From: Ben517@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:43 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 1305 517TH PRCT-APRIL 26, 2007
70  Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025  *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett  Ben517@aol.com
 
Hello,
 
I have more mail to be in later Mail Calls including photos of Fred Brown and I may have lost some mail while on an apple computer in Ca.
 
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

 formatted pdf forms simple Web Page format
Doubletree Hotel Registration Form
Reunion schedule of Events
517th Reunion Registration Form		 Doubletree Hotel Registration Form
Reunion schedule of Events
517th Reunion Registration Form
Boom Boom Alicki
 
I would be delighted to sign the photos in question.  My email is <BoomBoomalicki@aol.com
*                                          ************
Boom Boom's reply to Giles our friend in Switzerland. - Ben
Pat Seitz
 
 
Dear Ben: 
    I was distressed to read Boom Boom's very unassuming notice that he is now a hospice patient.  I don't recall his ever giving the slightest clue that his health was in particular jeopardy.  Alan and I were looking forward to meeting him in person at the reunion as we have always found his emails to be very special. 
     Do you have any of the details?  
    I would like to send an email to Boom Boom via Mail Call or you (whichever you recommend) to just say (1) thank you for the words of wisdom he has shared over these past few years and (2) to let him know he is in our thoughts and prayers.
    Sincerely,
    Pat
Pat Seitz and Allan Greer
 
 
Dear "Boom Boom":
    Please excuse the informality of calling you by your nickname although we have never had the privilege of formally meeting you.  Ben has kindly shared your email address with me so that my husband, Alan, and I could contact you directly regarding your recent email that you have become a hospice patient yourself.
   To say we were saddened to read your note is an understatement not only for the reasons that we wish only the best for you, but also for what can only be regarded as selfish reasons.  We inferred from your note that you were telling us, who are members of your fan club, that you would not be able to attend in person the DC 517th reunion the last weekend in June.  Having read your wonderful, funny and wise 517th emails, Alan and I were looking forward to meeting you.  We wanted to thank you for your service to our country, which helped to secure the many freedoms we hold so dear, for your dedication to the 517th and for your emails.  They have been real treats and you are a genuine treasure.
    Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  You are very much in our thoughts and prayers.  We hope by the grace of God there may be a way to say thank you in person, but if not, we hope these poor words of ours can in some small way convey how much you and all that you have done for our country, the 517th and the members of your fan club mean to us.
    Sincerely yours,
    Patricia Seitz (Dick Seitz's daughter) and Alan Greer

Tom McAvoy
 
Hey Boom Boom you did not say if you will have your computer with you   Good luck old friend  Tom McAvoy
Peter Jansson ( Son of Bertil Jansson B Co. )
 
Dear Ben: 
 
Thanks as always for everything.  My dad is still at New England Sinai Rehab in Stoughton, Ma.  I was hoping 4 months ago when the accident happened that he and I would be able to attend the reunion in June, but his progress now will not permit it.  I am so disappointed, since I know Dad was looking forward to it.  Slow progress, but I'll take small forward steps anytime over any sort of letdown.  On one lucid day at rehab, I mentioned Bill Boyle to him, and he said that Mr. Boyle was a commander who did more than he asked of his men.  Dad was very serious about this.  He holds him in the highest regard.  He also remembers a Capt. Robbins.  I have come to realize how unique the 517th et. al. were.  I learn of these things now that Dad has aged and will finally open up, but even more so, through your website.  How I wish Dad and I could have attended this reunion.  Thanks to all of you for my education.  Peter Jansson.  Dad was a part of B company
Bob Dalrymple
 
Darn, Ben . I would miss the one when all of your family and other family members were present ! C'est la damned kidney stones ! Bob PS : Thanks a million for the roster of attendees ,though.
Tom McAvoy
 
 
To Kathy McWilliams  and Michael K Holzworth,  I had been in Regimental Headquarters Company during our Boot Training days  (March-April-May-June 1944) Toccoa Ga. and knew Louis Holzworth very well,  considered him a very good friend, I was in Regt. Intelligence he was in the Demo platoon? None the less, we trained and ran our legs off so to speak getting in shape for the 517 those 4-1/2 months (boot training) before going to Ft. Benning Ga. for jump school, I was moved out of Regt. Intel  just before shipping over seas toward Combat to Co. H 3rd Btn, for our combat in Italy. Then for the Jump into the Invasion of France I was again moved to 3rd  Btn Intelligence (meaning I kind of lost track of Louis) From our conversations while in training  I had learned Louis was from Chicago Ill. and after the war ( I married and moved to Chicago, so why not look up Louis this would be about 1946-47 time) ( he lived in a suburb of Chicago and I went  to visit him) had a very good visit and the next time I saw him was at one of our conventions much later.  I would guess this was before either of you were born. Tom McAvoy
Gordon Stewart

Ben

 The WWII Airborne Demonstration Team had the great privilege to welcome Fred Brown to our Frederick base last weekend.  Fred joined to watch and critique our training jumps.  What a character.

 We hoped to have both he and Jesse Darden together, but unfortunately Jesse was not well enough to make the journey from McAlester, so we had to make do with just Fred’s stories.

 He is a great credit to and ambassador for the 460th PFAB.

Airborne

Gordon Stewart

WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation

Steve Gomez
Hello Ben,

The weekend of April the 21st SGT Fred Brown (460th HQ) accompanied myself to the Frederick Army Air Base to observe a training weekend with the World War II Airborne Demonstration Team. He told me that he had a great time in the hanger and on the drop zone!

AIRBORNE!

Steve Gomez