Mail Call 517th Mail Call
Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives
Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
January 22-25, 2006
Bradenton, FL
This site is dedicated to all Troopers of the 517th PRCT, their families, and the brave French and Belgian Resistance Fighters who supported and fought with the 517 PRCT in WWII.
Christmas
1944-2005
On this date, many years ago, we of
the 517th, had left our “rest camp” of short duration in Soisson, France, after
many months in the South of France and Italy. We were headed to Belgium on short
notice. The trip from Soisson to Belgium in the 40 and 8’s (box cars) is a story
in itself. I know that none of us, including our commanders and strategic
planners, anticipated the suffering and loss of life that awaited us. So now,
after these years, we are the survivors. The true hero’s lie in their eternal
resting place. God Bless them. May God Bless our family members and friends who
have supported us for all these years. May God Bless America.
To the 517th troopers
and the extended family of our Auxiliary, friends, and ardent
supporters:
May all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year. Some may even desire to have “Happy
Holidays.”
During the coming year of 2006, I
hope many will have the opportunity to visit our 517th
gatherings:
1.
Bradenton, Florida-January 22-25, 2006
2. Palm Springs-April 2-7,
2006
3.
Portland-July 17-22, 2006
The Portland Reunion
will be held at the “Red Lion on the River,” a beautiful Columbia River island
site located on the river between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver Washington. A
number of exciting and interesting programs have been scheduled by your 517th
Planning Committee of Troopers and the Auxiliary. Some programs are: Visiting
volcanic Mt. St. Helen’s, Vancouver Army Barracks and the Hudson Bay Company
Post (vintage 1862) with a military BBQ with sports events for the able, water
rafting for experienced white-water and non-experience quiet water rafters,
historic wineries; the Spruce Goose of Howard Hugh’s fame; and the usual tours,
river trip and shopping.
Feliz
Navivdad,
Your humble servant,
Gene Frice, President
Bob Barrett
From: Bob Barrett [mailto:r4b4@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 8:58 PM
To: 'Garandaddy@cs.com'
Cc: 'ben17@aol.com'
Subject: RE: Accessing old mail calls.
-----Original Message-----
From: Garandaddy@cs.com [mailto:Garandaddy@cs.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 4:24 PM
To: webmaster@517prct.org
Subject: Accessing old mail calls.Hey Ben,
How do I access the old mail calls, I need Irma's stories 1-3? Have a very Merry Christmas, & Wonderful New Year, to you & Bob's family also? Morris
Bette TraverHi Ben,Just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Myrle is in the hospital tonight with an infection in his lung. Hopefully he will be home tomorrow as they were just going to keep him overnight because of the breathing problems. Betty Traver (F. Co.)
Robert CohenWishing all the best for a merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2006, from a far friend in France.
A special thanks for welcome in Savannah, and pleasure and honour to meet
T. Cross, Gene Frice and daughters, Hellen Beddow, Claire Giblin, Vanessa Armand,
A special salute to my dear old friends, Floyd Polk, Joe Spencer,
And the sad new of the death of Bud Fisher, veteran of 551st PIBN, from San Mateo.
The picture shows him in 1984, at Le Drammont celebration.
The other picture shows some ladies of Bendejun, welcoming two paratroopers of 517th in 1944.
Lt. Walter Irwin, the S-2 of 2nd 517, Huertgen Forest, 1944.
Kent Immerfall
Dear Mail Call Writers and Recipients,
I would be repentant if I did not take a moment, especially at this time of the year, to express my most humble and joyous good will to all who have worn the 517th emblems as well as to all of those who supported these brave men. To the families of the men of the 517th, my heart goes out to you if you have lost one of these brave soldiers. And if your "brave soldier" now suffers from health or mental difficulties, please know that the daily prayers and good wishes of us all are with you always. May God have mercy on all of us and allow us to feel pride in a Job Well Done to the 517th. In a few short days my thoughts will not be of sugar plums and the Christmas Story but of so many brave men who huddled in the cold on that fateful night of 27Dec1944 near Manhay, Belgium. Thank you to all of you, including Eddie Monfort, for allowing me to feel closer to my Uncle Floyd A. Stott. Kenton Floyd Immerfall
