70 Pleasant St. Cohasset,
MA. 02025 ,781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett
Ben517@aol.com
Hello,
Sign up today for National Reunion. Only 42
days until we will be in St, Louis. Registrations have pickup in the
past few days
Ben
Please try to send in donations
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
Website www.517prct.org
Mail Call Ben517@aol.com
517TH ST. LOUIS REUNION BEGINS:THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008 THRU MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2008THE BANQUET WILL BE ON SUNDAY JUNE 29
Information and Registration Forms:
Recent website additions:
Major John "Boom Boom" Alicki, Reg. HQ
Leo Dean's 109th jump at the Palm Springs Reunion
Blue
Book Magazine articles - 1947-1948 
Paras en Provence: Le 517th PRCT Dans Les Alpes
Maritime
from Armes Militaria
Magazine (cover, article)
Richard Hammel
Sorry I will not be able to make the reunion as I have a few problems and
ny wife Edna cannot travel at all and she
cannot stay by herself . For the DC reunion had a daughter able to stay with her and a son in-law
available to get me to the reunion. They
are not available this year.
Richard L Hammel Co E and HQ 2
PSS I was of the few men that
entered the 517 as a private and left it with the same rank. In between I had been promoted and reduced.
Retired after 22 years as a Major and made my
last jump three months before I retired at McDil, Florida.
Lory Curtis
Ben,
I received this from a long time Army buddy. It was my fortune to serve this great country in the military for 27 years. It really describes how we as military men (and I am sure military women) feel. I think it epitomizes the esprit de corps that the 517th still has today. I know my Dad had it.
Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1st BN
When a good Veteran leaves the "job" and retires to a better life, many
are jealous, some are pleased and others, who may have already retired,
wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.
We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few
experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.
We know in the Military Life there is a fellowship which lasts long
after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.. We know even
if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath
that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man
speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.
These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people
suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and
always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for
what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.
Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are
only escaping a "job" and merely being allowed to leave "active" duty.
So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in
your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the
Peacemkers for they shall be called children of God," and you are still
a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.
Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a
week.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily
carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
VETER AN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is
doing.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will kick the crowds' ass that left you behind.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for a lifetime.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could
ever dream of...
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had
enough.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say,
"You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!" Then carry
you home safely and put you to bed ...
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about
you.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will knock the hell out of them --- for using your
name in vain.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will ignore this.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will forward this.
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, or national guard or reserve -
is someone who, at one point in their , wrote a blank check made payable
to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including
my life."
From one Veteran to another, it's an honor to be in your Company. Thank
you Veteran!
I received this from a long time Army buddy. It was my fortune to serve this great country in the military for 27 years. It really describes how we as military men (and I am sure military women) feel. I think it epitomizes the esprit de corps that the 517th still has today. I know my Dad had it.
Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1st BN
When a good Veteran leaves the "job" and retires to a better life, many
are jealous, some are pleased and others, who may have already retired,
wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.
We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few
experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.
We know in the Military Life there is a fellowship which lasts long
after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.. We know even
if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath
that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man
speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.
These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people
suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and
always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for
what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.
Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are
only escaping a "job" and merely being allowed to leave "active" duty.
So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in
your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the
Peacemkers for they shall be called children of God," and you are still
a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.
Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a
week.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily
carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
VETER AN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is
doing.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will kick the crowds' ass that left you behind.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for a lifetime.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...
VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could
ever dream of...
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had
enough.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say,
"You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!" Then carry
you home safely and put you to bed ...
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about
you.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will knock the hell out of them --- for using your
name in vain.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will ignore this.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will forward this.
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, or national guard or reserve -
is someone who, at one point in their , wrote a blank check made payable
to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including
my life."
From one Veteran to another, it's an honor to be in your Company. Thank
you Veteran!
Jerry Wolfford
During my time in the military while stationed in Germany I made a visit to
one of the infamous Nazi Concentration Camps near by. The name of the camp is
Dachau and my visit came in 1969 a mere 24 years after they were discovered and
closed down. I was appalled by what I saw. The entire compound had been turned
into a museum by Holocaust Survivors Groups and the buildings walls are covered
with larger than life photos of the people and what happened to them during
their imprisonment. The ovens are still there as well as the gas chambers. In
fact I have a photo of myself standing in front of one of those cremation ovens.
It was real and it won't go away unless we let
it.
Jerry Wofford
Links to the Past -1942 The War Years
1942: Gas rationing goes into effect
In order to aid in the war effort, the United States began rationing gasoline today in 17 states along the East coast. "New Yorkers already were shopping for new ways to get around, and it appeared likely that more and more bicycles and even roller-skates would be put to use," informed The Galveston Daily News on May 16, 1942. "From all parts of the area affected by rationing, which went into effect at 12:01 a.m. [yesterday], came reports that gasoline pumps were running dry, partly as a result of a last-minute rush by motorists to stock up before the restrictions went into effect."