From: <Ben517@aol.com>
To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Subject: Mail Call NO. 117
Date: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 4:07 PM
Hello,
Last "Mail Call" was a little long. trying to keep them not more than four
printed pages.
Ben
Website-----members.aol.com/prct517/
"Mail Call" ---Ben 517@aol.com
Entry of Jun 26, 2001 at 23:19
[EST]
Name: Tim Rock
Unit:
EMail: <A HREF="mailto:Std179@cs.com">Std179@cs.com</A>
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: I am the son of Robert "Bob" J. Rock who served in Company C of the
517th. He was very proud of his service and those who served with him. I was
just wondering if anyone out there would care to tell me a little about
serving with my dad. About the only thing he talked about was wrestling with
a lieutenant that kept getting promoted, even in civilian life. Any response
would be greatly appreciated.
Subj: Réponse : 517th Website
Date: 6/26/2001 4:52:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: jimi-lizy@infonie.fr
Sender: jimi-lizy@infonie.fr
To: Ben517@aol.com
Dear Ben
Just a brief note to thank you so much for that, I put tomorrow a letter with
photo of the museum and other info.
Keep in touch and many thanks
your young friends in South France,
J.Michel and Eric
---------- Message d'origine ----------
De : Ben517@aol.com
À : jimi-lizy@infonie.fr
Date : 24/06/2001 03:42
Hello Michel and Eric,
We have added a link on our website to your museum. It is on Friendlies on
the contents page. We would be happy to add any information about your museum
that you would like to send to us.
Very Best Regards,
Ben
Subj: Re: Mail Call NO. 116
Date: 6/26/2001 5:09:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: <A HREF="mailto:CackyG">CackyG</A>
To: <A HREF="mailto:Ben517">Ben517</A>
Great mail call. Really enjoyed reading Veteran's Special Bond. Keep up the
good (and frustrating--(LOL) work). It is much appreciated.
Dot Lubic
Subj: Robert F
Tager NCO rigger 11th abn.
Date: 6/26/2001 7:35:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: edfla@netzero.net (edf)
To: ben517@aol.com (*Ben and Mary Frances Barrett H Co), tomx517@aol.com
(*Tom Cross 2 Bn., 3 Bn.), obaggett@nc.rr.com (#Olin Baggett)
The address for Robert F. Tager is still valid. He lives out on the
northwest side of Las Vegas. Address and phone below.
Robert F. Tager
10629 Heritage Hills Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89134
Phone 702 242 1883
Ed Flannery
Sebastian, Fl.
Subj: Presidential citationThe 1gt
Date: 6/26/2001 7:37:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: <A HREF="mailto:Wild%20bill%20517">Wild bill 517</A>
To: <A HREF="mailto:Lillyj@fmmm.armymil">Lillyj@fmmm.armymil</A>
CC: <A HREF="mailto:Ben517">Ben517</A>
The 1st Bn received one while attached to CCR, 3rd
Armored Division for action in the Soy-Hotton area.
It was submitted by Col. hwze the C.O. of CCR. I know of no other
Wild Bill 517@aol.com
_
Colonel William Boyle was 1st Battalion Commander.
Subj: An old song
you might enjoy!
Date: 6/26/2001 7:44:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: zick@fuse.net (LCZ)
To: Ben517@aol.com (Ben at 517th)
I remember this being in the back of a pamphlet my dad had.
Larry Zickefoose
"BLOOD UPON THE RISERS"
(sang to tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic")
IS EVERYBODY HAPPY,
CRIED THE SERGEANT, LOOKING UP,
OUR HERO FREELY ANSWERED "YES",
AND THEN THEY STOOD HIM UP,
HE JUMPED RIGHT OUT INTO THE BLAST,
HIS STATIC LINE UNHOOKED,
AND HE AINT A GONE'A JUMP NO MORE.
Chorus:
HE COUNTED LONG, HE COUNTED SLOW,
HE WAITED FOR THE SHOCK,
HE FELT THE WINDS, HE FELT THE CLOUDS,
HE FELT THE AWFUL DROP,
HE PULL HIS CORD, HIS CHUTE SPILLED OUT,
AND WRAPPED AROUND HIS LEGS,
AND HE AINT A GONE'A JUMP NO MORE.
Chorus:
THE TIMES HE LIVED AND LOVED AND LAUGHED,
KEPT RUNNING THROUGH HIS MIND,
HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE GIRL BACK HOME,
THE ONE HE LEFT BEHIND,
HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE MEDICS,
AND HE WONDERED WHAT THEY'd FIND,
AND HE AINT A GONE'A JUMP NO MORE.
Chorus:
HE HIT THE GROUND, THE SOUND WAS "SPLAT",
AND BLOOD WENT SPURTING HIGH,
THE MEDICS WERE KNOWN TO SAY,
"WHAT A HELL OF A WAY TO DIE"
THERE WAS BLOOD UPON THE RISERS,
THERE WAS BRAINS UPON HIS CHUTE,
INTESTINES WERE A DANGLING,
FROM HIS PARATROOPER BOOTS,
THEY PICK HIM UP SO GENTLY,
AND THEY POURED HIM FROM HIS BOOTS,
AND HE AINT A GON'A JUMP NO MORE.
Chorus:
GLORY GLORY WHAT A HELL OF A WAY TO DIE,
GLORY GLORY WHAT A HELL OF A WAY TO DIE,
GLORY GLORY WHAT A HELL OF A WAY TO DIE,
AND HE AINT A GON'A JUMP NO MORE.
Subj:
Re: An old song you might enjoy!
Date: 6/26/2001 8:33:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: zick@fuse.net (LCZ)
To: Ben517@aol.com
CC: LillyJ@fmmc.army.mil (Jennifer Lilly)
Ben,
Ok,
Jennifer Lilly is my niece. I always thought that the Presidential Citation
was a "Unit Citation", but she found something (I don't know what yet) that
infers that it was individual citations issued to the men of the 1st
Battalion 517th RCT. I'll be in contact with her to see what else she comes
up with. One of us will keep you informed.
Mail Call is great. Every time I talk to dad on the phone I always let him
know what was in the latest "mail call". Coming upon the website, being
contacted by individuals of the 517th has really met SO MUCH to him. His
health isn't real good right now, I'll be driving to West Virginia Sunday to
see him and mom. I'll give him your regards.
Thanks,
Larry
Subj: Fwd: Pvt.
William F. Thorng Co.F
Date: 6/26/2001 10:11:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: <A HREF="mailto:PRCT517">PRCT517</A>
To: <A HREF="mailto:Ben517">Ben517</A>
File: Chuck#1.jpg (29372 bytes) DL Time (TCP/IP): < 1 minute
Dad:
I don't know if this interests you, but this person did ask for a correction
to the website. She has attached an (almost unreadable) letter awarding the
Silver Star to Thorng. His name was on the list, but was misspelled, which I
fixed. If I read the note correctly, it looks like he died in battle.
Bob
Forwarded Message:
Subj: Pvt. William F. Thorng Co.F
Date: 6/26/2001 11:04:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: oldtownpropaneco@worldnet.att.net (Linda Schlarb)
Reply-to: oldtownpropaneco@worldnet.att.net
To: PRCT517@aol.com
I would like to make a correction to your Individual Decorations and
Awards list on behalf of my Uncle William F. Thorng. He was awarded the
Silver Star for gallantry in action near Col de Braus, France on 6
September 1944. I am attaching a bad copy of the citation for you.
Thank you
Linda Schlarb
Subj: Re: Web Link
Date: 6/27/2001 10:53:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: arnold.targnion@belgacom.net (Targnion Arnold)
Dear Ben,
Thank you so much for your message. We had a so wonderful time in Bismarck as
we met our dear friends of 517th. Next week we shall go at the seaside with
our grand-children. When we'll came back, we send you a few informations
about our Committee but, please, tell your friends veterans that they are
always welcome to stay with us with their family. We also may help them for
visit or anything when they come back to Belgium.
Best wishes. Arnold and Irma
Subj:
Re: New Member
Date: 6/27/2001 9:39:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: <A HREF="mailto:MMcmor8391">MMcmor8391</A>
To: <A HREF="mailto:Ben517">Ben517</A>
Ben:
I picked Karl Stainfurth's name off your Mail Call and have sent him some
back issues of the Thunderbolt.
Merle
Subj:
Fwd: Who Packed Your Parachute?
Date: 6/27/2001 9:44:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: <A HREF="mailto:LiddellDesigns@cs.com">LiddellDesigns@cs.com</A>
To: <A HREF="mailto:Ben517">Ben517</A>
--------------
Forwarded Message:
Subj: Who Packed Your Parachute?
Date: 6/26/2001 8:40:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: mefuller@bellsouth.net (Mack and Elaine Fuller)
To: mefuller@bellsouth.net (Mack & Elaine Fuller)
WHO PACKED YOUR PARACHUTE?
Charles Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat
missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb
ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent
6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and
now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.
One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man
at
another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters
in
Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"
"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.
"I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise
and
gratitude.
The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured
him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here
today."
Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says,
"I
kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a
white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how
many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning,
how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and
he was just a sailor."
Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden
table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and
folding
the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of
someone he didn't know.
Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?"
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through
the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of
parachutes
when his plane was shot down over enemy territory-he needed his
physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and
his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before
reaching safety.
Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is
really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you,
congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to
them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.
As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people
who pack your parachute. I am sending you this as my way of
thanking you for your part in packing my parachute !!! And I hope
you will send it on to those who have helped pack yours!