Good
morning, Wayne Cross is apparently one man with access
to information on the Service Company of the 517th. Is there any way
I can get in touch with him with questions about the Company and it's EM Larry
P.Shipp? After a stay at the VA Hospital near Norfolk Larry has
returned home but remains in very poor health.
Thank
you.
Harris
Johnson
Larry's son in law
Lory Curtis
Ben,
Did the entire 517th leave
from Orbettallo Field, Italy for the
jump into Southern France??
Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1st Bn
***************
180 C-47 Aircraft departed from airfields at Ombrone,
Obetello, Nontalto and Canino - Ben
Tom McAvoy
Thanks for the info on Browning Louis,
You just mentioned Godfrey.
Is this the same guy that was in S-2
in Toccoa? I see from our roster
that there is a Godfrey in North Carolina
but he refuses to answer my
inquires, apparently not the same guy that I
refer too. See you in
Portland. Suppose to decide tomorrow if I
am to loose my left eye.
Tom McAvoy
Jay Sutcliffe
Thanks Mr.
Barrett,
I had a nice conversation with Mr. Kennamer Friday, a really nice
man. It’s amazing how congenial all the troopers that I’ve contacted have
been. No wonder the 517 was so successful. Mr. Kennamer told me, him
and my father were, I think he said with the 508, in Africa as pathfinders. They were shipped to
Italy and began fighting with the 508
when 33 of them were transferred to the 517. I don’t know why they were
transferred or how the 33 were selected. I remembered last year that Bill
Chaney Jr, had a similar story about his father that I read in your mail
call. Mr. Kennamer told me he remembered Mr. Chaney, and he also mentioned
Haskell Reeves, who by the way has his arm around my Dad in one of the photos
that I sent in and is now posted on the website. I had sent the photo to
Mr. Kennamer for him to identify those in
it.
I thought Mr. Kennamer said that he was receiving
Mail call, but I could be wrong. He gave me his e-mail address, but I must
have copied it wrong. I had it returned. I will call him again and
pass it on to you. I thought he said speedyno@cox.net
Thanks
again
Jay
Wayne Cross
Dragoon
Record of Events
Headquarters 1st
Battalion
The 1st Bn., enplaned at Campino Airfield, thirty miles North
East of Rome, Italy, at 0030 hours, 15 August 1944. The planes took off at
0200 hours and after circling the field for assembly purposes, headed North West
for Southern France. The intended drop zone was in a flat area about one
mile West of La Motte, France and the mission of the Bn. less A Co., was to be
in Regimental Reserve in the vicinity of Chateau St. Rosseline. From the
time all sticks jumped until about 1400 on "D" plus three, the activities of the
Bn., must be recorded in terms of smaller units in view of the fact that
assembly of the Bn was not completed until the above mentioned hour and
dates.
At H Hour Hq. Co., 1st Bn. jumped and landed in scattered areas
in the vicinity of Trans-en-Provence. Darkness and a low lying fog
obscured all land marks. A temporary CP was established and searching
parties were sent out for men and equipment. At day light the Co.,
location was definitely established. The Co. then consisted of the LMG and
Rocket-Launched sections, a few 81mm Mortar men and five men from Co., Hq.
Enroute a few riflemen from "A" Co., joined the organization as did the
remainder of the 81mm platoon. A few hundred yards West of the assembly
area, the Co., was fired on by automatic weapons. The enemy were driven
out and the Co., moved into the assembly area. Road blocks were set up
with LMG’s and Rocket-Launchers and the area was out posted by mortarmen.
At the cross road South of the assembly area, a German barracks housing about a
squad of men was located. After a short fire fight, four were captured,
two killed and two wounded. In the immediate area, a heavy water cooled
German machine gun, a small field piece, a few automatic weapons, a large store
of grenades and a supply of gasoline were located. The machine gun, field
piece and gasoline were destroyed, during the attack section Pvt. Lynch was
severely burned. At about 0740 hours, two platoons of Co. A under command
of Lt. Reith joined the organization. At 0750 hours, the elements of Hq.
Co. 1st Bn and Co. "A" moved out toward the Bn. objective. Along the
prescribed route, a small German patrol was encountered and after an exchange of
shots the unit continued its advance across Highway #7 and started to ascend to
its objective. At this time, a German truck and trailer loaded with
demolitions drove out of the woods and parked near a small bridge. Machine
gun and rifle fire was placed on the truck and its occupants and they jumped in
a ditch across the road. Lt. Krause and five men moved forward but they
were pinned down by enemy fire. Sgt. Ford who was with Lt. Krause, was
shot in the leg. As more fire was placed on a civilian truck which had
pulled up along side. Both trucks were utilized to a road block, thus
completing one phase of the Co.’s mission. The Co. then reorganized,
consolidated positions on top of the hill and prepared to defend.
Later, two cars and motorcycle came down the road from the
West. As they slowed down on sighting. The road block, a patrol led
by Lt. Reardon knocked out one car and a motorcycle and the LMG team at the road
block knocked out the other car.
D Day paused without further event
with the exception of small clashes with snipers in the surrounding
area.
On "D" plus one approximately a Bn. of Germans moved up to a line
North West of the railroad, West of the Co. position. The 480th FFA
Forward Observant called for fire and halted in advance. Co. 81mm were
laid behind the enemy and when they took cover from the artillery, the mortars
routed them out. A great number of casualties were inflicted and the
advance was completely halted. Fire was placed on this position
periodically throughout the day until the 3rd Bn. moved up and pushed forward
thru the enemy positions. A heavy concentration of 4.2 mortars and 75’s
preceded the 3rd Bn. and this joined with the small arms fire of the 3rd Bn.
cleared out all the enemy in that area. "D" plus two uneventful and on the
morning of "D" plus three the Co. moved down toward Highway #7 and moved East to
join the Bn. The Bn. was enroute to Buget-sur-Argens.
EARLE H. EMLY
Capt., 517th Prcht. Inf.
Commanding
To be continued