From: Ben517
Sent: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 6:51:01 PM Eastern Standard Time
Subject: MAIL CALL N0. 1078 517TH PRCT-MARCH 16,2006

70 Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025 *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett Ben517@aol.com

Hello,

Not an easy Mail Call to send out. We have lost Fritz Coffman, Floyd Polk and Orville Stubbs within a short time We also have heard from Russ Brami Jr. about his father's illness.

Ben

Lori Richter

-----Original Message-----
From: Russ Brami brussel@rcn.com (Russ Brami JR.)
To: prct517@aol.com
Sent: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:40:04 -0500
Subject: Fw: 517th

----- Original Message ----- From: "lori richter" <lbr915@hotmail.com>
To: <brussel@rcn.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 3:13 PM
Subject: 517th

> Hi Russ,
> I am sorry to say my Dad passed away a few days ago. I am having > trouble sending the below message to Ben-could you please forward it to > him. Thank you. Hope all is well with you.
> Lori Richter
> 330-651-3746
> lbr915@hotmail.com
> 188 Jade Circle
> Canfield, Ohio 44406
>
> >
>
> Hi Ben,
> I wanted to let the 517th family know that my Father, Orville Stubbs > passed away March 10th. He served in the 517th E Co and also the First > Airborne Task Force. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
> Lori Richter
> (daughter)
> lbr915@hotmail.com
> cell#: 330-651-3746

Russ Brami Jr.

Hi,

I'm Russ Brami Jr. and I live in Lexington, Massachusetts. My father, Russ Brami Sr., was in the 517th. He moved from Cedar Key Florida until May of '05. He now lives in a suburb of Houston at Silverado Senior Living, an Alzheimer's retirement place and is in good health but can no longer travel. He is in the early stages (3 of 7) of Alzheimer's but still active and has good memories of his 517th buddies and would love to hear from them in person or by phone. I don't think that he can make phone calls on his own there, just answer them-and he doesn't write letters. Many people have already visited him.

His mail address is:

Silverado Senior Living

22995 Eastex Freeway

Kingwood, Texas 77339

He can be reached by phone there at 281 312 2526

My brother, Jeff Brami, sees him often. He lives about ten miles away in Huffman and can be reached at 281 324 3443.

Russ Brami Jr.

Claire Giblin

Hi, Ben -

It is so difficult to hear that we've lost both Fritz Coffman and now Floyd Polk. I've been lucky enough to have met both the gentlemen as well as their lovely wives, Audrey Coffman and Adrianna Polk. They made the Florida reunions special and we'll surely miss them.

Claire Giblin, dtr of Allan Johnson, 596

Chris Lindner

Hi Ben:

I was shocked to read about Floyd Polk. I sent Adrianna an e-mail directly but I do not know when she will be on the computer. Both Floyd and Adrianna have been so nice to me over the last few years. My thoughts and prayers are with the Polk family.

Chris Lindner

Lindfa Schlarb

Ben

Please pass along my sympathy to Adrianna on the passing of Floyd. I know
he will be greatly missed. I am ever so grateful to have been able to
actually talk with Floyd about the great men of Co. D.

Linda Schlarb

Bob Christman

It is with a heavy heart that I offer a final salute to a real person, who has passed on. Floyd was a person who gave you a real sense of friendship. I was lucky to have met him, so that I might thank him for his service to his country and his fellow man.

Dec. 7, 1941
Sept. 11, 2001
Bob Christman

Darrell Egner

Audrey

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Our group, the 2nd Batt was sitting around the pool in Bradenton waiting for you two to show up. In fact we were talking about you when we got the word that you got as far as Atlanta and had to return home.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darrell Egner

Darrell Egner

Andrianna

What a shock to hear about your Floyd. I talked to him in Bradenton less them two months and he was the same Floyd I have know for years. He was always ready to take on new duty's to benefit the 517. He will be missed.

My prayers are with you.

Darrell Egner

Dick Seitz

I sent the following letter on behalf of the 2nd Battalion to Adrianna on the death of Lloyd Polk. "We were shocked to hear of the passing of Lloyd. Our heartfelt sympathy. With the passing of Lloyd the 517th has lost another warrior, a man who gave to his comrades, his family and his country, without hesitation dedication and loyalty. Lloyd was a great American, a courageous paratrooper and a fine human being. The troopers of the 2nd Battalion join me in sending our heartfelt sympathy to you. You are in our thoughts and prayers during period of deep sorrow. Dick Seitz

Daniel Curtis and Audrey (Ogniewski ) Curtis

Ben, To all 517 Troopers,
I am writing to all of the proud 517th Troopers with regards to my Uncle Floyd Polk and his passing. Uncle Floyd although not a blood relative was true to the definition of family as it is described in Webster's. Our families were thrown together at war time when the worst news that could strike a family did. My Grandmother and Mother received the news of their only son and brother being killed in action Nov 4th, 1944 in Sospel France. You see My Uncle Pfc. Danny Ogniewski Co. "D" lost his life the very same second that Floyd lost his leg. I know through my Mom prior to the incident that Floyd was very close to Danny as Danny was to him through the letters and stories she has shared with me over the years. Shortly following the time of the incident of terror Floyd promised to stay close to my Gram and Mom to make sure they did alright without Danny. You see my Grandmother had lost my Grandfather some years prior to TB. Floyd stayed true to his word! Through the years and while I grew Floyd and Adrianna hosted my Gram many times at the Polk "Ranch" and visited us YANKEES many times up north. I learned to love this MAN that was so different from most men I knew. He was an example of strength and courage not letting his disability stand once in his way. He was a man HELL bent on doing everything he could without anyone's help and without a doubt succeeded. He gave me many great memories and experiences to hold onto throughout my life. I, now a grown man with a son of my own have passed on the history of your fine group of men and the sacrifice's all of you and your families made daily for our daily FREEDOMS during your time of service. Adam my son truly considers all of you and especially Danny and Floyd as true AMERICAN HEROES! I know that any of you that met and enjoyed Floyd's presence found him to be quite a character. He brought many a smile to those of us that sometimes think of life a little to serious. Floyd was a simple man not deeply endowed with textbook learning, but a man so knowledgeable of life through experience and sometimes hard knocks. He was a MAN'S MAN. So in closing Uncle Floyd we will all miss you deeply. You stayed true to your word and comforted and were a great friend to me and my family most importantly my Gram, and for that I will be eternally grateful. I know that after all these years without him you will see Danny again and the friendship will start a new. My families heart and prayers are with Aunt Adrianna and the girls, and family through this difficult time. He truly was an Airborne Hero! God Bless you all!
Sincerely, Daniel Curtis and Audrey (Ogniewski) Curtis