70
Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025 *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben
Barrett Ben517@aol.com
Hello,
Second attempt tonight to compose this Mail Call and so I may
have lost some mail thanks to AOL.
We will have information about Snowbird
mini-reunion
Kissimmee, FL Jan 20-22, 2008 in later Mail Calls.
Ben
Recent website additions:
517th Regimental S-2 Section in
France 1944
Bill Boyle news
article
Zoot Snyder, A Company
Boom Boom Alicki in Southern
France
250 photos of Don Saunders and
596 P
Claire Giblin
Hi, Ben -
Since the reunion, there has been a lot of interest generated in the Family
and Friends of the 517 - the 517 Auxiliary!
The Auxiliary is NOT an old-fashioned Ladies Auxiliary! Auxiliary is a
legal term, and Howard Hensleigh has advised us that it's what we are,
legally. Having said that, we're going to start using a Friends and Family
designation, because we want all the men-folk to feel right at home! Wives,
widows, sons, sons-in-law, grandchildren, daughters and friends - this is your
Auxiliary! Nieces, nephews....you all get the idea.
Membership in the Auxiliary is $20 per year or whatever your personal
situation can manage; no one with ties to the 517 will be turned away.
Auxiliary membership does NOT include the Thunderbolt, and here's why:
Some households were getting the Thunderbolt when they didn't want it.
Some were getting two copies unnecessarily. The Thunderbolt is expensive,
and we don't want to be using printing and postage unless we have to.
If Auxiliary members want to receive the Thunderbolt, please send a
check for $10 to Leo Dean, 14 Stonehenge Lane, Albany, NY 12203.
One of the Auxiliary's stated goals is to provide reunion assistance to
veterans. Personally, I am hoping that an Auxiliary member will chair or
co-chair our next national reunion. It is truly rewarding!
Come join your Family & Friends - 517 Auxiliary and help us
put on the next national reunion in summer 2008!
Claire Giblin
President, 517 Auxiliary
Pat Seitz and Allan Greer
Ben: we concur with Helen's
comments about the Armed Forces group. If anyone has the credentials to
render an expert opinion this this area, Helen has them -- she has been there
and done it herself and done it so beautifully. From our perspective
they were great and it sounds like Claire also liked working with them (another
who can speak with expertise!). Pat Seitz and Alan Greer
Barbara Herrmann
Hello Ben
I just wanted to say "Thank You " for a job well done !! Also
To Claire "Thank You" You both did a fantastic job of making the "517"
Reunion a real success !! And to all of the family members who helped out Karen
& Robin Frice Also Nancy & Joanne Barrett...A Great Big "Thank You
"
I know everyone was so appreciative of all the hard work that
went into this Very Successful Reunion !!!! We are all looking forward to next
reunion ....I will be sending pictures soon....
Take Care
Barbara
Herrmann (daughter)
Earnie Gilbert "F" co.
P.S. This was my first
trip to D.C. "I Loved It "
Pat Seitz and Allan Greer
Dear Ben: thank you for sharing the
wonderful article on Col. and Babbie Boyle. Two great Americans still on
their honeymoon after all these years! Sincerely, Pat Seitz and Alan
Greer
Bruce Broudy
My sister, Eileen Shaw, and I want to thank everyone who had a hand in such
an enjoyable, memorable reunion. There are not enough words to express what
these
troopers and their comrades have done for the USA, for Europe and for the entire
world. It is an honor to stand among them.
On a personal note, a few of you
know that our mother Trudy Broudy fell in Atlanta and broke her hip during the
reunion. She is now recovering in a rehab. hospital there.
Bruce Broudy
Steve Markle
Not sure if you want any of these, but we did an
extensive amount of sight-seeing in DC and ended up with quite a collection of
pictures. I have posted all of them here:
I have found a way to capture the resized (i.e.
web) versions of the photos that will make them easier to transfer (and
eliminate your conversion to a smaller size). If you want any (or all) of
these, let me know and I will get them moved over to the transfer
site.
Thanks,
-Steve-
PS. I keep a running story of our family on this
site. If you are interested, please come by and visit here;
Darrell Egner
Ben
Please add the following to Mail Call. Thanks!
Darrell Egner
Peter Jansson
I would like to add my personal thanks to everyone at the D.C.
reunion. The Barrett family was so very kind and helped with last second
services to assure our attendance at a very tough time -- thank you -- it must
have been very hard to provide this at such a late hour. Speaking of
such, thank you also to the incomparable Frasier family who gave up a room
for our hospitality. I only wish our Dad had more time with your
Dad. PLEASE -- I need everyone to know that
Trooper Walsh gave his time, automobile, gasoline, and friendship to Dad and my
brother and I throughout the weekend. His Dad is smiling at him now for
his effort of kindness and the use of his "belt" to keep my pants up at the WWII
memorial. Thanks, Troop. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was
so very kind to my
Dad and my brother and I, a heartfelt Thank you. Pete.
Dad loved this time with you all--I/we hope to see you
soon.
Mad Mel
i would like to be added to the mail call list
my name is mad mel
and i performed for the 517th gang in oregon at their national
reunion last year in august (with french reps there as well)
i sang songs from the 1930's and '40's
and was so taken with all the guyz and galz that i would like
to stay in the loop
my father was also in the war effort but under a different
command
this also helps me feel close to him as well
i keep looking on your site to see if there are any pictures
of me with the guyz
also - i have moved from oregon and now reside in nashville,
tennessee
do we have any 'members' living in this vicinity???
Gilles Guilnard
Dear Bob,
Thanks for including the info about Zoot
Snyder in the
mail call.
Im including the "c-47" picture of Zoot
Snyder taken
on august 14th 1944 and another one where we can
clearly see
his German P-38 and camo uniform.
Thanks for your help and best regards from
Europe,
Gilles
C-47 photo with helmet on
This photo, taken in Italy on August
14th, 1944, is a PRE-enactment the day before the jump. Note the camouflaged
uniform and the fact that grease paint has not yet been applied to hands and
face. None of the Enlisted men were issued side arms but Zoot Snyder and several
others had German P-38s acquired in Italy combat.
I'm including the "c-47" picture of Zoot Snyder
taken on august 14th 1944 and another one where we can clearly see his German
P-38 and camo uniform