Hi Ben...I'm going on a much needed vacation
starting Sunday 9/17, returning Sund 10/1. Hey, retirement is not for
sissies! I'm on the go all the time....and not necessarily from
eating prunes!
I've asked everyone else to stop sending e-mails
during this period, but not you! I'd like a big file to read about the
517/460/596 when I get back. If my box gets overloaded, you will
know the reason why, but keep those cards and letters coming!!
Ben, you may not get a high five or a slap on the
back on a daily basis, but you, Bob, Bob C, Tom Reber, Gene Frice and many
others are on everyone's 'thanks, guys! ' list. It takes a lot
of work to keep such an organization going, especially considering the age
group and being scattered to the four winds. Thanks again, and keep it
up.
Phil McSpadden
Hq 460th PFA
Jerry Wofford
Greetings Mr Barrett I am the nephew of George Cavnar- hq & hq
517th. Last year was a hard year for uncle George as he was stricken with a
major heart attack. We almost lost him but thankfully he is on the mend and
slowly getting back to his old self. I don't know if you remember him but he has
had a great and positive disposition toward life for as long as I can remember
and I'm sure that has helped him in recovery. He's also suffered for several
years from Macular Degeneration and has lost about 75% of his vision. I found
your web-site last week and downloaded several photos of the 517th troopers as
well as the x-mas 1944 HQ & HQ roster that was on the site. I really enjoy
your wonderful web site and have learned a great deal of WWII history from it in
the past week. Please put me on the mailing list if possible and I can relay the
latest news from the guys to him by phone or by mail. He cannot see small print
but we'll figure out a way to keep him abreast of the news. I believe his last
517th Re-union was the one in Okla City. If any of the guys want his phone
number or address in Akron Ohio I will be glad to forward it on. Best wishes to
all you troopers and keep up the good work. My e-mail add. is-
yeoldjerry@aol.com
Sincerely Jerry Wofford
Chris Lindner
Hi Ben:
You are busy sending e-mails. Did your son have an operation on
his leg? If so I hope he is OK.
Rick and I were in Cab San Lucas, Mexico and had to leave a day early
because a hurricane is supposed to hit there tonight or tomorrow. We just
got back home a couple of hours ago.
I hope your doing well.
Chris
Don Gentry
Hello Ben, Hope your doing great. I've been on a trip to
the Idaho Army National Guard in Boise and headed out again on the 24 for Ft.
Bragg to work on some equipment for the 82nd ABN.
I'm glad you did the Mail Call like you did as I saw this page
(linked below) and remembered that there are still two
pages missing.
Please read the second and third sentences in Heather Cowan Riley's
note to you.
What you have here is page three which has the 2nd and 3rd
endorsements. Page 1 would have the commendation, page 2 would be the 1st
endorsement and those two pages are critical.
I hope you can contact Heather Cowan Riley and request those two
additional "Restricted" pages that she offered to send if you wanted them. We
need them. If you can get them, I will hand carry to the Airborne Museum in
Fayetteville.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Don Gentry
********
Don Gentry is a great friend of the 517 and still active in Military
Affairs. Auxiliary take notice. Don send me the missing
links.-Ben
Bob Barrett
The letter from Ridgway, just one page
of it, is posted in the Documents section, under Historical Archives, 1944 Dec
28. If there are more pages to this, we should get them and post
them
The photo with Heather's note is in the
Photos section. Her note does mention that there are two more pages of the
commendations.
Bob
Hi Heather, Please send me the two
more pages. I thought that I had requested them before, but probably
not.-Ben
Bob Barrett
Scott,
Per your request, I want to let you know
that the biography of Randolph Coleman ahs been posted to the 517th PRCT web
site. It is currently with the other biographies under "Meet the
Troopers". Thank you for all your efforts. This is a great tribute
to Randolph. Let me know if you want to make any changes or
additions.
Bob Barrett
Scott Atkinson
Thank you Bob.
A question: Did receive my uncle's (Erwin W. Scott Jr.) printed oral
history document as well??
Any idea when it will get posted on Meet the Troopers??
Scott
Bob Barrett
Scott,
Yes, I have it in hard copy. I will
get someone at work to convert it to electronic format, then get it
posted. Sorry for the delay, but I am currently taking time off from work
for knee surgery, and had too much travel at work before that, so I did not get
to it before I left. Give me a couple more weeks. I haven't
forgotten.
Regards,
Bob
Barrett