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

Hello,

Please let me know if your email is not to be included in Mail Call by inserting FYEO .

Paratroopers' Odyssey is available for $22.50. Send payment to Leo Dean.

You may at times have a problem viewing photos. 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 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

Snowbird mini-reunion
Kissimmee, FL
Jan 20-24, 2008

West Coast mini

Palm Springs, CA

April 13-18, 2008

517TH ST. LOUIS REUNION BEGINS:

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008 THRU MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2008

THE BANQUET WILL BE ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2008.

Recent website additions:

River Crossing and Attack at La Roquette, 27-28 August 1944
Howard B. Goodman, Service Company

Paras en Provence: Le 517th PRCT Dans Les Alpes Maritime
from Armes Militaria Magazine (cover, article)

Hal Jeffcoat - Baseball in Wartime

Nancy, Vanessa, Bonnie and Family ( Don Fraser's family )

Dear Ben,

Our father passed away this morning in his sleep with my sister by his bedside. We are all deeply saddened and am missing him greatly. Vanessa was to fly out this morning, instead I will go and be with her at college.

I will write more later. I have written to Colonel Boyle and his family, and our friends Irma, Arnold and Marie.

I will write more later, but have to go now.

Thanks to all the loving families of the 517th PRCT, we were blessed to have dad with us for this great long life.

Nancy, Vanessa, Bonnie and Family
Nancy

Dear Ben,

My sister and I have spoken that we would like any donations be made to the 517th PRCT.

Please let us know what is the correct way to write an check and the correct address to send them to, so friends can make a donation in memory of dad to the group of men that dad loved so much. Thanks again for your help at this most difficult time.

Nancy

Checks should be made to the 517th PRCT and mailed to Leo Dean at 13 Davis Avenue, Albany, N.Y. 12203

Dear 517th friends and family (Following mail was received before the passing of Don )

All of your prayers are a comfort to our family at this most difficult time. Dad had us and his doctors convinced he was going to live to be 100. Our father has been an inspiration to us, and an example of a person of dignity and determination. We have grown up knowing the families of the 517th from a very young age.

We are planning to attend the St. Louis Reunion with continued support, and hope we can have a Memorial Tribute to all the men of the 517th that have given their lives. (We would love to hear more stories about dad if you have any to share).

Our father is surrounded by my sister's family (Bonnie) and Vanessa on her way to Florida. We are blessed in that my nephew just got engaged, and dad said how much he liked my nephew's choice for his wife -to -be. She is also by his bedside. We were so blessed to have dad live a long and happy life. I said my good-bye in Florida, and am sending emails to my sister and taking phone calls at (773) 445-0317 (home), or my cell (773) 407-8613,

Please continue to prayer for our father, as prayers are so, so powerful..

Thank you so much for your love and support,

Nancy, Vanessa and Bonnie and family.
Merle and Mardy Mc Morrow

Ben:

It was so sad to hear of Don Fraser's passing. He was a perfect example of the camaraderie and brotherly love that exists among those in the Airborne. He is now a part of Airborne History. He shared a common bond of love and courage with his good friend Col. Bill Boyle. They did whatever it took to go "all the way". I feel privileged and proud to be able to say I served in the same Unit as Don and shared, in some small  way, the same dangers and deprivations.

Our sympathies are extended to his family.

                                              Merle and Mardy Mc Morrow

Darrell Egner

Dear Fraser family,

It was with heavy heart that I received the news on Mail Call that your farther passed on to a better world. Again I am so sorry to hear this, my prayers are with you.

This morning before I got on mail call I called Dick Seitz and asked for the latest news on Don. I don't believe he knows of Don's passing but I may be mistaken. He has agreed to give a short speech (not keynote) and will talk about your Don at the St. Louis Reunion. He is also coming to the Florida Mini next month so he will be called on. Hopefully Bill Boyle will be able to make the St. Louis and say a few words as they were so close.

My prayers are with you,

Darrell Egner

President

Bruce and Liz Broudy

My wife and I are saddened to hear of the loss of Don Fraser. We met at the Savannah reunion when he pulled a picture of himself and my dad (Joe Broudy) from his wallet. He insisted I take it but I sent it and a lot my dad’s pictures to him, when I returned home. Clearly he loved my father and knew him in ways we never could. We feel so lucky to have known Major Fraser and we send our heartfelt sympathy to his wonderful family.

Bruce and Liz
Russ Miller

As one of the platoon leaders in B Company, I saw a good deal of Major Fraser in our various campaigns overseas. He was "cool, calm and collected", courageous under fire, a good tactician and appreciative of the efforts of the subordinate units in the battalion. Don and Colonel Bill Boyle were an excellent leadership team and their results showed this clearly.  Don was also good at encouraging troopers to attend the 517 reunions and made us feel that he'd be really happy to see us there. He was a great soldier and a really good human being. Our heartfelt condolences to his family.

Allan Johnson

I was sorry indeed to hear of Major Fraser's failing health. If we were the greatest generation ,he is one of the greatest of all, and served as a model for the rest of us.
It was always a pleasure to see him and his wonderful family at reunions.
He and they are in the hearts and prayers of us all.
Allan Johnson 596