This Mail Call could be called the Morris and Jay story. Morris McDowell is
one of the best friends of the 517. His cousin Layton Pippin "H" Co was KIA.
Morris was not in the 517th but is well versed in parachute jumping , very
active at our reunions and well acquainted members and the
517 program.
Jay Sutcliffe's father was in "H" Co and Jay is most active in Mail Call
wishing to learn all he can about his father and other members of the 517.
I may have had some of the mail from this duo in previous Mail Calls, but
will send it out just as Bob sent it to me. Perhaps reading from the bottom up
may make matter clearer.
I also have mail and photos from Yvonne Rose about her father Herbert
Downs. More photos can be found on the website
Hello Ben,
I have more pictures of my
father, Herbert Downs, that Jay Sutcliffe's father, James had. Jay
identified my dad from the first set of pictures I sent you, and made contact
with me. Jay then mailed the original pictures to me. WOW, what a shock to
learn that his father knew my dad!
Jay, thank you very
much for the love and dedication you show to all the troopers of the
517th.
Yvonne (Downs) Rose Daughter of PFC Herbert
Downs
Dad, I think I sent this to you already. But I didn't see any
of it in MailCall. Not sure if you wanted to include it or
not.
Bob
Bob,
I’ve been in contact
with Morris McDowell, he’s helped me with some 517 contacts. I’m trying to attach names to the
pictures that my dad left. I think
I just about hit a dead end. I will
send the ones that I’ve identified to you.
I’m sending some to Herbert Ford for him to
review.
The real reason for
this e-mail, is to say thanks again for all the hard work. I’ve attached Morris’s e-mail, so you
can see what he’s written.
The first thing I do in
the morning is open the 517 site, hoping someone has sent in additional
photos. Although I know none of
these people, I enjoy looking at al the pictures very
much.
I’ve sent quite a few
people pictures of their dad. I’ve
been able to go through the pictures you’ve posted and match those faces with
pictures my father has.
Again thanks for all
the hard work that you and your pop do.
J
From: Morris
McDowell [mailto:garandaddy@comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 6:22
PM
To: Sutcliffe,
Jay J
Subject: Re: Good to hear from
you.
Jay,
I have a Niece in Mendham, NJ. I will have to see where you are on the
map. If I get back up to see my niece, I will look you up. You need
to meet Bob [Ben] Barrett, he is a great guy. When you meet
these people, & know some of the history of the 517, they will accept you
and take you into their circle of friendship. Most of the men I meet seems like
I have known them for a long time, & we have a great time talking about
their adventures. There is a book written by Bill Webb, it is a blast. he sells
them for about 5.00 bucks, & the proceeds go to the 517th. This book will
really entertain you, if you want one, I will send you bills address. He does
not have an e-mail address. So long for now, I will talk later.
Morris
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday,
April 10, 2006 7:13 AM
Subject: RE: Good
to hear from you.
I am as far south in Jersey as you can get, North Cape May,
located on the Southern tip of Jersey.
I
think Mr. Barrett might know my Dad, when I 1st made contact with
the Website. Mr. Barrett told me to read the “Battling Buzzards”, which I
have. He told me neither him nor
my dad was mentioned in the book.
That statement led me to believe that he knew my dad, or he did a quick
check in the index.
From: Morris McDowell [mailto:garandaddy@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 8:24
PM
To: Sutcliffe,
Jay J
Subject: Good to hear from
you.
Hey
Jay,
It was great to hear from you
again, yes Fred & Herbert told me about your Dad's singing ability. I have
met others as well as Fred & Herbert. There were several at Savannah from 'H'
company: Bobby Barnes, Tex Meador, Ludlow Gibbons, & Ben Barrett was in
'H' co. also. If you ask Ben, he may put you in touch with these people. I
wish you could meet Lt. Ed Athey, he was a platoon leader, first platoon. His
mind is really sharp, & a prince of a gentleman. He was a noncom, Sgt.. in
the 101, & was talked into going to O.C.S., & getting his bars. I have
not heard back from Fred & Herbert about the picture you think is Frieble,
I hope to get them tomorrow. Tell me again where you live, Herbert
said your Dad was from NJ. Regards,
Morris
Sent: Friday,
April 07, 2006 8:23 AM
Subject: RE:
Forgot the Phone number!
I called Mr.
Ford, we had a very nice conversation.
He’s a nice man. He let
me know that my father got his wings in
Columbus, Georgia.
I have some
pictures that I thought might possibly be him. But when he told me that he was
married during that time, and he was not station on base where the majority
of the pictures were taken, it made me think that possibly it’s someone
else. I’m going to send him a copy of the pictures anyway just in
case.
I don’t know if
I mentioned this to you, but when my dad had a few drinks in him he would
start to sing. He was really
good, Mills Brothers and Ink spots were his favorites. The first thing that Mr. Harmon and
Mr. Ford said about my dad, “I don’t know if you know this, but after your
dad had a few drinks, he liked to sing.” To this day, there’s not a Mills
Brother song I don’t know, and I still have and play their albums. A little corny, but it reminds me of
my dad and his brothers, when they would get together and my pop would
sing.
Thanks for the
contact, I really appreciate it.
You are also the person who put me in touch with Mr. Harmon, and for
that I am also grateful.
Jay
From:
Morris McDowell [mailto:garandaddy@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 8:48
PM
To: Sutcliffe,
Jay J
Subject: Forgot the Phone
number!
Jay,
Mr. Fords phone number
404-814-9678. He will be expecting your call. See ya ,
Morris
----- Original Message -----
Sent:
Friday, March 31, 2006 7:27 AM
Subject: RE:
checking in.
I don’t know
if you ever see Mr. Athey, but if you do, please show him this
picture
You sent in a
picture of Mr. Athey, Mr. Harmon and Mr. Walter Friebel. The picture above has been driving
me nuts, on the back in my dad’s handwriting was the word “sad”. I would
imagine this person was killed in action. And the only face I could match it
to even closely was to Mr. Friebel.
Please ask Mr. Athey if this is Walter Friebel. I have made numerous calls to
people in the US who are named Friebel,
unfortunately no one’s related.
Here’s a story
for you
This picture
was in one of the books written about the
517.
The man circled is
my dad. It’s much larger in the
book, and he’s easily recognizable.
My father sent a lot of souvenirs home with a friend of the family. It’s a long story, but this person stole
my father’s things, and was even dressing up like a paratrooper and going around
town saying he was a trooper. My
father never got his things back.
When I saw
this picture, I thought to myself that, my dad at least came home with his
hat on, and I wish I had it.
When my father died, we decided to bury him with his paratrooper
bracelet, since he wore it all the time, After finding the website, and
thinking of my dad, I wished that I had kept the bracelet, something to
have and maybe pass down to my kids.
One day at
work my mother called and told me she had something for me, when I went
over, she had my dad’s hat, medals, more pictures, and his paratrooper
bracelet. She said they were
lying up in the attic, and how they got there she didn’t have a
clue.
I would
imagine that my father was in Mr. Athey’s platoon. If you look at the pictures I sent
in, one of the troopers is Sergeant James Wilson, he’s also in the group
of pictures you sent in for Mr. Athey “Men of H Company”. And my dad was under Mr.
Harmon.
Talk to you
soon
J
From:
Morris McDowell [mailto:garandaddy@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 8:45
PM
To: Sutcliffe,
Jay J
Subject: Re: checking
in.
