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

Hello,

Since we have had a website and Mail Call for the 517, I have receive many request for information from would be authors who were going to write books. I never heard of any such books being published. One legitimate historian, John Lucas, did seek information about Joe McGeever Hq 3rd Bn KIA. concerning Montana State college . Joe McKeever was one of the starting eleven men on its 1941 football team. all were KIA during WW2

If anyone has the address of Brian Joyce, please send it to me. His phone number is unlisted.

Ben

Website www.517prct.org
Mail Call 517th Mail Call
Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives
Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf

Annual Reunion
July 17-22, 2006
Portland, OR

REGISTRATION FORM

Howard Hensleigh

Ben: I too got a letter from Joyce and will answer it to plug the 517th.

Here is a mother's day note. My mother is long since gone, but I am still grateful for her courage and encouragement during WWII. She was interviewed in Des Moines by a newspaper "man on the street" when Russ Miler and I were in A stage of the Parachute School at Ft. Benning. She proudly ended her interview with "My son is a paratrooper." Russ and I were in good shape and were confident we could make it through A stage, but we were not paratroopers yet by a long shot. Three more weeks and we made it. My mother never whimpered or complained about what her son did in the service while others had softer jobs or pulled 4F stunts to stay in the University until the War was over. Mother always seemed to know what was going on; that was unusual because most civilians were interested only in how the War affected them--gas rationing, food stamps, nylons, etc. When I was cold in the Bulge, I knew my mother felt it. Her attitude always helped my do the best job in combat that I could, because I knew that is what she wanted me to do. She prayed and knew that I would come home. Sometimes my Dad and I wern't too sure about that, but she never doubted. I was also proud of my mother when we came home and the mothers of the young lads who took our place in the occupation forces marched on the Pentagon to demand that their sons be brought home.

My guess is that my mother was not unique among troopers mothers. We came from stock like that.

Howard Hensleigh

Patricia and Roland Orengo

Hello Thomas

We are Patricia and Roland Orengo and we live in Sospel.

Last year we were in Savannah at reunion of 517.

We will be happy to show you our village and its area.

We are in touch with Robert Cohen who lives in Nice and he can pick you up in Nice to go to Sospel where we will wait for you.

To go and to visit Sospel you need 1 day and you will have another day to go to Le Muy.

It will be a great moment for you because in Sospel you will see a lot of places where the 517 was fighting

Be sure to take a lot of pictures !

Best regards

Patricia and Roland

Propriété Saint-Joseph

quartier Bérins

06380 SOSPEL

FRANCE

Lory Curtis

Ben,
My Dad has the same question as Lyle Madison. He also received a letter from Brian Joyce requesting written information about his war experiences. Brian indicated he wants the information for a book he is writing. What is your recommendations if any?

Lory Curtis, son, written on behalf of Bud Curtis, HQ 1st Bn

Terry Casey

Ben,

Thank you so much for putting those pictures of Jim on the website and for sending me Howard Hensleigh’s note to me. I have just one question: I though I sent to you 4 pictures but on the website there is printed only 2. Did you not receive the others? If not, I must have messed up in scanning them and transferring them. If this is the case, I can try again if you think it worthwhile for others to see. One was a picture of Jim and many officers in his company which was taken before they shipped out. The fourth was two officers in a outdoor café, again I believe in Nice.

I shall contact Tom Rebar about the one picture his dad is in. He may wish to have the original photo which I would gladly send him.
I also have a picture (which I did not send) of Jim leading Co. I through the Place Massena in Nice along with a French copy of the article accompanying it...the article is partly missing but the picture is in tact. I think it was taken in Nov. of ‘44.

Sincerely,
terry casey

Bob Darlymple

Dear Ben and Boom Boom, I ,too, received the same citation. perhaps all regular officer ? Bob Dalrymple, 596th Engrs

Lory Curtis

Ben,
My Dad has the same question as Lyle Madison. He also received a letter from Brian Joyce requesting written information about his war experiences. Brian indicated he wants the information for a book he is writing. What is your recommendations if any?

Lory Curtis, son, written on behalf of Bud Curtis, HQ 1st Bn

Robert Cohen

Mr Orengo told me we can expect the visit of veterans in Nice and Sospel, next June.

Is a great new.

Please send me again the mail about that. Because I didn't receive it.

Robert Cohen

robcohen@numericable.fr

(check this new adresse, please)