By Amanda Sullivan, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (September 20, 2024) — Nearly 60 years have passed since Laurens Beckwith, Earl Shatzer and Gene Reed first came through the gates of Fort Leonard Wood on their way to becoming some of the Army’s newest combat engineers and on Sept. 11, Fort Leonard Wood senior leaders and Soldiers welcomed back the three Vietnam-era veterans during a reunion tour.
Hosted by the U.S. Army Engineer School and 1st Engineer Brigade and organized by the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Protocol Office, the tour allowed the group to observe modern-day training and engage with Soldiers and instructors with the Army’s Engineer Regiment.
“Everything has changed since I was last here 58 years ago,” said Shatzer, who lives in Vacaville, California, and completed advanced individual training in 1969. “Everything is clean and well laid out.”
Beckwith, who graduated from AIT in 1964, and is from Huntsville, Alabama, agreed and said the growth in the years since his training is evident.
“Everything is new and replaced; the entire post looks good,” he said. “The population has probably quadrupled since I left.”
Reed, who hails from Avon, Indiana, completed AIT in 1969. He returned to Fort Leonard Wood for a reunion tour in the late 1990s and noted the addition of the U.S. Army Military Police and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear schools, which both relocated to Fort Leonard Wood in 1999, after the closure of Fort McClellan, Alabama.
The first stop on the tour was a Patriot Day ceremony on the MSCoE Plaza, followed by a regimental update and meeting with Col. Chad Ramskugler, USAES assistant commandant, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Willie Gadsden, regimental chief warrant officer.
Gadsden said keeping the conversation open between veterans and today’s Soldiers in the regiment is critical to the Army’s mission.
“By consistently seeking out opportunities to engage with Soldiers from all generations, we can ensure that our regimental values remain strong and that our institution continues to evolve without losing sight of the core principles that define us,” he said. “It’s through this continuity of leadership, tradition and respect that we ensure the regiment and the Army remain strong, resilient and always prepared to meet future challenges.”
After meeting with senior leaders, the trio received a tour of Range 33 from the 35th Engineer Battalion Combat Engineer Skills Division and observed shotgun and demolition breaching training. During lunch at the Celiz Hall Warrior Restaurant, the veterans swapped stories and advice with trainees and cadre from Company B, 35th Engineer Battalion.
“I don’t know what their motive was for serving – everyone has a different motive for being here – but the bottom line was, they wanted to be here,” Beckwith said. “They wanted to serve.”
The tour wrapped up at Training Area 250, where they observed trainees with Company B, 31st Engineer Battalion conducting Operate Bridge Erection Boat and Deploy Ribbon Bridge training.
Thanks to technological advances, Reed said today’s training is a stark contrast to the more laborious process he experienced along the Big Piney River.
“I think it would serve them well to go out there and do it the old-fashioned way one time, so they appreciate what they have available,” he said jokingly.
When reflecting on the tour, the three unanimously agreed that one thing stood out: the people they met.
“Everyone went out of their way to welcome us, to thank us, and show us all the courtesy and respect they can, and that overwhelms me,” Beckwith said. “I’ve never felt that much feeling from a group of people.”
Reed shared the sentiment.
“I’m so impressed with the cadre – they were all outstanding,” he said. “We didn’t expect the welcome we got.”
Gadsden, expressing the importance of veterans, said their legacy lives on in the hearts of those serving today, and their courage, sacrifice and dedication continue to inspire the Army to uphold the highest standards of duty and service.
“We honor their contributions by striving to maintain the same level of commitment and excellence in everything we do,” he said. “The values they instilled in the regiment — integrity, honor and selfless service — remain our guiding principles, and we stand ready to carry that legacy forward.”
Beyond a sense of belonging, Reed said reconnecting with Fort Leonard Wood Soldiers provided hope for the future of the Army and faith in the younger generation of Soldiers.
“When you come back here and meet the young Soldiers and see their pride, dedication and the respect they have, you wish the public could see it and know what this country is really about,” Shatzer added. “That was touching.”
Reed offered some parting advice for those who follow in the footsteps of his generation and the next.
“Eat your lunch, brush your teeth, listen to your drill sergeant and don’t forget to hit the target when you shoot,” he said.
Additional photos from the tour can be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortleonardwood/albums/72177720320274680
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.