From: Ben517@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 5:17 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 1304 517TH PRCT- APRIL 25, 2007
70  Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025  *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett  Ben517@aol.com
 
Hello,
 
I am still trying to catch up on mail.
 
Bill and Sophia Christian again put on a great reunion for all and their efforts are appreciated by all who were there. Some of the highlights for me were the presence of Burt Duran and Ray Estrella for a few hours Thursday afternoon. Along with Marty and my daughter Nancy we watched Lud Gibbons and Leo Dean make a parachute jump on Lud's 89th birthday. Some people never learn! My family had the privilege of dinning with Jay and Rita Costello.  Bob ( Doc ) Lecklider was as always in the right place at the right time for medical assistance.  Don Fraser came all the way from Florida.
The complete list of registrants follows.
 
Lud Gibbons and Marty Donahue                                    Judy Downey
Bill and Sophia Christian                                                    Marvin and Rickie Tetrick
Donald W Fraser                                                                   David Tetrick
Vera Anderson                                                                      Donna (Tetrick ) Gollihue
Karen Wallace                                                                       Joanne Barrett
Ponnie Davis                                                                         Ben Barrett
Ribin Homedrew                                                                   Nancy Barrett
Virginia Jorgen                                                                      Fran Barrett
Gene Frice                                                                              Eric Barrett
Bettye Davis                                                                           Bob (Doc )  Lecklider and Nancy
Jerry Davis                                                                             John Knopf Sr
Marlys Lippman Buchenau                                                John Knoph Jr.
Leo Dean
Alex and Vera Sierra                                                             Grace Paciatti and son  Doug Bill Hudson                                                                               Deanne and John Jonientz
Cathy and Marvin Williams                                                   Ray Estrella
Jay and Rita Castello                                                             Burt Duran
Gene and Sarg Snyder
 
Ben
 
We only about 20 rooms left for Washington reunion on June 28,29, 30, and July 1.
 
PLEASE SEND ALL PAYMENTS FOR THE REUNION REGISTRATION TO THE ARMED FORCES REUNIONS. Most have not registered, but it would be helpful to the Armed Forces Reunions for us to  register as soon as you can decide what tour if any that you want to sign up for.
 
Please let me know if you want to receive Mail Calls or if you have a problem receiving them. You can always read Mail Calls by clicking on www.517prct.org/archives
 
Washington Reunion June 28-July 2 . All rooms for early arrivals are taken.   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
 Click on http://517prct.org/auxiliary/ to find the mission of the Auxiliary and an enrollment form
Ray Estrella
 
Hello Ben, Ray Estrella here. I am so glad that we had a chance to meet at the Palm Springs reunion. Although our visit was very brief, I truly enjoyed meeting new friends, and seeing our old friends again. I feel so blessed to have both the warm friendship and, brotherhood that all of us who have earned the silver wings share. Take care, and the best of wishes to you and your family. "AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY"--Ray Estrella
Lori Richer
 
Hi Ben,
    Thank you so much for posting the photos of my Dad.  I have not been
receiving the mailcalls lately.  Have they been stopped or is my computer
not receiving them?  Thought you would appreciate a note I was sent the
other day in an email;


       I think sometimes we forget that the freedoms that we
       have are freedoms not because of celebrities. The freedoms are
       because of ordinary people who did extraordinary things, who loved this
       country more than life itself.
                   "We live in the Land of the Free Because of the Brave"

Take care,
Lori
lbr915@hotmail.com
Tom McAvoy
 
Hey Ben  Glad you're back amongst us.  Extra Good Friends of mine in fact I went to grade school with this guy.  Skeets Kenedy of F Company.  His computer has crashed and they wanted me to ask you to put them back on the Mailing list.  His current address ggken@ucnsb.net  Thanks Ben  also I want to know who I send my contribution to for the Thunderbolt  Tom McAvoy
Tom McAvoy
 
Thanks so much Morris McDowell  for the latest info on Fred Harman,  It is kind of hard to keep up with people some time that live by themselves and they  run into physical problems and kind of disappear.  Tom McAvoy
Lucky Hiers
 
 Dear Ben:  Both Billie and I groaned when we read Boom Boom's message regarding becoming a patient under Hospice Care.  Our hearts kind of dropped from it's normal place into the bottom of our stomach's.  We have appreciated his sense of humor, and Billie had so looked forward to meeting him.  I was waiting to see him to discuss whether or not he and I had actually met.  I had been in the hospital twice during some battles and just don't know that we met, but  I also was looking forward to visiting with him in DC.  He is now in our prayers daily.
 
Somehow ... we have lost Mike Marsh.  Our Emails to him have been coming back to us.  Hope Mike reads this and know that we have not purposely been ignoring him and the other guys.
 
Alex Fulle:  I was a part of the 460th. Lord willing, and the creeks don't rise, we will be watching you make the jump when we attend our very first 517th reunion in D.C.  There is no doubt you don't need any extra coaching on how to do it right!  Hope to get to shake your hand that day.
 
Ben, we've been looking forward to your return from Palm Springs.  We hope it was a grand time and we don't expect you to have caught up everything tomorrow. 
 
Oh yes, Billie did get our registration $$$ mailed last week.  We had waited a while due to health issues and decided we didn't wait any longer to let the committee know to count us in.  It will be special to meet you  and the members of your family.
 
We also saw the sad news about the current  82nd losses on the news today.  God bless their families.
 
Lucky Hiers
Karen Wallace
 
Ben,
Had a wonderful time in Palm Springs this year, this is truly a great group of people.  Many thanks to Bill and Sophia Christian for the fantastic job they did.  Glad to hear Ernie is doing well. 
I would like to ask that all the auxiliary members that have not paid dues for the last period, which would be August 2006-2007 to please pay their dues.  Dues will be coming up again in August and there are many who are not up to date.  I believe Helen and Claire set the renewal dates based on the origination of the auxiliary in Savannah in 2005.
The original members who are up to date are listed below
Lou Barnes
Babbie Boyle
Jeanne Davis
Marty Donahoo
Robin Homedew
Dorothy Mackenzie
Morris McDowell
Tom Reber
Mrs Riley    
Joyce Scaringi
Pana Scott
Pat Seitz    
Peanie Smith
Rickie Tetrick
Karen Wallace
We do have many new members and thank you for joining.
Thank you Ben for all you do.
Karen