I'm back again, hopefully in time for the 3rd Quarter Thunderbolt.  Leo (Bomb) Dean is doing a super job as Treasure of the 517.  Just wish he wouldn't think he was a Bomb.  For those that aren't on line on September 30 he jumped out of a B-17.  That makes 100 plus jumps.  In the Big War the B-17 held twelve 500 pound bombs, 6 on each side.  He and 5 other brave men (?) climbed into a bomb bay and the pilot opened the bomb bay door at 6000 feet.  Leo tells me he hit the circle.  And to think one bomb out weights Leo almost  400 pounds.  Heck I don't even jump off the last step at my house.

 

Now for some serious business.  We have three Reunions in the planning stage.  I plan to attend all three if the good Lord is willing.

 

1) Snow Bird Reunion in Kissimmee, Florida

    Dates:  January 20-24, 2008

    Hosts:   Donna Hilliard & Leila Webb

 

2)    West Coast Party in Palm Springs, California

       Dates:  April 14-19, 2008

       Host:    Bill Christian

 

3)    National Reunion in St. Louis (The big one)

       Dates:  June 25 to July 1, 2008

       Host:    Chris Lindner

 

Please plan your vacations around these dates and include family, friends and others.  Your Board of Directors voted on St. Louis for the big reunion as it was in the Mid-west, so the travel (distance) would not be a problem for most of you.  I am really looking forward to these Reunions as they get better all the time.

 

I would like to give a special thanks to Wade Gilbert who supports the  517 PRCT with both time and money.  He more then any of us keeps the Thunderbolt coming for those that don't have access to a computer.  Wade is the son of Earnest Gilbert who I believe was in the 2nd Batt.  Just called Ben Barrett to confirm this but I talked to his answer machine and it didn't have the answer.  Also thanks to Bob Christie for putting the Thunderbolt together each Quarter.  I am so proud and lucky to be a part of the 517 family.

 

Florida is playing Georgia in the annual Gator Bowl game in a few minutes so I have to watch it.  This game has been played for years in Jacksonville, Florida and they pack about 82,000 in the Gator Bowl.  To  stay out of trouble with my Georgia friends I will not quote stats, etc.  And for that matter who I will be cheering for.  About half the crowd is from Georgia and half from Florida.  Needless to say the town is over flowing, that's why I am staying home to watch the game.

 

Darrell Egner President

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Frank Ramos