo I sent you helps confirm, I was one skinny dude back in the day. The photo and a bunch others were found by my buddy, Bill Burrows, in a stashed away box and he had them printed. It’s always fun to stumble on such old pics.
Harry Puncec, Company C, Verdun, 1959–1962
DEATH OF BILL LIZYNESS, ROCKWOOD, MICHIGAN, 10 OCTOBER 2017:
"Bill Lizyness from C Company, 97th Engineers, passed away. As I recall he hung with Dick Machuta (long time deceased), and Bill Clinton. They played guitars and had a little band." Harry Puncec
TASCOM TIMES NEWSPAPER HISTORY:
Within the 97tyh Engineer Battalion History, at Appendix 1, Commanding Officers of the 97th Enginners,page 3, is a photograph taken in 1960 by a TASCOM Times photographer. Here are some personnel who were at that time assigned to TASCOM:
I will attach some personal photos that I still have from Verdun.
The first — file name jacknfrance62.jpg — is me (left) and John Szary, who was editor of the Tascom Times when I got there and when I left in 1963.
The second — file name coffee–group.jpg — two guys on I left don’t remember; MSgt Fred Tando, NCOIC of Public Information Office and our boss; next to him is SFC Rudy Weide, second NCOIC; SP5 Szary, editor, Curvin O'Reilly (just passed away last year); and me. This was taken about 1962 at the Verdun NCO club, to celebrate the retirement and rotation of Sgt. Tando.
Jack Coffee
