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Dick Seitz
Thanks, Ben for your
note. You were most thoughtful. I'm making good progress
and walking without a cane, but am being very cautious. I am
so happy the Association has selected Washington D C for the next
reunion, This have a large turnout. God willing I will be
there and will try to have some of my children join me. Ben,
again thanks for your note and all you do for the 517th. You a
truly an outstanding person and tremendous asset to the
Association. Airborne all the way; Dick
Scott
Atkinson
Ben & Bob,
Randy Coleman, Randolph Coleman's son has
requested that I forward a copy of Randolph's transcribed oral
history for posting on the 517th web pages: "Meet the
Troopers". Randolph was in F Company.
Randy would appreciate being advised when it is
posted.
Having the opportunity to know Randolph and work
with him on this project was a great experience for me; something
that I will never forget. I do hope that living
troopers, trooper's families and other interested historians
enjoy reading Randolph's experiences. I have added a few
pictures at the end, some which I understand have never been
posted.
I had the privilege of visiting Southern France
(Nice, Le Muy & Sospel) this past summer. The
hospitality of Robert Cohen, Patricia and Roland Orengo was
absolutely the best one could expect.
Scott
Atkinson
Nephew, Erwin W. Scott Jr. (D
Company)
Oral History Volunteer
Nimitz Museum, Fredericksburg, Texas
Tom Cross
Ben:
If you have not done so already I
suggest you put this (ADT) Message/Clip on the 517th PRCT web
site/e-mail. These are our kind of people and we hope to see more of
them in the future.
Regards, Tom
Ben:
The ADT drawing is terrific' The C-47 in the
background with the "9X" painted on its nose is from the 95th
Squadron of the 440th USAF Troop Carrier Group that dropped the 2nd
Bn 517 PIR in OPERATION DRAGOON on August 15, 1944. It was an
outstanding outfit
Regards, Tom
Gene Frice
Ben,
Ben and all,
Please allow me to respond to your very appropriate
note in
relation to Wade's humanitarian offer to aid the 517,
and our
continuing battle with the elements -- finances included.
This is an
important and likely life saving endeavor step for
the future of the
517th, and our associate
organization.
I responded to Wades e-mail
and to the 517th e-mail within several
days following the
receipt of his note. I sent an e-mail response to
Wade and the
517th members personally thanking him for his offer and
certainly supporting approval of the proposal. I pointed out we
need a
formal letter of proposal, (rather than e-mail), for his
purpose, ours,
and the IRS). The proposal should initially go to
me, several of the
presidents for an executive review, and
finally to the current members
of the Board for review and
approval. This should not present an
excessive administrative
demand for such an important issue. I have not
heard from Wade
during the last couple of weeks and I was preparing a
second
note, as we speak.
Ben, thank you for
your concern and we will quickly resolve this
bump in the
road.
Gene Frice,
President 517th President
Jeff Wilhoit
Ben,
I agree with Bob on hiring someone to do the billing. It is
crucial that we keep the 517th alive. You guys have done your part,
take a break. Maybe the Aux.could fund this.
Jeff Wilhoit Son of Sgt Bill Wilhoit of "A"
Co.
Tom Cross
I examined your Airborne Units Roll
Call Roster and noticed the you still do not recognize the 1st
Airborne Task Force that was the principal unit in OPERATION DRAGOON
that made the combat jump in Southern France on August 15,
1944.
Additionally, you consistently fail to
recognize the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiments existence as well
as that of the 460th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion and the
596th Parachute Combat Engineer Company. All three of the afore
mentioned WW II Combat Airborne Organizations made up the 517th
Parachute Regimental Combat Team (517th PRCT) that had an
outstanding record in the Mediterranean and European Area of
Operations.
The 517th Parachute Regimental Combat
Team has published a unit history entitled;
Paratrooper's Odyssey and has a unit web site at www.517prct.org that has an
outstanding
historical reference section replete with valuable museum
quality airborne material that would be of interest to your
Museum. You might find it of interest to contact the 517th PRCT Web
Site Master Ben Barrett at www.517prct.org or his home
address and telephone number at: 70 Pleasant Street, Cohasset, MA. Zip Code 02025;
Telephone Number (781)-383-0215.
For your information I am an original
member of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment that activated in
1943 and deactivated in 1946 at Fort Bragg, NC. During that period I
served as a Company Commander, Battalion Executive Officer and
Battalion Commander. The information addressee in this message is
Lt. General Richard J. Seitz USA Ret. who is one of the two
remaining original Battalion Commanders and was also CG of the 82nd
Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC. prior
to retirement.
I hope this message will prove of value
in establishing our identity in the WW II Airborne Family.
Regards, Thomas R. Cross, Colonel USA Ret.
Gene
Frice
Ben,
In my email of yesterday concerning
Wade's proposal I
complicated what should have been a no brainer
exercise. It was in my
military or legalistic role thinking of
various bureaucratic channels
we could go thru.
Really, all we need to do is to have each responsible officer
review
Wade's email proposal so we can reach a consensus. If you
would be so
kind as to coordinate that effort.
However, I feel we do need a professional review by Howard
to
further protect Wade and our dual associations, in addition
to
possible IRS interest.
Following the
review(s) and having reached that consensus-then
to obtain the
approval of our Board(s) and whatever remaining
administration by
our secretary and treasurer, with Howard's council.
As mentioned yesterday, I do feel we need Wade's submission
of
his formal proposal. I have written him again
today.
Nuf said?
My
email responses will be somewhat further goofed as I am
changing
to gmail (google) and closing aol. AOL has come up with
excellent
features, however I have had time and access problems (dial
up)
and currently have cable (DSL) with gmail and working fine. But,
I
am on two computers and two email names-either will work for
awhile.
Regards Gene
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