From: Ben517@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 5:04 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: MAIL CALL NO, 1350 517TH PRCT--JULY 5, 2007
70  Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025  *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett  Ben517@aol.com
  
Hello,
 
It will take time to rehash the Washington reunion in future Mail Calls.
 
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
Ben

Website                                   www.517prct.org                                                        
Mail Call                                  
Ben517@aol.com
Mail Call Archives                 www.517prct.org/archives
Roster                                     www.517prct.org/roster.pdf

Claire Giblin
 
There is so much to tell about the Washington DC reunion that it will take days and days.  However, I do want to share that we were greatly honored to have the Vice President of the United States, Richard Cheney, speak at the final banquet just this past Sunday.

We had extended this invitation some months ago, and truly did not expect to hear back.  We thought that the proximity to Washington, DC and the Pentagon might possibly work in our favor, but after all, heads of state are incredibly busy people, and such appearances are rare.  In fact, our reunion coordinator at Armed Forces Reunions, Inc, told me that they have heard it time and time again: one of their client reunions is anticipating a high level appearance by the President or Vice President, and in all her years of coordinating military reunions, they have never had another reunion attended by a White House official. 

So imagine my surprise and outright near shock when we were contacted by the Vice President's staff just two days before the start of the reunion, advising me that we were on his schedule!  The next few days were a whirlwind of meetings, phone calls, and arrangements, all culminating with Sunday's banquet.  The people from the White House made a huge effort on our behalf, and you all know what a soft spot I have for fellow fans of my favorite veterans! 

The Vice President delivered a speech filled with praise for the accomplishments of the men of the 517, and it was a heartfelt tribute to the unit.  He quoted Howard Hensleigh in his remarks, and honored Melvin Biddle, the unit's Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.  I was quite impressed by the level of research and knowledge his remarks delivered.   He was well received, and it was such an honor for the unit to be recognized by the Vice President!  I was so happy to hear all of the 517's history and successes detailed by Vice President Cheney.  It was indeed a fitting tribute, and the men of the 517 deserve this recognition at that level. 

His staff could not have been nicer, and they really bent over backwards to help us in many ways.  Even the Secret Service had obviously done their homework on the 517; I heard them sharing information with each other as our guests moved through the entrance to the ballroom.  They were quoting casualty statistics when I walked by.  It made me realize that this visit was bigger than just the men and the Vice President: it meant that others, as well, would now know and share in the history of the unit.  It was really a wonderful moment for the life of the 517, and I am so glad that it happened.  It was so exciting that it did take us a while to settle down later, but we managed to do it!  It is really, really hard to follow the VP, though.  Talk about a tough act to follow!

We presented, through his aides, a copy of Paratroopers' Odyssey, which had been signed by many of the troopers.  We had circulated them as best we could on Saturday.  I was told by his aides that he would have received them this past Monday. 

Many, many people helped this happen.  For the 517, Frank Ramos, now the 1st VP of the Sons, Daughters and Friends - the 517 Auxiliary, provided invaluable guidance.  The Barrett women and the Frice women, along with Bonnie Littlefield and Helen Beddow, all took over to make the necessary reunion tasks happen while others of us were working on tasks we had not known about three days prior.  Board members provided guidance.  White House staff members Rich Heimerle and Mark Hamilton, Advance Team members Kayla Cook and Rob McCreary, along with Secret Service Agent (from the VP's detail) Kerry Meade all coordinated their teams to make the event successful.  The staff of the Doubletree could not have been more accommodating, and special thanks go to Ashley (our event coordinator), Ryan (our banquet manager) and his staff, as well as the entire security staff.  

I should mention that author Patrick O'Donnell, our keynote speaker and an unabashed fan of the 517, was just wonderful when I told him of the updates to the program.  He could not have been more gracious, and his speech actually led right into the Vice President's remarks beautifully.  When I first asked him to deliver the keynote address, he was thrilled and accepted immediately.  He feels a special affinity for the men of the 517, whom he profiled in his book, Beyond Valor.   He told me that he was looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.  I spoke with him on Monday (the day after the banquet), and he told me that he was still flying high after the banquet. 

Finally, this was our first reunion organized with the help of Armed Forces Reunions, Inc.  Molly Dey, one of the co-owners, was vital to the success of this entire reunion, and especially to the success of the Vice President's visit.  It could not have been done without her tireless assistance and advocacy on our behalf.

We'll have more next time, but this is a great start.  Please, everyone, send in your reunion news and summaries!  Ben needs Mail Call Mail!

Claire Giblin

reunion co-chair


Dick Seitz
 
Ben and Claire,  thanks for the remarkable job you two did in planning and conducting the Washington reunion.  It was a fantastic event , impressive in every detail and enjoyed by all who had the opportunity to attend.  My personal commendation and heartfelt thanks   Airborne , Dick Seitz
Leo Dean

New Officers:
President                        Darrell Egner
Vice-President                Merle McMorrow
Secty-Treas                      Leo P. Dean
 
Board Of Directors:
Kaare Allan Johnson
Ben Barrett
Thomas R. Cross
Eugene Brissey
Richard Seitz
Cameron Gauthier
Immediate Past President: Gene M. Frice
 
Tell EVERYONE to send money to me.  Make checks payable
to 517th PRCHT and address to
 
Leo P. Dean
14 Stonehenge Lane
Albany, New York 12203
 
Claire can give you the names of the Auxiliary Officers.
Also ask Claire if she can get a copy of Cheney's speech
from the White House. 
 
Might be interesting to put it in Mail Call.
 
Thanks,
Leo
                                          ******
Auxiliary's slate in  next Mail Call

                                                Bob Dalrymple
Mike Bilino was one of the best . I mourn his leaving us.  We, Garnet and I,  enjoyed their company at many reunions . I did not know he was so ill . God keep him safe in heaven , and please God be near to his family in their bereavement . And so it goes . Another warrior going to his final reward  . Bob Dalrymple, former CO 569th Parachute Engrs .
Victor Wright  (our English friend)
 
Ben
 
Love the pictures at the bottom of this email - some great shots of you guys.  Who made the jump?  Can I also ask you to confirm all of the items a class A for the 517th would have - I've noticed on several of the pictures that there are 13th and 17th airborne SSI on the website - can you please confirm why? 
 
Regards
Vic

Mike Kane
 
Dear Ben,
 
I am sorry that I only got to make it to the dinner at the reunion but was so happy that I got to meet you if only to say hello.  I had the pleasure of being seated with Bert Jansson and his sons, Alex and Vera Sierra and Pana Scott (Erwin Scott's widow) and her sister.   All wonderful people.  Shaking hands with and spending a minute talking to General Seitz was something I'll always remember.  Thought about how my dad no doubt shook the same hand 64 years ago when (then) Lt. Col. Seitz gave a 22 yr old kid from South Philly a thumbs up into the 2nd Btln. Such an honor to meet him. 
 
So many people I've gotten to "know" through Mail Call and now have met. Thanks so much for all you do to keep the 517th family together through the website and Mail Call.
 
Mike Kane
Bob Dalrymple

Wow! Many thanks , indeed. Great Show ! Bob
 Lory Curtis
 
Ben,
Everyone from the Curtis Clan (me Tim and Dad) would like to thank you and Claire Giblin for such a great reunion.  I cannot remember when I had so much fun.  It was a great week listening to my Dad talk with other troopers about his experiences.  This one will live in our hearts and memories for a long long time.  Thanks again, and best wishes to you, and all my new friends I met at the reunion.

Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ 1st BN

 Darrell Enger

Ben
 
Please add Debra Coates to Mail Call.  Her E-mail address is debi@cctile.com.  She is Bob West's pretty daughter.
 
Thanks,
 
Darrell

Virginia Jorgen
 
Dear Ben,   I am in awe of the marvelous reunion we just had.   My two daughters who came with  me are in awe, too.   It was just too fantastic.   Thank you all, you, Ben, Claire Giblin and so many others who made this reunion was such marvelous success. 
 
I wanted to say that this other book about the 517th was apparently not known -- at least by many.   It is a wonderful book, paperback, and it alone is about the 517th.    It is called "Battling Buzzards" by the well-known military writer, Gerald Astor.   It has many pictures of the men in it, too.   In one  unidentified picture I like to think it was of my husband, Lt. Andy Jorgen, E-Co. It was published by Dell Publishing, a  division of Random House, N.Y. in 1993.    
 
Another slightly trivial thing.   I left my reading glasses at the hospitality room the night before we left.   If anyone found them, I would very much appreciate anyone  sending them to me. I would gladly pay for the postage.   
My e-mail adddress is:
     Virginia Jorgen 9leilani3@coosnet. com
 
Thank you all for such a wonderful affair. 
 
Virginia
                                                     ******
Most members have this book. Call hotel about glasses. 1 800 222 TREE- Ben