HEADQUARTERS
                       97TH ENGINEER BATTALION
                       APO 87                  US FORCES

AEZAH-BC                                                       29 September 1961

SUBJECT:  Anniversary Greetings

TO        The Officers, Noncommissioned Officers, and Men, Families
              and Friends of the 97th Engineer Batallion.

     On this 28th anniversary of the 97th Engineer Batallion, I am 
sure that you are as proud as I am of our fine organization and of 
its long history in support of our great nation.

     For twenty-eight years-proud years- the men of this battalion
have labored in Florida, Canada, Alaska, New Guinea, the Philippines,
Missouri, and France. In France alone we will have completed in
November of this year ten years of continuous service.

     It is interesting to note that several of our men, oldtimers in the
Corps of Engineers, have served the 97th at other times, and in other
places, notable among these individuals are:
CWO Hugh McGrath, Co B 1950-1954
SFC Vernon Pollard, Co C 1946-1948
SP5 Homer Carter, H&H Co 1945-1947
SP4 Travis St John, Co C 1955-1959
PFC Dan Ashley, H&H Co 19157-1959 
     Many of the people have brothers or relatives who have served with
the battalion in past years and many others have been with the units
supporting the 97th during various construction assignments.

     Construction is our businessand has been our business throughout
our long history. We can point with pride to a portion of the Alcan
Highway and know that it was our predecessors who made it so. You can
look at the varoius depot, hospital and airfield complexes in this area
and know that you have had a hand in building and maintaining them.
You have every reason to be proud of these accomplishments because by
your actions and those facilities on which you have worked so diligently
you have proven that there is "NO TASK TOO GREAT".

     I wish to extend my congratulations and my thanks to each one of
you. To the Men of the battalion for your continuing efforts, devotion to
duty and personal interest; to the families and friends for your support
of each of us and your understanding. You are as much a part of this
battalion as any of us and we could not properly observe this anniversary
without paying our respects to you.


                                                                  [signed]
                                                                  JOHN H. CARLSON
                                                                  Lt Col, CE
                                                                  Commanding