Hi Ben
Yes, I read your emails all the time and enjoy doing so very much....I wish
I knew you personally......thank you so much for contacting me. My brother
prints out your mail call and sends them to Dad all of the time.
I have asked him repeatedly if I could take him to the reunions, but he
continues to decline.....he is well, but misses my Mom terribly and just cannot
seem to do any of the social things he did w/ Mom...which was about 95% of his
social life!!! The only thing he did w/out her was go to the bowling alley
....so he continues to do that on a daily basis, but has not engaged w/ family
or friends since her death.
He is healthy, exercises daily and goes to the bowling alley daily to be in
contact w/ people there. He listens to all of the kind messages which you
all have left on his recorder and reads all of the mail, keeping them on the
kitchen counter where he can see them, but he just cannot engage in the social
relationships.
Is there a way that I can ask people to send me stories / memories that
they have of my Dad? I would be very interested in collecting them for my
sons.
Thank you so much for all of your efforts in keeping us all
connected. Take care.
Michou
***************
I asked Michou if it would be okay to put her above mail in Mail Call
Yes, that would be fine....will it include my email address so that people
can contact me? Thank you!!
Michou
mmyenokida@aol.com
Lucky Hiers
Ben, you are a marvel!!! We can't wait to meet some of these guys in
DC. We have registered with the hotel, but are waiting until a
little later to sign up for activities until we see if my health will allow me
to do any. I figure if health takes a downward turn it can also turn
upwards!! AND, the hospitality room sounds like a good place to hang
out for more personal visits.
Did you say there was a way to rent a wheelchair before leaving home?
Ben, the notes you fwd. through mail call are renewing my great "comrades
in arms."
Lucky Hiers
Merle McMorrow
Hi Ben:
Tell Jim Royer the information he wants will be on the way
in the morning.
Mardy and I are going to Italy next month. If any of
the fellows want me to look up any of their old girl friends please let me know
what Nursing Home they are in.
Merle
Lucky Hiers
Dear Ben:
Lucky's daughter and son-in-law, Lane and Dan Martin, are planning to come
see the Jump on Saturday. We're all looking forward to that.
Our David and family are going to be at the Doubletree. They will
arrive sometime after lunch on the 28th. David is planning to be at the
Vet's Breakfast if no one objects. They will leave shortly after
that. We're so excited because he thought they might be in the middle of a
transfer to another base about that time.
This is a family of five children ... so ALL will NOT be DOING
EVERYTHING! The youngest is about 2 mos. old now; a 3 yr. old, an almost 5
y/o; 10 y/o; and a 12 y/o (who thinks his Grampy can walk on water!)
David just called back to say: IF YOU ALL HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF IT
ALREADY, this would be a good video opportunity for getting memories
recorded. He tossed out a few at me ... and I am just relaying the
ideas. A quiet room ... for guys to tell their own story; or a meeting
between the guys sharing mutual or their different stories with each
other.
David is aware this is NOT the first National Reunion but he thought
perhaps "your organizers" might be a bit overwhelmed with all the DETAILS to
keep the ball rolling SMOOTHLY for so many people. He certainly has been
pushing Lucky to complete his bio.
Now, I've tried to keep my motherly pride in check, but at least Don Gentry
and Mike Marsh are already aware that our son, David, is a Major who is based in
Atlanta. Lucky and I are so proud of the adult he has become. He
started his career as an enlisted man for the first two years...Lucky tells
me very few enlisted men try that route for a military career.
He moved on to graduate from Valley Forge Military College (at his own expense),
and has completed his Master's Degree this year. This last paragraph
doesn't need to be in Mail Call!!!
"Mrs. Lucky"
aka/Billie Hiers
**************
David offered several ideas to help make the reunion a success. I have
forwarded these to our coordinator. - Ben
Boyd Ellis
-----: On the Experience of War: Author unknown
"I now know why men who have been to war yearn to reunite. Not to
tell stories or look at old pictures. Not to laugh or weep. Comrades gather
because they long to be with the men who once acted at their best; men
who suffered and sacrificed together, who were stripped of their humanity.
I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate and the military.
But, I know them in a way I know no other men.
I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something
more precious than my life. They would have carried my reputation, the
memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were
so willing to die for one another. As long as I have memory, I will think of
them all, every day. I am sure that when I leave this world, my last
thought will be of my family and my comrades... Such good men."
Author Unknown--
"I now know why men who have been to war yearn to reunite. Not to
tell stories or look at old pictures. Not to laugh or weep. Comrades gather
because they long to be with the men who once acted at their best; men
who suffered and sacrificed together, who were stripped of their humanity.
I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate and the military.
But, I know them in a way I know no other men.
I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something
more precious than my life. They would have carried my reputation, the
memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were
so willing to die for one another. As long as I have memory, I will think of
them all, every day. I am sure that when I leave this world, my last
thought will be of my family and my comrades... Such good men."
Author Unknown--
Lory Curtis
Ben,
Howard Hensleigh remarks about what happened at the very end of the war with the 517th, and the 13th Airborne Division is invaluable information for us who are sons and daughters of 517th troopers. His remarks are very similar to what my Dad remembers. However, my Dad does not remember what happened to the 517th once the 13th Airborne Division deployed for the Pacific Theater. Does Mr. Hensleigh remember who the 517th was assigned to once the 13th Airborne Division left for the Pacific? Was it the 82nd Airborne Division?
Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1st BN
Howard Hensleigh remarks about what happened at the very end of the war with the 517th, and the 13th Airborne Division is invaluable information for us who are sons and daughters of 517th troopers. His remarks are very similar to what my Dad remembers. However, my Dad does not remember what happened to the 517th once the 13th Airborne Division deployed for the Pacific Theater. Does Mr. Hensleigh remember who the 517th was assigned to once the 13th Airborne Division left for the Pacific? Was it the 82nd Airborne Division?
Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1st BN
Jesse Darden
Just finished reading mail call #1267 where an Alex Fulle was to make
a jump in DC. in honor of the 460th. What a great thing he will be
doing for all of us old Vets. I would have been there, too,
but could not make it this time. HAPPY LANDING ALEX. Jesse A
Darden HQ 460TH
Mike Kane
Hi Ben.
Bill Goswick asked if anyone knew who was in the photo with his uncle
Jesse. Its hard to tell, but the one on the right could be my dad,
Mike Kane. Here's a picture of my dad for comparison. What Company
was Jesse Goswick in? Probably not him if it wasn't D.
Best wishes,
Mike
Here is the photo of Mike Kane.
