Ben: Both of us are so excited about meeting the people who will be
at DC especially you, your son, all the family members who will be there and
those who have been working to get reunions up and running.
There are some whose writings we've read, but who can't be there. We
are particularly sad that Boom Boom can't plan to be there; his personality
(humor, creativity, curiosity, compassion) surely did shine through.
There are some men who have phoned us or written us and it will be such a
pleasure for me to see Lucky with some who actually remember being together at
the same time and same place. We are so glad that Mike Marsh, and our
son David encouraged to follow-up on the information they had on the
517th.
Thanks for info for scootaround; they may not have any/many left, but I'm
checking it out tomorrow. Lucky has another injection scheduled for
mid-month and it would be nice if he did not need a wheelchair. We pray to
that end.
God bless you one and all.
Lucky Hier's wife, Billie
Gilled Guignard
Hello Ben!
Thanks for your email, great to hear from
you.
Regarding the cap, i would need it for the month of
August, for
the Southern France ceremonies so its not
very urgent. I remember meeting Leo
Dean last year in
Southern France and he had this pale blue cap with
"517"
written on it in red. Id like to buy one like
that if possible.
If you
give me your address i will send you 15 or 20
dollars to cover the price of
the cap and the mailing
charges to me. Let me know what amount i have to
send
you.
I really hope Mr Alicki will be feeling better, we
have
exchanged a few emails together and he was very
kind with me.
I also
received an email from Claire Giblin, that was
great!
How should I
proceed to get General Seitz's pictures
signed? should I send them directly
to him by post (i
dont have his address) with a letter explaining who i
am
and why I want those pictures signed?
or should i send them to his
daughter?
If there is anything i can do for you or the 517th
assn here
in europe pls let me know, im fluent in
french and it would be a pleasure to
help.
Weather is weird here in switzerland for the month of
June we've
had snow last weekend and the temperatures
have gone down! freezing like in
February.
Thanks for all your help and support
looking forward to
hearing from you,
your friend of the 517th in switzerland,
warm
regards,
Gilles
Name: Michael Plassman
From: Centralia, Ill
My father
is Dr. Walter Plassman. He always enjoyed attending the
reunions, and had many
stories to tell me and my brothers and sisters.
He finally got the damaged
knee replaced in 2001.
Bonnie Littlefield
Ben,
Don Fraser will be attending the D.C. Reunion. He will be bringing
his daughters, Bonnie Littlefield and Nancy Armand, and his granddaughter,
Vanessa Armand.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Bonnie
Phil McSpadden
Hi Ben...someone asked about availability of
jump suits. My friend, John Meis, who has been manufacturing the WWII jump
suits under the name of 'Chattahoochee USA' is going out of
business and has some bargains in jump suits....the price for a complete jump
suit....pants and jacket ....is $125.00 ,including shipping. I just got
mine, and it is exactly like the ones we wore in WWII, except I remember
snaps down the front of the jacket, and his is a heavy duty
zipper....much better!
Anyone interested should contact him at johnrmwahoo@yahoo.com or (626)
403-5215. He also has some Corcoran jump boots, but unfortunately, all
small sizes (7 1/2 - 8 1/2).
See you at the Reunion!
Phil
McSpadden
Nancy Armand
Dear Mr. Barrett,
My name is Nancy Armand, and I am Don Fraser's
daughter from Chicago. My daughter (Vanessa Armand) and I are looking
forward to seeing you again in D.C. for the reunion. My father and sister
Bonnie Littlefield will also meet in D.C. Looking forward to seeing
everyone again. My sister was having trouble with pulling up the
registration form off the 517th site. She is placing our registration
forms in the mail as I type. We have our hotel reservations, but not the
forms for the reunion. I hope this is not a problem, as they were to be in
by May 25th. She has made the selections for the banquet dinner, as well
as the city tour and events.
Thanks again for doing all that you do to keep the
517th PRCT memories alive.
Looking forward to seeing you in
D.C.
Sincerely,
Nancy Armand, and Vanessa Armand (Don's
granddaughter)
Don Fraser's daughter from Chicago
Ben,
Please transmit to Walther Plassman son
and his family our sincere condolences. We met Doc Plassman in Georgia reunion
1999, and spend a long time together talking about his action and task in the
3rd battalion, and the incredible story of his jump experience when he landed at
30 miles north of DZ Le Muy near the little village of Montauroux, where he
stayed few days, organizing a field hospital where he treated 517th
paratroopers, french resistance, but also german soldiers. We still in contact
with a laddy, nurse at this time who worked with him in those days of august 44.
If son Michael or family plan one day to come back in France and visit the DZ
and area where Doc was, that will be a great pleasure to organize the
welcome hospitality.
Including is photos of Doc in Columbus, and
one of him in 1944 at Nice.
Warmest regards
J. Mickael & Eric, Le MUY airborne
Museum France
