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

Hello,

It is getting time to contribute to the fund for our foreign visitors. Have you ever visited the museum in Le Muy or met Michel and Eric? Bob Christie informs me that only about 4 or 5 members have made such donations. Send funds to Bob Christie, 390301 Blvd W. Unit 10C, Bradenton, Fl. 34205

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

     As of June 1st           517th Portland Reunion July 17-21, 2006

               18               Days left to close of Hotel Registration - June 17th
                              Prices for the 517th Registration of $ 88 or $ 99 daily rate cannot be
                                   guaranteed after the above date.

               47                Days until Reunion D-Day - July 17th

                              Please submit your choice of the various events at the earliest
                              date as we must make plans for number of participants

               Gene Frice, President and the valiant Portland Planning Committee

Brian and Dixie Welborn

Sad news to relate, Ben ----

Martha Berg, beloved wife of Oscar Berg and Mother of Linda Dyer and Barbara Heinrich passed away in Everette, WA on May 30th from complications of cancer. Martha was a favorite of all of us in "C" Company, and a friend to all who had the pleasure of meeting and knowing her. She will be missed by everyone. Deepest sympathy and love to her family.

Brian and Dixie Welborn

Jesse Darden

Ben I have just spent about four hours reading book First Airborne Task Force by Michel De Trez which is a pictorial history of the Allied Invasion of Southern France If anyone wants anything about the 517th PRCT it is in this book with pictures, notes, equipment, & ETC. I hope a lot of you have this book, what memories it brings back, Note I will try to bring it with my next reunion in FLA. 2007 Jesse A Darden HQ 460th FA. 517th PRCT. HI To all from Oklahoma.

Lou Holzworth

Trucker Remembers 911

Wayne Cross

Ben here is the document file of the trascribed version of the the after action reports. I know a number of people's names and some fench cities have been misspelled. It would be nice if someone could use the Prop Blast Roster or something like it to correct the names, honestly I just have not had the time. In any event I thought it might be interesting to release this material by Company or organization over the next several weeks as it might get some recollections going and build up interest in the Portland reunion. Attached is the WORD document.

Record of Events
Regimental Headquarters Company

Regimental Headquarters Company was divided between two take-off fields for the enplaning. Demotion Hq. 1st and 3rd Bn Demolition Sections and 11 men from the Wire Section Enplaned at Orbitello Airfield with the 3rd Battalion of the 517th Parachute Infantry, while the remainder of the Company and Headquarters went to Ombrone Airfield with the 2nd Battalion of the 517 Parachute Infantry.

The Demotion Sections and Wire Section landed in the hills approximately three kilometers North East of Callian, France. Lt. Minard assembled most of the Demolition men and moved near Callian where they joined the 3rd Battalion and proceeded to the Regimental CP, arriving at "D" plus two.

S/Sgt. Allison, Tec 5 Boynton joined Captain Hooper, Co. "G" and five men from the 3rd Battalion. A firefight between a group of approximately 30 Germans that were trapped on a highway in a bus and an ambulance and elements of Service and Hq. Company was seen to be in progress. The vehicle was destroyed, five enemy killed, nine wounded and 16 captured. Pvt. Miller of Regtl. Hq. Co. was seriously wounded in this encounter and was evacuated to Callian and hospitalized by the French.

Captain Hooper, S/Sgt. Allison and 7 men, then occupied the town of Callian for three days until driven out by a force of approximately 200 Germans. They then moved to Montaunoux which was held by Lt. McElroy and 34 EM. S/Sgt. Allison, Tec 5 Boynton and a few members of the FFI then blew a road crater in the highway near Callian which runs between Fayance and Grasee, trapping four German trucks and 22 Germans who were taken prisoner by the FFI. Captain Hooper then moved his men to San Raphael and arrived on "D" plus Five.

Lt. Lempke dropped on the hills North East of Callian and soon assembled approximately 30 men, including the Wire Section, a few demolition men and a mixed group of British and 3rd Battalion men. Lt. Lempke moved his men South and West of Callian where they met the enemy in a force which was estimated at one Company. Casualties estimated at 30 men were inflicted on the enemy by mortar and small arms fire. Enemy reinforcements were very quickly brought up and Lt. Lempke withdrew and led his group to the Regimental CP on "D" plus four.

The remainder of the Company jumped with the 2nd Battalion and landed in the vicinity of Le Muy. Lt. Tait and Company Headquarters landed approximately two kilometers North East of Le Muy. He assembled 1st Sgt. Arnold and seven men and was later joined by elements from other companies of the 2nd Battalion. Lt. Tait led the men toward Le Muy in an attempt to orient himself and was fired upon from the town. The entire group withdrew a short distance to a defiladed area and engaged the enemy. Three casualties were inflicted upon the enemy according to the British who shortly took over the area. A perimeter defense was then formed with the British and an attack was made