On Labor Day week end in 1946, Chicago area vets of 556 assembled at “ mutter-in-law’s tavern” for the first annual reunion, really not knowing they started a tradition that has spanned fifty nine years.

The following year, Detroit area vets were invited to Chicago for the Second Annual Reunion.

It was a great idea and there emerged the annual reunions. In alternate years the reunions were held in Illinois and in Michigan. At those early times, each state had a contingent of a hundred fifty or more.– vets, spouses and offspring.

To keep these reunions focused, the Michigan ands Illinois delegations formed committees. Around Memorial day each year the committees met at Paterson’ s in Sturgis Michigan. Each committee came to this meeting, there to pass along funds, update mailing lists, select a site and arrange for mailing out announcements.

As time went on, we decided that a hectic one day drive to Sturgis and back was too much like work; so the spring meeting became a full grown three day reunion to be held at the Elkhart Ramada Inn.

I have no exact date for this transformation, but I guess late 1970’s With a reunion at Memorial Day and another at Labor Day we had like book ends bracketing the summer. Two a year became a comfortable and predictable event.

In 1991, on his way to moving to Florida, Cliff Day gave me a large box containing many 556 reunion documents and with that I became, by default, the corresponding secretary/historian. Not so much for the honor of it as for the practical fact I had a computer. .

I retrieved the old 556 Chess ‘n Balk letter head, like the one above, and used it to mail out the May and September announcements, I also wrote a Chess ‘n Balk banquet edition, keeping up with who were and where they were.

About that same time, a number of 556 vets took up retirement residence in Florida and began a third annual tradition in or near Orlando.

Time marches on and, in the passing years, our numbers dwindled. In 1999, the May reunion was canceled for lack of attendees.

The same trend set in for the Fall reunion at Elkhart. From a high watermark of the 50^th reunion, which drew 96 guests – 30 vets and families - we came, last September to 6 vets and families for a total of 24 people.

Over the years, people would say, “what a remarkable record! How long do you expect to keep this up?” From the exalted position as owner of the computer, I responded, “I shall mail out the annual September edition of Chess ‘’’n Balk. When the all come back from the post office stamped No forwarding address,

I will quit.” Kinda cute, maybe, but the reality today is that that is about where we are.

Yesterday, July 28, Walt Daubresse, who is still in Florida. and I reluctantly cancelled the Labor Day reunion. For various and compelling reasons, our guys could no longer consider travel or were constant caregivers to an ailing spouse. With heavy heart, we cancelled the 2005 reservations at the Ramada. No Reunion this year. First time in 59 years.

Walt and I agreed that out of respect for you, I should write this, the predictably t last edition of Chess n’ Balk.

Now that is the down side, but consider this.

Over the past eight years, I have compiled a personal memoir built around our 850 days in uniform. Part of what I wrote is personal, a heritage gift to my family, a document not ever intended to be sold.

It is a huge collection, and apart from my personal parts, it is primarily a history 556. It holds about 600 photographs, maps, original drawings, assorted art work, and copies of V mail. 132,000 words. spread out over 385 pages.

Besides giving copies of that monster to my immediate family, there will be copies of it in the Library of Congress, Veterans History Project; in the National Archives; in the US Army depository of Historical Documents at Carlisle Barrack, PA;, in the Tom Brokaw Greatest Generation Collection at the University of Florida and the prestigious Burton Memorial Collection at the Detroit Public Library.

What that adds up to is the fact that a detailed history of 556 is archived in collections that will outlive our grand kids, and you are a part of that history.

,In the sad context of canceling a reunion, this is a moment of triumph. 556 has outlived it life expectancy 60 years and will continue to do so.

I have been asked if it is possible to purchase a print of my book, which is not being sold in stores. Modern technology allows my printer to print out a bound copy at his cost, which is $77.00 If, in a moment of madness or nostalgia, you should want a copy, I can order one and FedEx it to you. I cant afford to give copies away, but I can get you one at the prevailing rate.

In the process of putting the document together, I have assorted memorabilia, which I plan to donate the National Archives, probably around the first of the year.

If you want to include anything in that offering like photos V mail, diaries, I will attach your name to it and donate all of this to them.

Within a few weeks, those of you who have computer access will be able to look up 556 on line. My son Patrick and I reviewing material to post in a web site. See 556engineers.Com.
In all memory there is implicit loss, but time cannot steal away our countless memories much less our paper trail.

We have become our own Band of Brothers. We gathered boisterously, We lived and loved and laughed and hugged; bragged about our kids, griped about the VA and increasing prescription costs, even lied a little. We spent mote time in reunion motels than we did in Basic Training at Camp Beale, We hand polished our little stories, never doubting the other guy’s version of the same event. We played five and dime poker as if the fate of the nation depended on it.

We stood in silence to salute comrades who passed away with the sure knowledge they are just a little ahead of us

We shared lifelong friendships as if you needed me to tell you that. As Walt and I concluded out lengthy phone conversation, I was reminded of the words of Charlie Garcia, spoken as we departed to our Separation Centers while he remained behind in California. He said, “I love every one of you guys, dumb as you are.”

We responded many to FALL IN.

Now, At ease. Fall out and amen

Frank July 29, 2005

From the Back of the Milk Carton …