From: Ben517@aol.com
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 9:12 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 1310 517TH PRCT-MAY 7, 2007
70  Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025  *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett  Ben517@aol.com
 
Hello,
 
I do not put forwarded mail in Mail Call. I send Mail Call out to about 400 people and do not wish to pass on a virus  and I do forward any mail that indicates that I will suffer a dire consequence if I fail to do so. I am eighty nine years young and haven't been hit by lightning yet.  
 
 
We only about 15 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.  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
Howard Hensleigh
 
Dear Ben:

Thanks for reminding me to jot down my thoughts on how the association and auxiliary could work together for the good of the 517th. 

In a word, there should be the fewest number of walls separating the auxiliary from the association.

As the 517th troopers grow older and fewer, the auxiliary members will shoulder more and more of the functions to carry out our objectives.  For that reason, they should be brought into all of the activities as soon as they are ready.  When we have the business meetings, there is no reason they could not be there.  They will be interested in having a part in deciding where the next reunion will be. I can see no reason for having separate bank accounts; with their consent, their donations may be deposited along with ours in one bank account.  Donations to the association are income tax deductible.  If this happens, the members of the auxiliary should have a voice in how those funds are spent. 

This raises the question of why we have an auxiliary.  For years, there was growing interest in some kind of formal recognition of the many wonderful people who have shown interest in what we did in WWII and keeping alive the memory of those who fell and those who remained.  We set up the auxiliary to fill this vacuum.  So, why not make members of the auxiliary members of the association?  The Internal Revenue Service and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in which the association is incorporated both require a high percentage of veterans to be members of the association.  We have always been able to answer their inquiries that 100% of our members are veterans.  If it were not for those provisions, we could merge the two organizations into one and continue into our changing future.  With the auxiliary members being more involved than ever, we can work as though there is one organization, stopping short of formal merger.  How we make this work for the honor of the the men who fought and died in the 517th will depend on the inventiveness of the officers of both organizations.  I am sure it will work.

At some point in time, the website, mail call and possibly an occasional Thunderbolt will carry on what we have enjoyed for over 60 years.  I hope this is in the distant future.  When we had our reunion in Savannah there were remarks that this would be our last reunion.  I am happy that did not happen and that a great reunion is planned for Washington D.C. next month.  I wish I could be there, but traveling without Jan to run my interference is beyond my scope. 

Highest airborne regards,  Howard Hensleigh
June Huffman
 
Glad you had a good Reunion!    It is always good to hear from the group===and keep in touch. You do such a great job.     What do you hear from Bob and Mildred Christi?  June Huffman
 
Do you have any information on Forrest Sutton.  I believe he was mentioned in the book on the 517.  My friend is a collector and has some of his items.  I know that he was in the 517 in WW 2. Reentered the service in 1948, was in Korea and later was in the special forces in VN.
Thanks,
Eric 
                                *************
 Eric who?- Ben
Ronald Stassen
 
Friends,
 
Yes its a shame that Montgomery did not break through like Patton in Bastogne.
Operation Market was not a success, operation garden was a bit better.
It was not only the Dutch people who had lots of grief because of the failure, don't forget the Soldiers that were involved.
 
But its the result that counts on the end, unfortunately there isn't a war with out casualties.
We may not forget the things that happened, that's why i adopted graves at War Cemetery Margraten.
 
Regards
 
Ronald
Kent Floyd Immerfall
Ben,
 
In all of the Mail Calls I've read over the last couple of years I have not seen a reference to the above booklet/diary.
 
Over the past 2 weeks I have been using my genealogy skills to try and locate a direct relative to the soldier who gave this book to the grandmother of a friend of mine.  My friend is not a direct descendant of the soldier and wants to find one that will appreciate this vivid look at the history of fighting across Europe in WW II.
 
Do you, or do you think any of the 517th Band of Brothers remember be given a blue booklet with the title, My Life in the Service?  Was it given to soldiers when they were recovering from injuries in Veteran's hospitals?
 
The booklet is blue, about 6" x 4 1/2" x 1/2" thick.  On an inside cover is stated, "The Diary of..." and then the soldier's written name.  There are pages for a photograph, Identification, Service Record (Transfers and Changes in Rank), Physical Record, Citations-Awards and Decorations, My Buddies, Officers I Have Met, Civilians I Have Met, and The Following Pages Contain the Diary of My Life in the Service.  The back of the booklet contains pages for The Folks Back Home, Dates To Remember, Gifts I Have Received, Places I Have Been, Autographs, and My Discharge from the Service.
 
This soldier was from Bay City, MI, and regrettably died in a tuberculosis hospital in Detroit, about 3 years after his Honorable Discharge on 30Nov1945.  His account of experiences in fox holes and village to village is so well written and so descriptive that I feel it should be a part of a newspaper Memorial Day story.
 
To add to the "story" and lasting legacy of this man could you tell me about this booklet/diary from the perspective of a Brave Soldier who was there?  When and how were these booklets distributed?
 
Thank you,
 
Kenton Floyd Immerfall
Kenton Floyd Immerfall
 

Thanks Ben,

 
I sent this "book seller" a question.  I asked him if he had considered looking for a relative that might appreciate the diary.  Too many times I've seen WW II and other war items on sale on eBay and at rummage sales.  It makes me upset that people are looking only for money when the item for sale might be the only "remaining" connection to a long lost relative.  Sorry, I get on my high horse once in a while.
Kenton Floyd Immerfall
Nephew of Floyd A. Stott
Howard Hensleigh
 
Ronald,  Well said.  Just a reminder that airborne units may do their jobs well, but cannot carry on their backs all the supplies and equipment required for sustained operations.  Those who send them behind enemy lines must take the responsibility to break through to make the operation succeed and liberate the airborne for another mission later on.  My best to all, particularly to those Dutch civilians who endured Nazi occupation for several years,  Howard Hensleigh