Day 2 and 3 -First Federal Divsion Meetings St. Louis

It was an early start on Saturday, the 24th. I didn't sleep well at all due to the evacuation of the building on Friday night. I was a little bit worried.

Twelve to fourteen FFD members had breakfast at hotels buffet. It was really good!!

I was worried that Jim wasn't goiing to make it but he arrived just as before the meeting began at 9:09 a.m. He didn't even have a chance to check-in until 12:30p.m..

Member units were in attendance from Texas, to Florida from Wisconsin to eastern Pennsylvania. The first general session lasted until 11:30 a.m.. Then the executive session began for the Brigade, Division Staff and Army Commanders. I was asked to stay and keep notes under the seal of secrecy. Which I will maintain.

This meeting lasted until 12:30 p.m.. Lunch in the restaurant,for white tuna on rye. It was good, but not good enough for $13.80.

The afternoon general session began at about 2:00 p.m. The Division has accepted a new Unit. The Ligntning Brigade from the SE area of the country. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama etc.. They have full brigades of at least 150 infantry, 125 mounted troops and a full artillery complement, plus a mounted infantry company. Their two commanderd are certainly good old boys from the south.. When you're on the field with them you'll enjoy their company for sure.

This session adjourned at about 4:00 p.m. The Division Staff went in to another Executive session which lasted until 7:30 p.m.with the same provisio on secrecy.

Dinner plans were made. Jim and I decided to order a large pizza and frequent the bar for beers. Almost everyone found their way to the bar for drinks until around midnight. I sat with the Topographical aengineer, COS and of course, the Medical Director and off and on with the General. Lot's of good stories and discourse.

Sleep wasn't a problem on Saturday night.

Sunday, up early at 6:00 a.m. Looked out the window to see snow falling. Trevor, Jim and I went to the buffet line had a great breakfast. We said our goodbyes to all of our new friends and Jim and I began the snowny journey back to the west side of the state.

The snow was falling so hard that I couldn't see the cars on the road ahead of me. I crawled down I-70. At Warrenton the snow let up. by about 30 miles east of Columbia it had dimisinished to flurries.

I arrived home at 12:30 p.m. and yfell asleep on the couch.
It was agood meeting. I'll let Jim fill you in on the meeting details.