From: Ben517@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 4:12 PM
To: Ben517@aol.com
Cc:
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 1389 51TTH PRCT-AUGUST 25, 2007

70  Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA. 02025  *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett  Ben517@aol.com

 
Hello,
 
I had a chance to visit Howard Hensleigh yesterday. He looks great and is very content with his place at the VA Center in Menlo Park, CA.  Send him mail. He has access to a computer.
 
This is attempt to catch up on back mail. This is not complete but will try to send out another Mail Call to catch up.
 
Paratroopers' Odyssey is  available for $22.50. Send payment to Leo Dean.
 
At times you may have a problem viewing photos in MailCall. However, we place most photos on the website under Training and WWII Photos .
 
Please try to send in donations by August 15 to Keep the 517 PRCT Association viable. Suggested amount $30.00 to  include Thunderbolt.  Auxiliary members $20.00 Plus $10.00 if you want to receive the for the Thunderbolt.  Send donations to Leo Dean, 14 Stonehenge Lane, Albany, NY  12203.  Make checks payable to 517prct.  Donations for the Auxiliary should be sent to  Karen Frice Wallace   66295 Highway 20  Bend, OR 97701
 
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

 

 

Recent website additions:

Matthew Skovera, HQ Co, 3rd Bn.

PFC Anthony S. Celli, I Co. (KIA)

517th Commemorative March 2007- Southern France

Richard Eaton videos - Witness to the War
Madawaska Victory passenger lists
1983 517th Reunion Booklet - San Mateo, CA

Bill Boyle news article


Darrell Enger

 

Ben
 
Just read that you will be in California until the end of August.  Better get back to New England and try and talking Leo out of his 101st jump.  I sure don't want anything to happen to my S/T.  I judge your ready to get off the Apple Computer.
 
Heck I got carried away.  I was just going to request that you add Jen Willson, Chris Lindners daughter, to Mail Call.  Her address is jleigh1980@sbcglobal.net.  She lives in Dallas but will be helping Mom with the St. Louis Reunion in 2008.
 
One of my sons is coming in tomorrow from Arizona and then Darrell Jr. will pick us up at the local airport on Saturday. We will fly to Hunter MacDonalds Island in Canada.  Should arrive just in time for Toddies.  I trained him well!  Hunter will be at the Florida Mini in January.  He likes to come to my house for a few days before the Mini and watch me burn up a steak.  OK the truth, he won't let me cook any more.  I think it was a good move on my part so now I don't have to cook
 
Hope your having a great time and getting some rest.
 
Darrell Egner

Patricia Orengo ( Sospel )

Hi Ben

On this picture included Roland is wearing a jacket made by a friend named Pierre. He has made this jacket for the souvenir [in memory] of the 517th in col de Braus.

For the 65th anniversary of liberation of Sospel he will produce the same in souvenir of Sospel.

Best souvenirs from Patou and Roland Orengo (Sospel - France).

We are planning to see you again in St Louis in 2008.

With all our love for all of you.


Anne Eckert Valliere

 

Ben,
 
This is Anne Valliere, we met at the Parachute jump at the Washington reunion - thank you so much for all your work. I just wanted to tell you that my Uncle Carroll Eckert passed away on Sunday, August 12th at 11:20PM in York, Pennsylvania and will be buried tomorrow, August 20th with graveside rites performed by the York County Veterans Honor Guard at 11AM at the Mount Rose Cemetery, 1502 Mt. Rose Avenue, York, Pennsylvania. Etzweiler Funeral Home, 1111 East Market Street, York is in charge of the arrangements.  www.etzweiler.com 
 
I can't tell you enough what the Reunion meant to him. I believe, and his son, Scott believes that he stayed alive long enough to go to the Reunion. You could see the happiness in his eyes when he attended the Reunion, even though he had been in the hospital many times over the last few months.  He got to talk to the other veterans and reminisce the war stories with them.
 
He was so excited that I found that he was mentioned in the book "Paratroopers' Odyssey" on the top of page 80, not by name, but by actions, like so, "One man who had been given up for dead crawled back after dark". Uncle Carroll crawled back after making out he was dead, so the Germans wouldn't finish him off. He crawled back after dark like they said - about 3 miles with wounds to his leg and shoulder. I believe he told me that he was given 8 pints of blood.
 
He also told me that he was shot and as he was falling to the ground, behind him he saw Lieutenant Ridler get shot in the head. Uncle Carroll said that he should have been gone then, so he was lucky to be alive today. He told me that he never saw so much fire power.
 
I just want to thank you personally and everyone that he talked to on that day at the Reunion - you all made him feel so good and he was so happy that everyone remembered what the guys had done in World War II.
 
Thanks again,
 
His niece,
Anne Eckert Valliere
Barre, Vermont
alvalliere@msn.com
Steve Gomez
 
Thanks Ben! My job had me in New York for a few weeks and I could "view" my emails but my provider is not very generous with their hard drive space. Grrrrr.
 
I would like to contact Chris Lindner about the next reunion in St. Louis. Would you happen to have her contact info?
 
Thanks again!
 
Steve 
Jim Royer


WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag.

"The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service," Senator Inhofe said. "Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform. "Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not. "I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens. Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others."

This Bill was passed July 25,  2007.  Let your veteran friends know about the Passage of this Bill.

Pat Seitz and Allan Greer
 
Dear Ben:  You are Mr. "Can Do & Where there's a will there is a way."  Thanks for keeping the Mail Call going.  Perhaps it reflects my lack of computer savvy, but it looks to me as if you are doing quite well even if if is your third computer.  All the best.  Pat and Alan
Dick Seitz
 
Ben, reference the question from Lorry Curtis concerning the movement of the 517th up the coast of Italy.  Both the LCI and LST were used. 517th all the way! Dick Seitz
Bob Dalrymple
Ben: We used LSTs from Naples, not LCIs . Bob Dalrymple, 596th.
Steve Markle
 
Ben thanks for keeping this going... If you are still on vacation I hope that you are having a great time.
 
In regard to John Celecz... I recognized the name as being a member of the 596 and sent a personal note off to his grand-daughter. To be fair though, perhaps the irony with the gun may have been how he died and not any political feelings of the writer. I don't think we should read any more into it.
 
Maybe Don Saunders or other members of the 596 can chime in with memories of John to send off an e-mail do his grand-daughter. She was obviously interested.
 
It amazes me that my dad (and obviously many others) went through what they did and still maintained what would be perfectly normal and in many cases extraordinary lives in the years that ensued. That is what makes my dad, you, and all of these guys who participated in the war so special.
 
It is also what makes the men in today's military so special.
 
-Steve-