Hello,
Not much mail this past week but will send this
"Mail Call" out now so that
you can read mail from Merle and especially
about the death of John Willms.
He help to coordinate the visits of units
visiting France.
We wills soon link up with The Red Hatters website
(www.redhatrigger.org). Note below website entry from Olin Baggett. There is
much information there about Tom Cross and you can locate pictures of LTG
Dick Seitz and Bob Piper of the 505 who is a friend of the 517
Ben
Subj: Notice
of Death
Date: 5/6/2001 1:16:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
MMcmor8391
To: Ben517
Dear Ben:
One of our dear friends in
Southern France died yesterday. John Willms,
commander of the Riviera
Chapter of the American Legion died of stomach
cancer. He had been
suffering for about a year. When I receive more
information, I will
pass it on to you. We should probably have someone like
Aime pick up a
wreath for the 517th.
Merle
Subj: <no
subject>
Date: 5/2/2001 6:05:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: dpastalenic@dctnet.net (Dorothy Pastalenic)
To: Ben517@aol.com
Hi Ben,
I didn't know you
were in Co. H. I joined the 517th in the Crater in Italy.
My
basic was in the ski troops at Camp Hale, Co.
Received the 1st
quarter issue of the Thunderbolt the other day and I was
delighted to read the article on the "C 47 Crash Recalled". As soon as I
finished
reading the report I called Lt. Edward Athey and he filled me
in on a few more interesting
events - had a great time speaking with
him. I would like to meet him some day
We appreciate the write up by
Dan Chapin about the events of the jump on the
15th, and those that
followed. I'd like to make one correction on the original
report :
I was one of the wounded and my name is John Pastalenic, not
Pastalouic.
We regret that we won't make it to the
Bismarck reunion, but we'd like to
make the next one if it's centrally
located. Hope you all have a great time in Bismarck.
Thank you again
for all you do to keep the memories alive.
Best wishes,
John Pastalenic,
Co. H, 3rd Platoon, 517th
Subj: (no subject)
Date: 5/3/2001 7:03:16 PM Eastern Daylight
Time
From: MMcmor8391
To: Ben517
Ben:
We now have about 210 registrations as of
May 3rd. I want to make out name
tags but I don't have Unit
designations for the following men:
Joe Fliakis
Matt Greene
Larry Lemler
Frankie Lindler
Merle
Anyone know what units these men were in?
_Ben
Subj: Proposal
for Vegas Reunion
Date: 5/6/2001 6:46:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: artann3447@juno.com (Tom mcavoy)
To:
Ben517@aol.com
Hey Ben just a note, The proposal from Vegas for our
reunion did not
arrive as I had hoped it would (within 10 days) My
wife and I are going
to Hawaii tomorrow morning ,We will return
May 14, 01 I'll let you know
if I hear from them when I return
, Tom McAvoy
Entry of May 6, 2001 at 20:32 [EST]
Name: Olin Baggett,
CW4 USA (Ret)
Unit: 188th Glider Inf, 504th Inf,11th PM Co, 101st PM
Co., MACVSOG, ABNE&SW
Board
EMail: obaggett@nc.rr.com
How I found the
517th page: A friend told me
Comments: Col Tom Cross told me about your site
while we were attending the
OLD TIMERS ABN REUNION. I would like to put a
link to your website on my site
at www.redhatrigger.org Enjoyed your site
and will return. Thanks
Subj: Re: Guestbook
Date: 5/7/2001 2:43:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
obaggett@nc.rr.com (Olin Baggett)
Reply-to: obaggett@nc.rr.com (Olin Baggett)
To:
Ben517@aol.com
-------------------
Hey Ben. Be glad to have a
Link to 517th. I've got a Link to 517th on the
second page of the pictures
and have one also on the Drop Zone Page.The Link
is just under the Coin and shown in
Great
Rigger Links.
Olin Baggett
www.redhatrigger.org
Subj: John Willms
Death
Date: 5/7/2001 2:53:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: MMcmor8391
To: Ben517
Dear Ben:
I have sent a sympathy card from the
517th to Mrs. Willms and also arranged
for a 517th wreath to be made
available at the funeral.
Merle