After more than a year of research and determination, Jolene Michaels Devaney can finally say "mission accomplished."

Devaney, a former Bradford woman, started looking in 2005 for information on her uncle, Patrick Michaels, who died during World War II.

Ben -

I see that many troopers and their families are looking forward to the Washington, DC reunion next year.  We are currently in negotiations for the date, but it will probably be late June or right after the fourth of July.  We are so looking forward to hosting our heroes and their families in our nation's capital!  Dad (Allan Johnson, 596), Leo Dean (HQ), and I all made the trip last summer on the way home from Savannah.   We loved the inspiring WWII memorial, and cannot wait to share it with everyone. 

We will put out a "Save the Date" notice as soon as we have the dates, but everyone should start thinking about travel plans to DC in June or July! 

We have just returned from the observances in the south of France, and I will send a report and photos in the next few days.  The bonds between the people of the south of France and all of you paratroopers remain strong.  As I've mentioned to you at reunions, August 15 in the United States goes by with little notice; in France, it's the reason for two days of parades, observances, and memorials.  It is an honor to be present for this anniversary. 

I know that everyone joins us in wishing Helen Beddow, reunion goddess, a speedy recovery.  She's a special lady with an incredible commitment to the 517.

Regards to all -

Claire Giblin

Ben,
     Thanks for the information.  It was great meeting you and getting the chance to get to know you a little better.  I plan on  being in D.C.  Any idea when?  Thanks for putting my Dad's letter on WWII recollections.

Don Fraser and my Dad spent a lot of time together at the reunion and they discussed the glove incident.  Here is what I wrote about it.

Sometime in early January 1945, while in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, Major Don Fraser, Executive Officer of the First Battalion was transporting Bud and some other soldiers to another location in his jeep.  Bud had taken off his gloves because they were soaking wet.  Major Fraser noticed that Bud was trying to keep his hands warm with no success.  Major Fraser took off his gloves and told Bud, “Here take these gloves I can get more, but you can’t.  Bud was very grateful and never forgot Major Fraser’s kindness.

In an email message posted on the 517th email site, Don Fraser in 2004, remembered giving Bud his gloves.  He related in the email message, "Paratroopers were not authorized jeeps so my men appropriated a jeep from the British Army."  Apparently, it was left unattended just long enough for Major Fraser’s men to get it.  Thank goodness they had it or Bud would have been walking and would have never got Major Fraser’s warm gloves.  Major Fraser related, "I took Bud’s wet gloves and placed them on the Jeep’s radiator to dry out."   

On July 19, 2006, at the 517th PRCT reunion in Portland, Oregon, Bud Curtis and Don Fraser met for the first time since the war.  Both of these men remembered that day in Belgium when Major Fraser gave Private Curtis his gloves.  Major Fraser related, "My gosh his fingers were frozen stiff and I knew he needed my gloves. I could always get more but he couldn’t."  To this day and all of his life Bud never forgot this kindness.  Now these two men had time to talk about their lives, children, and grandchildren.  It was a great reunion.

Ben - I've seen a lot of references to 517th troopers who wound up making a career in the military. Do we have any idea how many of them did that? I think it'd be interesting to know. mark landreth (son of Roy, E Co.)

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