When : Wednesday, May 28, 2008 to Sunday, June 1, 2008

Where : The Brookwood Inn 800 Pittsford Victor Road Pittsford, NY 14534 800 - 396 - 1194

Cost: Special 82nd room rate is $109.00 plus tax. Available 3 days before or after the reunion. Non-smoking rooms available upon request.

The Brookwood Inn is located ten miles southeast of downtown Rochester, NY near exit 27 of I-490 west. Check-in time is at 3:00pm and check-out is at 11:00am. The hospitality room opens at noon on Wednesday, May 28.

The reunion committee reports that this is a very nice hotel and that rooms are very spacious. Parking is free and they operate two vans as courtesy shuttles and they will pick up and deliver our flyers. The airport is just 15 minutes away. Pittsford is a very historic town with many small shops and restaurants and the free hotel shuttle makes many trips a day into town.

Thursday's plans are for what Dorothy Shanley calls a "do whatever the hell you want to do" day.

Friday we will take our Erie or Barge Canal 3 hour luncheon cruise from 1:30 to 3:30. We will pass through one of the locks on the canal as we dine. All attending widows of the men of the 82nd will be the guests of the 82nd Association as our small way to honor them and to thank them for attending our reunion.

Saturday morning at 10:00 will be our business meeting followed by our popular raffle. Don't forget to bring an item to donate to the raffle. The evening will include our annual banquet with our usual fine dining and dancing.

Don't forget to fill out the enclosed reservation form and mail it to Doc Molloy and include you check for the activities that you will be attending. Make your hotel reservations directly with the hotel via the phone at 800-396-1194 or mail them to The Brookwood Inn, 800 Pittsford Victor Road, Pittsford, NY 14534. Be sure to mention that you are with the 82nd to get our special rate of $109.00 per night.

Bring your children or better yet, have them bring you. At last years reunion we had eighteen Associate members attend and they brought ten spouses with them for a total of 28 "youngsters" in attendance and we had a great time together. We want to see you there!

Here's Doc Molloy's account of how important Associate members have become to us: "Three years ago the five Gallagher sons decided that they would do all the work needed to host our annual reunion. Among them they did all the work needed and we had a great reunion. Many other of our children decided they would like to attend that reunion and it was decided to create a new category of "associate" members for those who want to help keep the spirit of our battalion alive into the future. At that time we had approximately a dozen children attend that reunion, many with their spouses and paid dues to become associate members. Last year two of our new associate members hosted the reunion in Salem, Mass. They did a great job and the number of children attending grew even more, one son flew from Texas to be with his father. They included activities of interest to the younger crowd. Our associate membership has increased to over 35. Some associates attending were the children of a deceased member, who were interested in learning more about their father's life in the army. Some stayed for the 4 night reunion, while others stayed only one or two nights. They were allowed the same discount room rate as members. A few attended but did not stay over.

This year the Husted sons are hosting the 2008 reunion. Since we have so many members living in the Northwest New York area, we expect to see an even greater number of children to be at this reunion. Some may be accompanying their father; some may come to keep the 82nd spirit alive. We encourage all children to join with us. If they have any questions about attending please ask them to phone any of our officers for an answer".

Sick Call

Gene Hoagland's children emailed us in October "that he had a stroke while living in Leesburg, FL. He has since been in a rehabilitation facility, also in Florida, where he has recuperated very well. He is walking with a walker for short distances. He is still very exhausted from the stroke but never the less is ready to go fishing. He has now moved from Florida to Virginia to live with his daughter and son-in-law. As far as we can tell he is very happy here with us. At 84 we are looking forward to enjoying many more years with our father".

ED: They are located at: 325 Swisher Rd, Staunton, VA 24402.

Here is Ray Rubin's report to Doc Molloy: Ray lived in Arizona where he was one of the premier silversmiths until he was diagnosed with cancer. About five years ago he moved to Minneapolis to be near his children. "I was in the hospital for about 30 days and then the nursing home for another 10, so I haven't been in the mood or available to keep in touch. I think I am better but the doctor I had gave up on me. He didn't know that I was in the service for five years that I received the bronze star or the Purple Heart so I guess he figured I would give up. I am now back at the vet's hospital with a doctor who thinks I might have some life left. I have not written to any of the gang, so maybe you might tell them why they haven't heard from me. I will try to keep you informed".

Al Ligammari called Bob Fugler to wish him a Merry Christmas, request a new 82nd CD and to finally let us know that after all these years that there are two m's in Ligammari. Al is now legally blinded by macular degeneration but hopes to get to our reunion in Pittsford if he can get a ride with someone.

ED: Who will volunteer to help Al?

On November 26, Bob Fugler learned "that I have some pneumonia and some congestive heart failure, which has caused the shortness of breath that I have been experiencing. Hospitalization is not necessary at this time. My vision is lousy and I cannot drive or read. Annilies is typing this message. I will go to the Braille Institute Office in Anaheim next week to get magnifiers, which are strong enough to help. The steroid injection in my neck last Wednesday seems to have helped relieve some of the arthritic pain. If this solution does not last, I will have to consider neck surgery. My spinal stenosis problem in my back continues but it is low on my list of priorities right now".

ED: We are sorry to hear of these folk's ailments and we keep them on our prayer list for help in their struggles to "keep prevailing".

Roster Changes

Peggy Preston has a new phone number, (480) 268-9372, and hopes lots of folks will use it.

Francis Smigielski's widow, Angeline is added to our Auxiliary Membership at: 230 North Ave, West Seneca, NY 14224, (716) 668-6768.

With Doc Molloy becoming our Treasurer we needed a second person to be able to sign our checks. Joanne Molloy has volunteered and is now serving, until our next business meeting, as our Assistant Treasurer.

ED: Thanks Joanne.

Honor Roll Additions

On September 19, 2007 Jim Morris, son of our Maj. James L. Morris, emailed us the following: " My dad passed away at 3 am this morning. There will be no services per his wishes and his body has been donated to the Texas Technical University Medical School. I am looking at his picture in uniform and his Silver and Bronze Stars above my desk now. He was 89 and we don't know if it was the Parkinson's or the Prostrate Cancer that took him, but he is in a far better place now and he and mom will walk together again".

Our Commander, Bob Fugler called Jim and reported, "I am sorry to have to report that Maj. Morris died today. He was 89 years old and had had prostate cancer for several years, along with Parkinson's. Maj. Morris was Executive Officer and later Commander of our Battalion.

I talked with his son today and conveyed condolences on behalf of the 82nd Association members. He appreciated the call very much and expressed his and his dad's high regard for our organization and it's members. As requested by the family, a donation will be made by the Association to the American Cancer Society, in Major Morris' memory".

Henry "Hank" Urban has moved into an assisted living home after Betty Jene passed away on November 20, 2007. He gets around pretty well with a walker and enjoys hearing from his WWII buddies. He was thrilled with a visit from Fred Harned on December 11th. "Hammering Hank's" phone number is now (814) 444-1722. Hank batted .450 & .435 in leading his Somerset County league and was invited to try out with Philadelphia Phillies but chose to team up with Betty Jene instead.

ED: Good choice Henry!

Mick and Lloyd Kenyon reported that Bill Nichols' Christmas card had the sad news that Bill's Carrina had passed away last March.

ED: We are sorry to give you the above news of our member's passing. We extend our deepest sympathies and love to their families and loved ones.

Help Wanted

Bob Fugler got a phone call "from Jay Wisler, son of Donald Wisler, now deceased. He lives in Tampa, Fl and wants to contact someone who remembers his father, from "A" company. His father joined us in Fromme, England and was sent home from Germany to be hospitalized in February 1945". Please contact him with anything you may remember about his father at: jaybo@tampabay.rr.com.

ED: Who from "A" Company can help him?

Randy Stutzman of stutzman726@wmconnect.com wrote Ed Husted: "I am trying to get Army medals for my father, Lee F. Stutzman. He was in the first platoon of "A" Co. 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion. My father just turned 84 this past April and we have been talking about him being in the War and what his medals stand for. I have contacted our local Veteran's office here in Somerset, PA. I have sent information and his discharge papers to National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. but they are telling me all the documents were ruined in a fire. They wanted his discharge papers sent, which I did send along. What do I need to do to receive these medals? Also, I would like to know what some of his patches stand for on his uniform. He has a patch of a Seahorse, which is red, white and blue and another patch of what I am not sure of, an eagle, I think, on top of a rifle? Would you know if he was eligible for any Unit awards and M1 rifle EXP and Carbine EXP? And lastly, would you know how he was wounded, on July 30,1944, France? If you could help me it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time".

ED: Ed Husted told Randy to get in touch with Henry Urban and/or Ernie Rossi for stories about his dad.

Happy Perry, Julius's son tells us how he got his dad's records a couple of year's ago. " You should go to your local VA office and bring their discharge papers with you. A family member can request them as well for a father or grandfather. You will have to fill out the request form and mail it to: National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records), 9700 Page Ave. St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. It will take about a year to get them back but during your wait they will notify you from time to time about the status of your request. I can again be reached by email at happyperry05@yahoo.com".

And Doc Molloy adds: "Full name, serial number, social security number and home address at the time of entry into the service, will expedite the information, however not all are required".

ED: Thanks guys. This answers the most asked question.

Mail Call

Muncha and John Davis wrote, "If you need a little bit of news for the newsletter, we have a little bit. John and I have been living in this Erikson Retirement Community for a year now and loving every minute. We both joined a Bocce Ball team and we play Bingo every Saturday. Our youngest granddaughter is pregnant, due in April and it's a girl, so that will make us great grandparents for the first time. We are tickled pink".

ED: Thanks and congratulations on your upcoming April event, ours will be in July.

Virgil and Ann Cooper wrote how Ann's nephew, John C. Burch, in the fall of 2002, found the website http://www.486.org/BS834/Paris.htm and found a picture of the B-17 bomber, "Blue Streak" going down in pieces and flames over Germany that had been on the London and New York papers and also in the book Classics of the Air. The website listed the crew and there was a John C. Burch listed. Imagine losing a brother in the war and having no details about how it happened and then seeing it in a picture over 50 years later on the Internet?

Ernie Rossi keeps right on biking, "on the sixth of August I had a motorcycle accident which threw me off my motorcycle and I landed on my left side, injuring my left leg. I was a semi-invalid for six weeks but yesterday I was once again able to "throw a leg across" and ride my motorcycle again. Enjoyed every moment of the 19 mile ride but had to cut it short due to approaching bad weather.

I will no longer have PeoplePC.com as my Internet service provider due to the fact that they are really unreliable. If possible, I would like to see a listing of all the members email addresses so that I may be able to contact them when I get up and online.

Glad to read that the reunion was such a success".

ED: Sorry about your accident. Glad you have recovered and will be back online again. Doc Molloy is probably your best source of email addresses, mine are all screwed up.

Jim Morris, the Major's son, has given us his new address at 1230 Groesbeck St., Stephenville, TX 76401-5827. He says that this is his last move and would like email addresses of the 82nd folks. I suggest that he and others who would like the list to contact Doc Molloy at eyollom@aol.com. He is our treasurer and keeps everything up to date. He then raised an interesting question for us, "Dad left me a big wooden box that he brought back from the War. In it are a German sword, Dagger and a bayonet. Used to have 3 German flags of some sort, but they went up in smoke. Anyway, what do you think I should do with them? Is there a place that collects this stuff? I am not talking immediately. Just want to know what to do with them when the time comes".

I responded, "First, I would make absolutely sure that no one in the family wanted them. Second, if after you cleared it with the family, I would see if any of the many museums would like them. I have donated various stuff, including uniforms, to the museum at Fort Leonard Wood, which is the Corps of Engineers Headquarters and training center. There are also others like the D-Day one in Bedford, VA, the Army one in New Orleans and the Army Historical Foundation hopes to build one at Fort Belvoir in VA".

Ed Husted has kept us posted on his correspondence with Francis Smigielski's widow Angeline both of West Seneca, NY as he answers their question. Steven has joined our Associate Membership and hopes they can attend our Pittsford reunion to meet "A" Co. friends of Francis'.

Bill White has been hoping to attend our 2008 reunion with his son Dick, the Methodist minister. Wouldn't you know it, we picked the week of Dick's Annual Methodist Conference so they will miss our 2008 affair and are starting to hope for 2009.

Gordie Cohen flew into Boston from Texas to meet his father, Joe Cohen, who flew in from California, to attend his second 82nd reunion in Salem. He writes: "this was my father's and mine, second reunion. Like the first one, it was great fun! This time, though, it was not filled with "what will it be like?" thoughts. It was filled with anticipation for both of us. Anticipation of seeing friends for last year, some were folks dad knew 60 years ago, some not. For me, all were new friendships made just last year.

For those of us, the follow-on generation(s), it is amazing to watch the vivid recall of events of 60+ years ago. I think that a certain "spurt" of youth appears. For me, watching my father enjoy himself with old friends and being enlightened by the many stories told expands both my knowledge of the past and my knowledge of my father. I think that keeping this organization going is essential and that everyone's children and beyond should try to attend. See you in May '08".

ED: Thanks Gordie. It will be good to see you folks again.

82nd Plaques

Some years ago we had our 82nd plaque installed in the Hall of Honor at the Corps of Engineers Headquarters in Fort Leonard, Missouri. Approximately 40 or 50 smaller, 7 ½" x 9 ½" metal on 9 ½" x 12' board, were sold by the museum store. They went fast and now there seems to be more interest in them. Doc Molloy and Bill White have been working on trying to locate a manufacturer that can do a good job of reproducing them. Bill thinks he has one who can do a good job. Last year's quote was $132.00 plus shipping and this years will be more like $200.00 or more. If we could get 10 to 20 orders we could go ahead with it. Contact Doc if you are serious about wanting to buy one and willing to put up the money in advance.

Web Results

Our website that is updated and maintained by Todd Husted is working wonders for us. It brings in new members and teaches about old ones.

Here is a great example: Thomas K. Condon, tkc5@optonline.net, wrote "my grandfather was the photographer for the 82nd Engineers during the Europe Campaign in WWII. With the recent sale of my grandmother's home, my father came across an old box of photos taken during the war from 1943 to 1945. We are still going through and scanning them, but we came across this link on your website. My grandfather took this picture. I have attached a similar photo of the same soldiers with the helmet on: http://www.82ndengineers.org/photo20.htm . Can you please send more information regarding this site and the photos on it? The list of members does not include my grandfather's name; perhaps we can have it added. My grandfather was, Thomas Albert Condon from Brooklyn, NY".

We aren't familiar with the Condon name and no one seems to know that we had an official photographer, but the picture he sent was of our Lt. Ollie Miller from Horse Branch, KY and "C" Co. Capt. Walter Anderson, the "C" Co.'s Commander. He has to be legitimate and we are adding him to our Honor Roll.

Francis Turmo of 106 Pleasant Ridge Dr, W. Hurley, NY, 12491, (845) 679-9508 and turmo@hvc.rr.com, is the nephew of Grace Sorenson Biggs, who is our Lt. Anson Biggs widow, has contacted us via the website. They have found her a nice assisted living home that Grace likes in Bethlehem, PA and are now working on finding the proper home for her possessions. He is making a scrapbook of Anson's military pictures and papers for the three grandchildren which he will also convert to a CD. Hopefully there will be some things we can help each other with, like identities and locations.

Lisa Radunz is the granddaughter of Cpl. Harlen Eddy Radunz or "shorty" of the 1st Platoon of "A" Co., living at 173 McNight Rd, #305, St. Paul, MN 55119, (651) 731-0785 and lisaradunzgenealogy@yahoo.com, wrote to Commander Fugler that "I am so excited to have found the 82nd Engineers' website. I was looking at some of my Grandpa's records, I am a casual genealogist, and wanted to know more about St. Anthonis, Holland because that is where he got his Purple Heart and some web searching led me right to your website! The written history is really great, that's exactly what I wanted to know about my grandpa's enlistment, the where and when. So, thanks for having the website and the Association, I will be sending in my Associate membership dues soon.

I am also requesting his military records through the Nat'l Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO because he reenlisted during the Korean Was and then into the Nat'l Guard as well.

I have attached some photos, I do not know the dates of them, but if anything looks familiar or something looks like it is not the right time frame please let me know. I am especially curious about the photo "with6guys", do you recognize anyone?"

And Historian Ed Husted responded "have the photos and provided the details of Cpl. Radunz's Purple Hear to Lisa. I interviewed Mansel Maeux several years ago and he gave me the details of his mine laying party where Sgt. Saunders was killed and the other four, including Radunz, were wounded. We have another associate!"

ED: Welcome aboard Lisa! Your grandfather, "shorty" was one of the friendliest and finest among us.

Normandy Tours

Fran Sherr-Davino is a remarkable woman who has been helping the 29th Division with their tours of Normandy and she has willingly included folks of the 82nd, like Bill White who she has spoken to about his/our adventures in Vire. She was also the one who got the 82nd Plaque on the Wall of Remembrance.

Bill Shanley has been in touch with her and reports, "I had asked her if she was still available to put a tour together. She replied that in September 2008 she will have a 7-day trip to the St. Lo area, then she may have her last planned trip in June 2009 for the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. This may be of some interest to family members from the 82nd Engineers who have wanted to see Normandy. Fran's email address is: Fsd104@aol.com. Interested person's can contact Fran directly for more information. She sends her greetings to all of us with the 82nd Engineers".

ED: These same tours following the trail of the 29th would most closely follow the tracks of the 82nd.

Commander Fugler's Column

"Ed Husted and sons, Todd and Dale, have planned an excellent 2008 reunion in Rochester for us. I hope that all of you who can make it plan to attend. Unfortunately, because of my serious macular degeneration vision problem, along with other ailments, Annelies and I will be unable to attend the reunion. Doc Molloy is pinch-hitting for me in his capable way. Among other things, he will conduct the business meeting.

Annelies and I are very sorry that we cannot attend. I have felt honored to serve the Association as Commander for 5 ½ years. It has been a wonderful experience for Annelies and me to be with you and we will certainly miss being there this time. Maybe in 2009.

We sincerely hope that all of you will have a very Happy Holiday season and that 2008 will be good to you.

Cordially Yours, Bob and Annelies"

ED: That's it for now. We hope to see you in Pittsford.

-Buol