From: Ben517@aol.com
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 7:29 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 1552 - 517TH PRCT- MAY 26, 2008
70 Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA. 02025 ,781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett  Ben517@aol.com 
 
Hello,
 
Register for reunion yesterday if you haven't already done so. Many veterans are entering their ninth decade and may not be able to attend future reunions, if we can continue to have them. This may be your last chance to meet an old friend or family member of a 517 veteran.
 
 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 www.517prct.org/archives 
 
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
Mail Call Archives                 www.517prct.org/archives
Roster                                     www.517prct.org/roster.pdf

 
 517TH ST. LOUIS REUNION BEGINS:
 
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008 THRU MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2008
THE BANQUET WILL BE ON SUNDAY
Dear Veterans,

I am proud to pass on news about my uncle Ray, he was dearly loved by family on both ends of the country you sacrificed so much for to keep us free. Please post this information in whatever site(s) you feel appropriate.

Happy Memorial Day and our heartfelt thanks for your service and for protecting Ray in Europe.

Warm Regards,

Tom Feeney and Family

E-mail   FeeneyTom@aol.com

Raymond Schnieders

Raymond (Ray) Schnieders died on Jan. 20 with his son Jim by his side. Ray was 84 years old and was in the best of health until just recently. Residing in Burbank, Calif., Ray was actually still hiking and backpacking well into his 80s.

Ray was a World War II vet who parachuted into France with a 75 MM howitzer, a member of Battery C, 460th Field Artillery Battalion, the cannons of the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team. A favorite story was when he landed he was in the middle of an open field with the Germans shooting at him. His company had landed many yards away and behind a protective stonewall. He dove behind a wheelbarrow sized rock and had to spend the whole day waiting for dark and being shot at. That and not much else bothered "Uncle Ray," as he was normally called.

Ray always lived frugally, his treasures were his friends, family and travels. This trait may have saved his life while on tour. Several of his buddies went off to pick some apples in an area with minefield signs, suspecting the signs were planted to ward off apple grabbers.  Ray preferred to collect bottles at the camp for their deposits and told his buddies he'd catch up with them later. Unfortunately the signs were real and several of his friends were killed or wounded.  

Born in Milwaukee, Wis., he moved to California where he served in many capacities on the Glendale California fire department and retired after 30 years. His retirement was full of ambition and adventure. Ray spent years traveling the world including a month long raft trip on the Amazon river, wilderness adventures in South America, Russia, Australia, Alaska, Africa, and more. He even climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro on his 65th birthday. He was particularly fond of fishing and hiking.

Ray's ties to the Vineyard go back to the summer of 1950 when his mother Elizabeth managed the Old Islander Inn in Edgartown. He was a brother to Jeanne Feeney of Vineyard Haven and visited the Island every year for the last 30 years. He was always found helping out at the Family Campground and just enjoying island life. He loved fishing and clamming and he was always willing to "lend a hand" to anyone who asked.

He is survived by his son, Jim and wife Cindy; grandson, Rob Schnieders, all of La Crescenta, Calif.; his daughter, Terry, of Colorado; his sister, Jeanne Feeney; and his many relatives in the Feeney clan. Instead of flowers and donations, please give your favorite "fisherman" a day off.

Howard Hensleigh

Dear Ben:

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

This is the day we remember those who have gone before us.  More particularly, we remember those brave troopers who gave their lives during the 517's five major battles in the European Theater of Operations.  Of the many who are all important, each one of us has a number who meant the most to us as individuals, the ones who put their life on the line that we would get the chance to live and that the outfit would take its objectives. 

It would be impossible to put in words our love and devotion to those brave men and we honor them with pent up enthusiasm on this day. 

God bless,  Howard Hensleigh

Darrell Egner

Hi Folks
 
Our big National Reunion is just 30 days away and we are way short of my predictions.  Yes I stuck my neck out a mile.  The vote was to have the Reunion in the Mid West to save on travel and expense for most of you.  This we did.  Please get your registrations in ASAP.  Our reunion planning is predicated on the number of people that are planning to attend.  Some of the issues are the number of tables at the Banquet, T-Shirts, gifts in your welcome package and many other issues.  We need your help now, please register today.
 
Chris Lindner and her sister Bev have worked hard since January putting this together.  We owe them a good attendance and a big Thank You.
 
Every day I read about another Airborne association retiring their charter due to the lack of living Troopers.  We are lucky that we have the Auxiliary to keep the 517 alive.  By the way to my knowledge we are the only association that has this back up.
 
And last but not least please you fellow Troopers have your stories ready for Pat O'Donnell so he can interview you and place your stories on DVD's.  Wade Gilbert has offered to make copies and send it to free of charge.  Mr O'Donnell is the author of Beyond Valor and he is a great friend of the 517.  He also spoke at the Washington Reunion last year.  Your stories can be about your experiences in the War and in later life.  In this mornings paper there was several pages dedicated to I quote "Museums rush to capture memories before it's to late".  They also go on to say that 1000 of WWII vets are passing on every day.  Please have your stories ready for Pat, believe me it will be painless and the DVD's will be furnished to National Museums.
 
PLEASE REGISTER NOW!
 
Darrell Egner
President 517
Phil McSpadden
 
Leo Dean is in town!!!  He is the unofficial mayor of Katie Belle's, the local dance hall for The Villages, and he refuses to let the place close until "the fat lady sings", but, of course, he has already seen to it that the 'fat lady' has boarded her golf cart and gone home!
 
The two of us went to Zyphir Hills Sky-Diving yesterday, but because of swirling winds wouldn't let me jump.  I have a knee replacement on my left knee, and a golf cart accident to my right knee  recently, so I wasn''t able to lift my legs high enough for the instructor.
 
Perhaps it was a good thing, as a few loads later a young lady sky-diver was blown completely off course, and eventually had to be med-evac-ed with a brace on her head and neck.  Later, when it was Leo's turn, going with a tandem instructor, upon landing, lost their air and came tumbling down.  This happened right in front  of the staging area, and immediately hordes of young ladies ran out to see if Leo was okay....he suffered a small gash on his left hand, and some swelling, but I couldn't get thru the crowd of young ladies to see him!  Leo is small, but he is mighty....he left his instructor (5'11", 200#) laying there, with a messed up ankle, and no young ladies to care for him....they were all with Leo! 
 
It was a long day...we got there at 11 AM and Leo didn't get to jump until about 4:30...the plane was landing for a new load before all the jumpers had cleared the field...about 20 jumpers every 20 minutes!  I didn't realize there were so many beautiful young ladies interested in sky=diving or I would have done this many years ago....when I was  young!!
 
Leo and I will be going to our Veterans Memorial Park today for services, and tomorrow to my World Wide Airborne Club which I founded a year ago.
 
I took  some photos, but unfortunately, they were with Leo's camera, and I'm not  sure he will share them with you!!!
 
See you in St Louis....airborne, phil mc spadden
Don Sliker Jr.
 
 
How to tell a Veteran
1. They are the ones at parades that stand, remove their covers and put their hands over their hearts each time our flag passes.
2. They are the ones that have a tear in their eye when the National Anthem is played.
3. They are the ones that know the proper and correct way to display ol glory.
4. They are the first ones to thank the young men and women now serving when they see them anywhere.
5. They are the ones that still have nightmares years later of things no one should ever have seen or done.
6. They are the ones that weep at the sound of taps.
7. They are the ones that know the true price of freedom
8. They are the ones that had to do unthinkable jobs, because politicians failed to do their jobs.
9. They are the ones that have small American flags placed on their resting sites, by people that care.  
They are the ones that we owe so much and are the ones we should remember this day. cw


It is the VETERAN,not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.  
 
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble. 
  
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
who has given us the right to vote. 

It is the VETERAN who salutes the  
Flag, 

It is the VETERAN, who serves under the
Flag,

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON  
THEM.

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.  

God Bless them all!
Mary Jane Hanron
Dear Ben,

On this Memorial Day as I share the holiday with my family and spend time honoring those who have so bravely served our nation, I also want to send a word of gratitude to you and the entire 517th family. All you did in combat and that you do today to preserve the memories of your experiences and feats for future generations is so extraordinary.

I feel honored that my work gave me the opportunity to meet you, Ben, and develop such an increased awareness of the details of the Battle of the Bulge and the countless lives that were and continue to be touched by your bravery and devotion.

Thank you to all who read this for your incredible service and courage and for protecting the priceless freedoms we enjoy today.

May God bless the great members of the 517th PRCT as well as all those who died while defending America.

Mary Jane

 Gene Brissey
 
Gene Brissey
Thanks to Chris Linder and a couple other folks I am registered for the St. Louis reunion. Especially Chris who got me on one end of a conference call with the hotel. Edie and I have a room and if my eyes hold out we should be in the room on the 26th. I am looking forward to seeing a lot a lot of troopers and the folks who have helped me especially since they are ladies.
Gene
Facts from the past  1944
London Stars and Stripes

St Vith area south of Malmedy St Vith itself was said to be still in American hands Battles in this general area were said to have cost the Germans 55 tanks smashed by U.S armor and destroyers Some reports told of German tanks having been stranded when the enemy failed to capture needed oil supplies the Yanks having moved hack these supplies before the enemy reached them An American staff officer said ties were considered light in view of vast scale of the battle German claim

Saturday, December 23, 1944 London, Middlesex ands Battles in this general area were said to have cost the Germans 55 tanks smashed by U.S armor and destroyers Some reports told of German tanks having been stranded when the enemy failed to capture needed oil supplies the Yanks having moved hack these supplies before the enemy reached them An American staff officer said ties were considered light in view of vast scale of the battle German claim