70 Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025 *781 383 0215 * Mail Call
: Ben Barrett Ben517@aol.com
Hello
Website
www.517prct.org
Mail Call 517th Mail Call
Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives
Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
Howard and Jan Hensleigh
Mail Call 517th Mail Call
Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives
Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
| 517th History and Archives: Training and WWII Histories, Books, Stories, Documents |
| Training and WWII Photos |
|
Guestbook |
|
Soldier Stories in the News or on the Internet |
|
Friendlies - Links to other related sites |
Howard and Jan Hensleigh
Dear Ben:
Many of us recognized that we had a number of younger 517th enthusiasts, a
website and Mail Call, that might outlive us to keep alive the memory of the
combat team and those who paid the price for its WWII accomplishments.
That is why we adopted a new set of bylaws that establish the Auxiliary as
a framework for our young people to carry on, and provide that any
funds left at dissolution, if there ever is one, are to be used to
continue the website and Mail Call. The bylaws mention the Barretts by
name. With Ben at the helm and his kids doing a good job of keeping
up with that old trooper, we have Mail Call and the website in good hands and
our younger members have an organizational set up that will allow them to
participate as long as their interest, enthusiasm and energy permits.
My idea was to set things up, run our lap, pass the baton, step back and
let the ones who pick it up to do their thing. From my vantage point that
is what is happening. Winston Churchill once said that he was not elected
as prime minister of the Empire to preside over its dissolution. You guys
had a lot of guts to elect an old beat up trooper in a wheel chair as your
president and I was quite sure you did not elect me to preside
over dissolution of the Association.
We congratulate those who have organized another great 517th reunion at
Portland. Jan and I regret that we will not be able to visit that part of
the country for the first time and to participate in all the interesting
activities planned for your enjoyment.
At some point in the future, the membership of the Auxiliary should be
merged with the Association membership. It sounds like you have some joint
meetings planned and that is the first step.
We whish all of you a great time in the Portland area and our thanks for
those who will carry the 517th flag into the future.
God bless all of you and God bless America, Howard and Jan
Hensleigh
Jean-Loup Gassend
Dear Ben and all
I would like to thank Claire Giblin and Howard
Hensleigh for the kind feedback they gave about me in
the last mail call, and would like to remind anybody
interested in participating in helping me with making
an oral history about the Southern France campaign can
simply send me their phone number at this email
address: jean-loup@gassend.com
As Ms Giblin said, I am a medical student, and am
thus very busy during the school year, and far from
home. I will be going to work in a hospital abroad as
of July 25th, and then will not be able to conduct any
more interviews until next summer, so anybody
interested in participating should do it as soon as
possible. As stated above, I will not be in France
during the august celebrations, so will unfortunately
not be able to meet any of you there.
One last word for Claire Giblin concerning museums
versus private collectors. What your father said
concerning the fact that museums will always make an
effort to inform the public is true. But museums also
have their disadvantages. Typically, 90% of the items
are in storage, and too often, items are sold or
"stolen" by staff, legally or illegally. This does not
apply to the Museum in Le Muy of course, that is very
small, and manned by highly motivated and honest
people. But in big national museums, this is a real
problem. In my village, there is a museum where any
item given will have its history lost: the curator has
no list or database with stories of the items, and
most items are unlabeled. Worse, things are badly
stored and are damaged by sunlight, and visitors who
steal things, rip off insignias, write things on
precious items, etc, etc. The museum is a total
disgrace, and completely disrespects the trust that
people have when they give an item.
This is just a remark, and does not concern the
museum in Le Muy. I am just trying to say that caution
should be used, even with museums. The behind the
scenes aren't always nice to see, and careful thought
should be taken before things are given away.
Jean-Loup Gassend
I would like to thank Claire Giblin and Howard
Hensleigh for the kind feedback they gave about me in
the last mail call, and would like to remind anybody
interested in participating in helping me with making
an oral history about the Southern France campaign can
simply send me their phone number at this email
address: jean-loup@gassend.com
As Ms Giblin said, I am a medical student, and am
thus very busy during the school year, and far from
home. I will be going to work in a hospital abroad as
of July 25th, and then will not be able to conduct any
more interviews until next summer, so anybody
interested in participating should do it as soon as
possible. As stated above, I will not be in France
during the august celebrations, so will unfortunately
not be able to meet any of you there.
One last word for Claire Giblin concerning museums
versus private collectors. What your father said
concerning the fact that museums will always make an
effort to inform the public is true. But museums also
have their disadvantages. Typically, 90% of the items
are in storage, and too often, items are sold or
"stolen" by staff, legally or illegally. This does not
apply to the Museum in Le Muy of course, that is very
small, and manned by highly motivated and honest
people. But in big national museums, this is a real
problem. In my village, there is a museum where any
item given will have its history lost: the curator has
no list or database with stories of the items, and
most items are unlabeled. Worse, things are badly
stored and are damaged by sunlight, and visitors who
steal things, rip off insignias, write things on
precious items, etc, etc. The museum is a total
disgrace, and completely disrespects the trust that
people have when they give an item.
This is just a remark, and does not concern the
museum in Le Muy. I am just trying to say that caution
should be used, even with museums. The behind the
scenes aren't always nice to see, and careful thought
should be taken before things are given away.
Jean-Loup Gassend
Tom McAvoy
About George W. Cavner of the 517?? I knew him very well in Boot
camp?
in Toccoa Ga.? he was attached to Demo Plt. Last I saw him was about 15
years ago at one of our reunions in fact he and his wife set at our
table, George is a tall lanky fellow, Hell of a nice guy..?? He had a
Hardware store in Calif. I am thinking near L.A. Hope we are speaking of
the same guy?? Tom McAvoy
in Toccoa Ga.? he was attached to Demo Plt. Last I saw him was about 15
years ago at one of our reunions in fact he and his wife set at our
table, George is a tall lanky fellow, Hell of a nice guy..?? He had a
Hardware store in Calif. I am thinking near L.A. Hope we are speaking of
the same guy?? Tom McAvoy
Mike Spano
BEN....PLEASE STOP MY EMAIL FOR AWHILE. I WILL LET YOU KNOW
WHEN I AM ABLE TO GO BACK ON LINE. THANKS. MIKE
SPANO
Bob Dalrymple
Subject: Fwd: sharpen you mental skills
The following short quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell you
whether you are qualified to be a professional. Scroll down for each answer.
The questions are not that difficult. But don't scroll down until you
have answered the question!
>
> 1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?
>
>
>
The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe,
and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.
>
>
>
> 2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
>
>
>
>
Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close
the refrigerator?
>
> Wrong Answer.
>
Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in
the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think
through the repercussions of your previous actions.
3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals
attend.. except one. Which animal does not attend?
>
>
>
>
Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator.
You just put him in there. This tests your memory. Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.
>
>
>
4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and
> you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?
>
>
>
Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you
not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.
According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the >
professionals tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four-year-old. Send this out to frustrate all of your smart friends.
PS: Just the fact that I sent it to you should make you feel good.
The following short quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell you
whether you are qualified to be a professional. Scroll down for each answer.
The questions are not that difficult. But don't scroll down until you
have answered the question!
>
> 1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?
>
>
>
The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe,
and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.
>
>
>
> 2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
>
>
>
>
Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close
the refrigerator?
>
> Wrong Answer.
>
Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in
the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think
through the repercussions of your previous actions.
3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals
attend.. except one. Which animal does not attend?
>
>
>
>
Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator.
You just put him in there. This tests your memory. Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.
>
>
>
4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and
> you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?
>
>
>
Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you
not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.
According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the >
professionals tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four-year-old. Send this out to frustrate all of your smart friends.
PS: Just the fact that I sent it to you should make you feel good.