MAIL CALL
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Washington Reunion. Early Arrival Wednesday June 27.
Banquet Sunday July 1. Depart Monday July 2
Ben
Website
www.517prct.org
Mail Call Ben517@aol.com
Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives
Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
Mail Call Ben517@aol.com
Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives
Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
Reunions 2007:
Palm Springs,
CA Mini-Reunion April 15 - 20
Washington, DC National Reunion June 27 - July 2
Click on these Links for Forms and Information
Information and Registration Forms
Click on http://517prct.org/auxiliary/ to
find the mission of the Auxiliary and an enrollment form
Trooper Walsh
>>Some time after the 517th shoved off for Europe, my Father, Maj.
Gen. Louis A. Walsh Jr...then a Colonel, was ordered to the Philippine theater
where he helped plan and execute the Los Banos raid which freed over 2,000
civilians from that concentration camp.
I doubt if Mr. Ben Waldron was imprisoned at Los Banos but all the same
hearing Nila Gott describe the loss of Mr. Waldron's WWII journal detailing the
atrocities in his Japanese prison camp really touched me. To think Mr.
Waldron was able to hide the journal for 3 1/2 years from the
Japanese, only to have it lifted in a home invasion by some creeps back
in the very homeland he sought to fight for and protect...I can only
imagine how he feels right now. After all Ben Waldron went through
in that prison camp I should imagine his journal represented a piece of his
own flesh - the one and only piece he was able to protect and keep from the
enemy for the duration of his imprisonment.
I offer my respect and thanks to Mr. Waldron for the sacrifice and efforts
he gave for his country during a frightening time of need. And now, as Ben
Waldron is in need to recover that special piece of his life I would like to
join in the effort to retrieve it. So for Mr. Ben Waldron, and for the
memory of my Father who fought to free men like Mr. Waldron in that same
Philippine theater, I would like to add another $500 to the reward for the safe
return of his journal. I would appreciate it if someone would help me to
know how to go about this.
Warm Regards...TW<<
Trooper Walsh / Proprietor of ZooGenesis / Purveyor of DragonTails
2393 North Edgewood Street
Arlington, Virginia 22207
Cell: 703.346.4432
twalsh@juno.com
2393 North Edgewood Street
Arlington, Virginia 22207
Cell: 703.346.4432
twalsh@juno.com
Nila Gott
The Sacramento Bee's contact for Ben Walden's diary is:
Crystal Carreon and her telephone number is ccarreon@sacbee.com
916 321-1203 or
Yes, it is so sad. If it is returned, I'll be sure
and let everyone know.
Nila
********************
Nila Gott
http://myspot.neteze.com/~ngott
Order my new novel: Dream Again, Die Again
Nila Gott
http://myspot.neteze.com/~ngott
Order my new novel: Dream Again, Die Again
Tom McAvoy
To Nila Gott I would like to order your new book" Dream
again Die Again" but did not see away to do it in the last Mail Call. Tom McAvoy (Fourdeuces@comcast.net) just let me
know how to order it.
Peter Jansson ( Bertil Jansson's son)
Dear Ben: Just wanted to let you know that I talked with John
Jackopsic today. He remembers Dad and I promised him I would print out
some information from the 517th website. I told him about the reunion, and
he told me he'd like to talk to Dad. Speaking of Dad, he is still in the
critical care unit at Jordan hospital in Plymouth, MA. We are all praying
he can get over the hump with the infection that affects his respiratory
abilities. Thank you so much for all your work in helping me locate Mr.
Jackopsic -- I know Dad will be thrilled when I tell him. Peter Jansson.
Lou Darden
Ben, before the Kissimmee reunion,
Lelia (Mrs Bill)
Webb & I tried to get in touch with Bob & Emma
Olson.
Their home phone in MI rang & rang & no one
answered.
The MI address is their summer address. I do not have
their winter address & phone number. If anyone knows their winter
information or knows anything about where they might be the can contact me at loujad@sbcglobal.net .
I would really like to know what is going on. Thanks, LOU
DARDEN
Tom McAvoy
What a Great Poem Castiglion, A very similar situation happen to me.
I jumped into France Aug 15, 44. Due to a drunk Navigator we were dropped 50
miles behind the lines (instead of the planned 20 miles) at 4 A.M. Could not
see nothing. Came down on a huge rock, breaking my back in 5 places, I could not believe it as I lay there
writhing in pain. I actually said to my self,
My God why has thou forsaken me? I tried to get to a lower level where the
rest of our stick (guys) were, had lost my strength and fell backward off the
ledge I was on, completely paralyzing me (more injury to my back), but
from then on things turned around and I was rescued by the Free French
underground, taken to a village to see a country Dr. ( His crude examination
decided I had a very very bad bruise to my back (no x-rays) but would be O.K. in
3 weeks) 6 days later was taken back to the American lines via a stolen German
dump truck, after x-rays it was shown I had broken my back in 5 places and was
placed in a body cast for 4 months and flown home , At my darkest
hour things did turn around Thank God. Tom McAvoy
Bob Dobbs Jr.
Dear Ben, My father was in the third battalion from the beginning to the end and then
went on to the 82nd in
and 5 campaign stars. I thought that someone may remember him. My cell phone number is 630-247-9842.
thank you for your website, sincerely Bob Dodds Jr.
Rick Sweet
Hi Ben,
I took a picture of my dad's headstone and I am confused by it saying he was in
the 504th when I know he was in the 517 in Co H. I know that towards the end of
the war they split the 517 up and I have a picture of him stepping off the ship
in New York Harbor with a big 517th attack cloth hanging off the side of the
ship. Maybe he started out in the 504th and was transferred to the 517th. He had
a veteran's funeral that the govt paid for and had his headstone made to
their specs (according to mom) and I have the triangular folded flag that was on
his casket. I wish I could find more easily the history of what he did and where
he was at what time. The more I dig into it the more confused I get. The 504th
sounds like they were a pretty tough outfit also from what little I have read. I
finally dropped off the negatives from ww2 that he brought home. I will have them
in two weeks and send them to you. Maybe I will find some answers there. Have a
good day Ben, and I hope to meet you at the Washington reunion.
Rick
Sweet
Howard Hensleigh
Note for Michael Wells -- Your father could have several
division patches from his WWII service. Also, some of us just picked up
patches of other units.
The 517th started out as the parachute infantry regiment of the 17th Airborne Division under General Miley. We wore that patch. We were pulled out and made a Parachute Regimental Combat Team for Italy, Southern France and all of our fighting in the Bulge and Germany which ended at Bergstein. We never did have an official patch of our own although Dick Spencer's Battling Buzzard has followed us all these years. In Southern France we were the largest element in the First Airborne Task Force, but we did not wear its patch if it had one. When we reached Northern France we became 18th Airborne Corps troops under Mat Ridgeway and wore its patch.
Before the the War ended in Europe we were transferred to the 13th Division where we had several missions such as the Rhine crossing that were canceled because of rapid Allied advances. We wore the 13th Division patch, most of us reluctantly. The 13th Division that did not see combat resented us almost as much as we resented them. We went with the 13th to the States on our way to Japan. The trip to Japan was cut short while we were in the middle of the Atlantic by the Japanese surrender which ended the War. Before we left France, at Joigny (south of Paris), high point men were given the opportunity to leave the outfit and go to other units. Some went to the 82nd and some , I'm sure, to the 101st.
We commend you in seeking information on your father's service with us, Howard Hensleigh
The 517th started out as the parachute infantry regiment of the 17th Airborne Division under General Miley. We wore that patch. We were pulled out and made a Parachute Regimental Combat Team for Italy, Southern France and all of our fighting in the Bulge and Germany which ended at Bergstein. We never did have an official patch of our own although Dick Spencer's Battling Buzzard has followed us all these years. In Southern France we were the largest element in the First Airborne Task Force, but we did not wear its patch if it had one. When we reached Northern France we became 18th Airborne Corps troops under Mat Ridgeway and wore its patch.
Before the the War ended in Europe we were transferred to the 13th Division where we had several missions such as the Rhine crossing that were canceled because of rapid Allied advances. We wore the 13th Division patch, most of us reluctantly. The 13th Division that did not see combat resented us almost as much as we resented them. We went with the 13th to the States on our way to Japan. The trip to Japan was cut short while we were in the middle of the Atlantic by the Japanese surrender which ended the War. Before we left France, at Joigny (south of Paris), high point men were given the opportunity to leave the outfit and go to other units. Some went to the 82nd and some , I'm sure, to the 101st.
We commend you in seeking information on your father's service with us, Howard Hensleigh