Though I'd reached only the sixth grade by this date 55 years ago, I have several bases for remembering with you today. My older brother, James Revell, had been a long-time member of the 99th Division when the Battle of the Bulge began. He was an 81mm mortar observer, a staff sergeant, shortly thereafter commissioned a second lieutenant. Jim lives in Lakeland FL, with the usual old-man physical stuff growing in his life.

     Later I got my share of infantry combat in Korea and Vietnam, the first as a rifleman, then rocket section leader; the second as reconnaissance company commander, and again as battalion operations officer.

     Finally, in just over 20 years in the Marine Corps, I spent four years on two different U.S. Army posts, am a graduate of the Fort Benning Infantry Officers' Career Course - and Jump School - and a bunch of other shorter Army courses at various posts across the nation.

     May the Lord bless and keep and comfort the survivors of your most worthy Checkerboard Division.