I would like to wish all of the 517 family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. 2007 has been a wonderful year, let's make 2008 even better. As the Band of Brothers are getting a few years on us please plan on attending one (or more) of the three Reunions that are in the planning stage. (1) Florida Mini - January (2) West Coast party - April and the big one (3) St. Louis - June. I have attended approximately 40 Reunions, met many new and old friends and always came away with great memories and a greater appreciation for you great men and families of the 517.

Now on to Bob West. He put the finishes touches on the picture of the HQ 2nd Bn that appeared in the last issue of the Thunderbolt. I have worked on this picture for years, thanks for bringing it all together. The one person you could not identify was Sgt. James Kistler. Mission accomplished!

Now I need answers to the following questions. (1) When and where was the picture taken? I am in it but I have no idea. (2) Yesterday I received a phone call from Dorothy Mackenzie, widow of Jim Mackenzie, asking why wasn't Jim in the picture. Please, I am depending on my Brothers to answer these questions for Dorothy and I.

Back to Bob West. Your daughter sounds like a chip of the old block. Injured riding a Motorcycle! Debbie if you come to the Florida Mini or Palm Springs I will give you some riding lessons. Bob your comments about the Thunderbolt are worth noting. No offence taken. Last month I asked the Board of Directors to meet with me in Kissimmee to decide the fate of the Thunderbolt. The cost to publish the Thunderbolt is about $2000 per mailing or $8000 per year.

Our long time great Editor, Bob Christie has asked to be released from this 24/7 job. Thanks Bob for the super job you have done through the many years. So far I haven't found any takers for this job.

I will report the decision of the Board to every one after our meeting in Kissimmee.

Regards,

Darrell Egner

President

Dear Kathryn:

I knew David T. Hines well. I was the first Company Commander of Company E, 517th Parachute Infantry

Regiment ( 517 PIR) when the Regiment was activated at Camp Toccoa, Georgia in 1943.The authorized personnel strength of a Parachute Infantry Company at that time was 8 Officers and 119 Enlisted Men. All the new arrivals from the US Army Reception Stations were personally interviewed and if selected by the Battalion Commander and Company Commander were accepted for parachute training. Those that were not selected were classified as rejects and returned to the Reception Stations for further assignment. We were able to fill two of the three Battalions of the 517 PIR in this manner before Higher Headquarters put an end to this procedure calling it wasteful of manpower. Our last Battalion was filled by qualified parachute personnel who were graduates of the Parachute School at Fort Benning,Georgia.

David T. Hines along with Roy Landreth ( Mark Landreth's Father) were personally interviewed and accepted by the 2nd Battalion Commander, Dick Seitz and Company "E" Commander Tom Cross. Both David and Roy were outstanding individuals and quickly became Senior Non Commissioned Officers (NCO) in Company "E". I remember writing to David's mother soon after he joined Company "E" and explained to her how well David was doing in his training. David was a natural leader of men and well respected above by all of us who knew him well. I was wounded before he was killed in action and his loss was felt with regret by all his friends and fellow members of Co. "E" and the 2nd Battalion, 517 PIR. He was an outstanding person and a role model for others who served with him. He is well remembered by those of us still remaining

I wish to thank you for giving me the opportunity to write these few words about a wonderful person who impacted on our lives and leaves wonderful memories of times past.

Respectfully, Tom Cross

Kathryn March

Dear Tom,
Thank you for your thoughtful note. I did not really expect that my
message would be seen by anyone who would remember my husband's uncle.
I showed your reply to "my" David, who will share it with his brother
and sister. His mother ("your" David's sister) died in 2004, but her
sister (who also named her son "David") is still alive. I am sure I
write on behalf of all to thank you for sharing these memories.
Yours, Kath

Joyce Turco

Hi Ben,

I want to wish you and your family Happy Holidays. Also, all our friends in the 517th and their families. I have fond memories of all the reunions Leo and I went to plus our three trips to Europe with the group.

Hearing about the Battle of the Bulge and how cold it was bring memories to me of a letter Leo managed to write to me around that time. He asked me to buy him a fleece lined jacket, gloves and warm socks to send. First of all I could not find these items and was told I could not send a jacket that size and it was suggested I cut it in half and send it in two different packages. When Leo and I talked about it after he got home we had to laugh as first of all it probably would not have arrived for him until well after the battle was over. Also, may never have arrived as many packages my family and I mailed to him. He did not find out where they went. He was one of the lucky guys who never was wounded even though he was right in the 5 Battles. He did not talk about it much when he first came home so I heard much more about it after the reunions and when our kids got old enough to understand it.
We had many happy years of marriage and I miss him.

My love to all, Joyce Turco wife of Leo

Chris Lindner

Hi Ben:

I thought everyone in the 517th might like to see the new President, Darrell at his best at Christmas time!!!!!!!!! hahahaha.

I hope all is well with you.

http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1266758182 Place in URL

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I think that Darrell actually posed for this. - Ben