Ben:  Although never an official member of H Company, I patrolled enough with H Co. platoons that Fred Harmon and I exchanged Christmas cards for many years.  In Joigny when Capt. Jackson was leaving the outfit on points, he asked me to replace him as commander of the company.  Col. Paxton requested me to remain as the 3rd Bn. S-3, so I missed the opportunity to be an official member of that band of H Co. brothers.  Nevertheless, Fred Harmon's Christmas card was always the first to arrive each year. 

This last week end, the remaining members of the 3rd Bn. S-2 section were in touch.  Chuck Boyer, Ray Scruggs, Frank Wakeman, and Jack Castiglione have made their jump into the great beyond.  We lost track of Tom Weil after he was married in 1947.  That leaves George "Red" Meline, Rene Benoit and yours truly.  Red and his son Bob came from points north in CA for a visit and we called Rene.  Rene responded to our questions that considering a man of his age and habits he was in better shape than could be expected.  He has recovered nicely from a stroke so we had a good time in recounting some of our most memorable patrols and midnight requisitions of Fiat cars and jeeps.  Red is doing well and spends a lot of time caring for Betty, his bride of many years; they are surrounded by family members.

Note to Steve Markle--As unappointed legal advisor of the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team Association, Inc., I hereby grant permission for the reprinting of the Turner Publication pictures.  The objective of our association is to honor the men who fought in the combat team.  The republication of those pictures will assist in achieving that objective.

Airborne all the way,  Howard Hensleigh