FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- More than 100 veterans enjoyed the North Country's blue skies while visiting with Polar Bear Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team during their annual reunion Aug. 7-9. These veterans, representing the 31st Infantry Regiment Association, traveled to Fort Drum because 4-31 Infantry is the last active battalion of the regiment.
During their visit, participants had a scheduled itinerary chock full of meet and greets, as well as a tour of Fort Drum and trips to Sackets Harbor to view the War of 1812 Battleground and Alexandria Bay for a boat tour and stop at Boldt Castle.
The first stop on the Fort Drum tour was right outside the Engagement Skills Trainer building where several static displays of vehicles and equipment that were not around when most of the visiting veterans were in the Army.
Two of the vehicles on site were the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle and Humvee. Visitors also had an opportunity to see mortar systems, sniper rifles and Soldiers dressed in combat gear and holding M4 rifles and M249 machine guns.
After viewing some of the displays and talking to Soldiers about the equipment, the participants ventured inside the EST building to learn more about the high-tech training simulators inside.
Veterans and their Family Members had opportunities to talk with current Soldiers and other veterans in attendance and swap stories.
James Jamison, a Korean War veteran, was accompanied by his wife, Marie. Jamison, who arrived in Korea with 40th Division, was eager to share his memories of how he was eventually assigned to I Company, 31st Infantry, 7th Division.
Jamison joined the Army in 1950 at age 17. In July 1953, a 19-year-old Jamison was fighting for his and his comrades' lives in one of the most famous battles of the Korean War.
"When I was in Korea, I got lost and they could not get me back to the 40th Division, I Company, 223rd Infantry Regiment," he said. "We got on the wrong tank and when they got it straightened out, I ended up with I Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, Polar Bears in the 7th Division on Pork Chop Hill. We went up there with six rifle companies and about 300 men, and only 28 survived."
Fred Richards, a specialist fourth class at the time, was assigned to the 196th Infantry Brigade when he left Fort Devens, Mass., for Vietnam in 1965.
Back then, travel to a combat zone was slow.
"We went by boat for 31 days down through Panama to California and then over to Vietnam," he said. "That was some ride, I tell you what. Then, we moved into Tay Ninh City; 196th Base Camp. (The) 4-31 Infantry was there, but from there they got moved around."
Richards worked in the Tay Ninh area for six months, and with the reorganizing troops, he soon found himself with D Company, 4-31 Infantry.
This was his first time attending a reunion. He said he hoped to catch up with some old friends from those days.
"I came for the camaraderie with the other guys we were with," Richards said. "I found someone from the 4th Battalion who was in C Company; I was D Company. I have a yearbook with me, and his picture is in it with all the guys he knows. He was telling me who is not here anymore. But I haven't found those from my company yet."
Shared memories continued throughout the day. After lunch at the 2nd BCT Dining Facility, the group was taken to Polar Bear headquarters, where 31st Infantry framed photos and memorabilia adorned the walls while larger historical items and scrapbooks lay on tables for viewing. Attendees had a couple of hours to share more stories with each other and their Family Members.
The big finale for the reunion was the Polar Bear Ball on the night of Aug. 9. It gave the veterans another opportunity to mingle with the current 4-31 Infantry Soldiers and take part in the traditional Shanghai Bowl ceremony.
A lot of Soldiers who made military history attended the reunion, including four Bataan Death March survivors, Korean and Vietnam war veterans, and all those who fought in Iraq and Afghani-stan.
Young Soldiers who are new to 4-31 Infantry received the message from their predecessors loud and clear: "31st Infantry Regiment -- there is no finer regiment in the United States Army," Jamison said proudly.
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