I'm back again, hopefully in time for the 3rd Quarter Thunderbolt.
Leo (Bomb) Dean is doing a super job as Treasurer 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 outweighs 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
Billie Hiers
Just read the request from Boom Boom re: our address/es.
He already gave us a lovely response, but we cannot remember when someone
we've never met has entrenched himself into our hearts as he has done.
SO... to accommodate his wish:
P.O. Box 6014 Dillon, CO 80435
Our other address will not be good for very long. But that address
is:
18304 Gulf Boulevard.
Shore Mariner #103
Redington Shores, FL 33708
The doctors have cleared Lucky to travel and we hope to leave within a week
... for FL, via Berea KY, Richmond, KY, Mt. Vernon, KY, and the Atlanta area to
visit two children and five grandchildren (grandchildren were at the DC
reunion/without us, and their Dad left for a year in Iraq from DC a week
later).
Lord willing and he creeks don't rise ... we'll be back in CO the first
week of January.
Thanks, Ben. Thanks for so many heartwarming things we read in
MailCall We're always touched by those requesting for information
regarding their parent, brother, nephew, or neice.
All for now.
"Mrs. Lucky" (Billie)
Bob Cooper
Danny Curtis
I believe That man to the left of
Danny is Wes Samuels
Robert R Cooper D CO
Howard Hensleigh
Dear Ben:
Fred Harmon is a trooper to remember, an H Co.
platoon sergeant who kept his platoon in line doing what should be
done in barracks as well as combat. He could always be counted
on, one of those guys who was always with us and it didn't end when we went
our separate ways in 1945. Sometime each year right after
Thanksgiving I received my first Christmas card. It was always from
Fred. He was one of the men who never forgot the 517th, what it meant
to us. Guys like Fred are responsible for for our
continuing brotherhood today.
He was always upbeat. His combat Co. commander,
"Lucky Jack" Richard Jackson, was a subject on which Fred's thoughts were not
lost. Fred was a true believer. He encouraged Lucky Jack
to tread the straight and narrow path; Fred led by example as he did
in combat.
In Oklahoma City Fred introduced me to a spitting
image, a cousin who looked and acted just like Fred; we hope he is still
around to carry on the family traditions.
A FINAL SALUTE TO A SPLENDID TROOPER!
Howard Hensleigh
Dan Curtis
Thank you Mr. Cooper I appreciate the quick response. I sincerely hope all is
well with you. All of you Troopers, especially D Co are in my thoughts and
prayers every day.
Sincerely Dan Curtis
Mike Kane
Thanks, Ben.
I met Frederic in New York City this past summer. He is really the nicest
person you could meet. He'd sent me a draft of the article earlier but the
photos were not in high definition. Thank you for sending the final
along.
I don't speak French but, if you click on "select" on the
toolbar when viewing the article, you can "block and paste" the text and put it
into a translation website. Its not exact but you get a pretty good idea
of what it says. The Google Translation site is at
There's another one at Alta Vista translation:
Frederic's eye for detail in the photos is remarkable.
Thanks for sending this.
All the best,
Mike
********
I will have Frederic' mail in Next Mail Call. Very interesting.-Ben
Guestbook Entry
Jumpers!
I am researching my family history
& would like to know if
anyone can point out my great Uncle, Joe
Stewart, 1st BN, A Co., 517th
PRCT, who was KIA with his trench partner last
name Nailor during the
Champagne Campaign. Any info would be greatly
appreciated, especially a
photo.
Airborne!
Jeff Smith
WO
Retired,
3rd Airborne Commando (CDN)
Dr. A .L. Sperry ( Mail to Don Lassen for Static
Line )
