Fort Belvoir, Va. -- Bulldozers, caution signs and hard hats all show proof of an installation building for the future.
On Aug. 23, amid all the rapid changes, a number of Soldiers had the opportunity to slow down and honor Fort Belvoir's past.
The occasion derived from a visitor to the installation, retired World War II veteran Bill Brunger.
Accompanied by his wife, Janet, it was the first time he stepped foot on Belvoir since 1943.
"It's hard for me to believe," Brunger said, "that I got old enough for it to have been 60 years since I've been here."
The Brungers were greeted with open arms by Col. John Strycula, garrison commander; Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhane and Soldiers from the E Company 169th Engineer Battalion.
The day was filled with stories, gifts and the exchange of knowledge between a Soldier of the past and Soldiers of the future.
While stationed at Belvoir, Brunger served as a corporal for B Co., 2nd Engineering Training Battalion.
His main duty was to give new enlistees their basic engineering and infantry training. He taught in areas such as construction, demolition, cliff scaling and rifle shooting.
Brunger recalls Belvoir being much smaller then.
"Basically, it looked like the barracks, the PX, the theater and the prayer ground," Brunger said.
He left Belvoir in October 1943 and eventually landed on the front lines in the Battle of the Bulge conflict in World War II, in which the Allies stymied a German offensive.
He rose up to the rank of technical sergeant during the war, ultimately becoming the 2nd platoon sergeant of B Co., 1st Bn., 289th Infantry Regiment.
After six decades, Brunger vividly remembers the bitterness of the European winter weather, the combat situations where his units were outnumbered or unprepared and the casualties from numerous conflicts during the Bulge battle.
Bill said he was blessed to be alive.
"I'm a miracle standing here, because I went through it and didn't get hit," he said.
Brunger shared his war stories and military knowledge to a number of Soldiers from the 169th Eng. Bn., during lunch at Belvoir's dining facility.
"It was an excellent opportunity to speak with someone in the military during World War II," said Pfc. John Paulson, 169th Eng. Bn., Advanced Individual Training student. "It was definitely an honor and a privilege."
Brunger said he could tell the Soldiers were retaining everything he discussed with them.
"I felt close to the Soldiers," Brunger said. "I felt like we really connected."
Toward the end of lunch, Brunger gave Strycula a picture taken of his 1943 Belvoir unit, as well as his military biography and two DVDs. One DVD, titled Gold Star, features the journey of 23 veterans to Washington, D.C.'s WWII Memorial and the other, At All Cost, features a 2007 veterans' trip through Europe.
Strycula returned the favor by giving the Bill and Janet Brunger Army paraphernalia.
Brunger was extremely impressed by all the Soldiers he met and he was even more in awe about how much the installation had grown in the last 68 years.
He toured the post and was able see many of the government agencies, Army facilities and entertainment spots that didn't exist in 1943.
"I might join back up," said Brunger after walking a through a model townhouse in the welcome center.
Both the Brungers were extremely pleased with their visit, especially Bill who said he has a soft spot in his heart for the installation.
"I never thought I'd be riding back through Belvoir," said Brunger, "I enjoyed my time here."
On a day full of reminiscing and the passing of knowledge, Janet Brunger possibly summed up the experience best.
"I'm coming away with such a feeling of hope: a hope for our country," said Janet. "The younger generation realizes what we have is special. It's worth the sacrifice to keep it."
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