Dear Ben:
After Tom Brokaw retired NBC sent over 100 boxes of his material to
Dr. William O. Oldson, Director, Institute on World War II and the Human
Experience, Department of History, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
32306-2200.
His history students are going through the boxes since many were
packed up by NBC and never got to Brokaw. My letter to Brokaw in 2001
inviting him to our reunion was found in one of the boxes. That explains
why I never received a response.
The Director wrote to me after Tom's letter. The Florida
State University is doing precisely what the Veterans History Project is doing
i.e. preserving GI history for use by future generations. He indicated the
FSU would be happy to provide a speaker for future reunions at FSU expense if we
are interested. He also said he would take any 517th member who lives in his
area out to lunch. He invited me to stop in the next time I am in
Florida.
I told him about Bob's website and your Mail Call. He wants
his computer people to get in touch with Bob to receive permission to set up a
link with FSU.
Telephone No. 850-664-9033
Merle
Darrell Egner
Chris
Your Mail Call story about your Dad was very moving. I wish I
could convey my feelings and thoughts half as well as you did. He had to
be a great Dad and without a doubt you are following in his foot
steps.
My farther passed on when I was 12 years old so I don't have those
wonderful moments to remember.
Bless you,
Darrell Egner
Chris Liddell
Mr. Barrett,
Is the
white Parka and insulated pants combo the dress for the typical soldier durring
The Bulge? I've always pictured it in my head as a muddy, cold, icy
environment and G.I.'s wearing their olive drabs instead of "Snowoflage" :-).
The poster's soldier's dress just surprised me. Is that what
my grandfather would have worn??
Thanks again for the
very kind words and for the special e-mail. I know that it would have made
my Dad AND my Grandfather equally proud. You are truly a good friend for
doing this.
Keep the faith as well Mr.
Barrett.
Chris (517th "Grandkid's infantry" The
search for knowledge..... ;-))
**********
He would have had a "muddy, cold, icy environment" and wearing
their olive drabs. - Ben
Daniel Curtis
To Chris Liddell,
Your story was truly inspirational. As son's
whom have lost their fathers the scope of their impact on us as son's will live
on forever. It has been a true blesing in my life to cherish the memories of my
father and has without a doubt made me a greater father to my son. Thank you for
sharing your story with all of us.
Daniel Curtis----
Walt Smith
Ben, having just read the 1062nd email of
yours, I am really impressed with 'what thou hath wrought' to
paraphrase one inventor's quote, "WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT?" The
impressive revelation of the origin of this website due to Chris Liddell's
request of you and your ensuing request of your son, Bob, to search out
information about the 517th. Due to you and your son, Bob, you have
wrought an amazing collection of 517th PRCT memorabilia. Such information is
available to all of us and it is available worldwide.
Unfortunately, a few of our brothers haven't taken advantage of this wonderful
system.
Even though I was on line, I was late in
becoming aware of the 517th website until Merle McMorrow informed me.
Then I collected a few of the emails and was able to fill in some missing ones
for Bob's structured website. I have been following ever since.
Thanks to you brothers. I have learned about several brothers in
other companies of which I was almost oblivious when I was a green freshly
trained trooper! Great Information!
Walter W Smith HQ1st
Nicholas Arnulf
Hi, I write again in connection with
the photography of my grandmother.
The
parachutist who took this photography was not an officer.
The officer which I spoke with the "Christ" photography
in the "liner" of his helmet is another soldier.
Bye
Ray Hess
Sorry Ben, I was with "F" CO from 1943 In Toccoa to the day
we
were transferred to the 82nd and I don't remember a solder
by that name in
"F" Co. You asked me about him before and I
do not recall him or his
name
BEST REGARDS
Former S/SGT Ray R. Hess 2nd
Platoon "F" CO.
Entry of Feb 19, 2006 at 19:07 [EST]
Name: Bucky Simmons
Unit:
EMail: bucky@camptoccoareunion.com
How I found the 517th page: unknown
Comments: The
Toccoa/Stephens County Historical Society would like to invite you to attend our
third annual Camp Toccoa Reunion and Reenactments. Camp Toccoa now made famous
by "Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan" was the birthplace of the 501st,
506th, 511th, and 517th Parachute Infantry Regiments. We will have Veterans, or
their families, from all four regiments attend along with Veterans of all
conflicts since WWII. The 506th and 501st Vietnam - present day will also have
men attend, as well as 101st, 82nd, Rangers, and most other units of the U.S.
military.
This year we are expanding the focus for our reunion and reenactments to
include all WWII units. Allied, and Axis. We are having great response
throughout the U.S. and Europe. There will be onsite camping and display areas
for reenactment groups. Every group that attends is invited to take part in the
battles. We hope to have several hundred re-enactors take part along with
several different military vehicle associations.
There will also be displays and aircraft from today's military. The event
will take place at the Toccoa Airport, October 5-8, 2006. If you, or someone you
know that might be interested please invite them, along with Veterans of all
wars.
We also invite you to tour the New Toccoa/Stephens County Historical
Society Museum. The museum is housed in the restored Toccoa train depot where
most men who trained at Camp Toccoa first came into town. Also tour the stables
used for quarters by first A, then E company of the 506th P.I.R. brought "across
the pond" from Aldborne, England, which is located inside the museum.
This has been a $325,000 + dollar project, that is being raised by
donations and proceeds from past reunions. We hope everyone who can, will attend
the weekend events !
For registration info and agenda of events check on
www.camptoccoareunion.com ,or contact me at: Bucky@camptoccoareunion.com
2004 and 2005 Reunion photos on www.camptoccoareunion.com/ past reunion
section.
Everyone is invited regardless of military service or just military/history
buffs.
Thank You,
Bucky Simmons
Vice President, Toccoa/Stephens County
Historical Society
Toccoa, Georgia. United
States
www.camptoccoareunion.com