My mother just attended the annual reunion for the 77th Seabees, along with my brother (who is honored to be their chaplain for the final reunion, which will be in 2008). Only 14 of the original 77th were left to attend this year (a few other are alive, but too frail to travel). Of my mother’s comrades (she was an army officer – chief surgical nurse), I believe less than a handful are still alive of the original 1200+. They belonged to a generation that understood what would happen if they were overrun by their enemies. It’s a lesson our current generations would be wise to remember.