Recent website additions:
1944 Dec 14 - Hamburg Iowa Reporter - Howard Hensleigh in Les Arc
Electricity for Beginners; Joigny, France, 1945
1944 Christmas V-Cards by Dick Spencer, done for the 3rd Battalion
596th PCEC Newsletters 1980-1983
Pvt. Richard Whidden, D Company
Col de Braus battle - 64th anniversary
Palm Springs, CA National Reunion
West Coast Party Salt Lake City
April 20-24, July 2009
Darrell Egner
Ben Barrett recovers faster then I do as he Mail Call #1705 on my
computer this morning. Thanks to Ro y Parker and Ben for publishing that
great story of the best General there ever was, our very own General Seitz who
was at our Mini Reunion.
First of all I want to thank Leila Webb and all
the ladies that helped put on a wonderful Reunion. We had 43 persons at
the Banquet down some what from last year but it was the best ever. She
has already booked the same Hotel for the next Florida Mini in 2010 and will
host it once again. Thank you so much Leila your a Champion.
I called a Board meeting last Monday. Attending were Seitz,
McMorrow, Barrett, Johnson, Dean and myself. We also had Helen Beddow
(Thunderbolt) and Claire Giblin (President of the Aux.) in attendance. I
would like to bring you up to date on some of the issues we discussed. The
Salt Lake City Reunion will probably be the last National Reunion. The
Board decided that three reunions in a 7 month time span is a bit to much.
We will continue to have the California (April) and Florida (January) Reunions
and hopefully this will increase attendance at both.
Another issue was
the making of a movie to preserve the history of the 517 PRCT. Claire is
the spark plug behind the making of this movie. The probable cost of this
movie is $40,000. So far we have received donations in the amount of
$5,617 and our cost thus far is $10,112.40. I have asked Rob McDonald to
stop production on this movie until we receive donations to complete it. I
am sure you will hear from Claire in the Thunderbolt and Mail Call asking for
donations for this project. Please donate what you can afford, not a penny
more.
We also discussed the possibility of merging the Auxiliary treasury
with the 517 treasury and how it could effect our Tax Exempt status. We
have contacted our great legal advisor Howard Hensleigh to guide and advise
us. We will work on this some time in the future.
It was a good
meeting with every one taking part. Once again thanks much Leila for all
your hard work.
Darrell Egner
President 517 PRCT
Helen Beddow
Another Mini-Reunion
in Kissimmee, and I want to tell you that it was fantastic! The weather
was cold, however the hearts and comradery warmed up the Hospitality Room
and everywhere else that we were together. Leila Webb always has wonderful
food and drinks each year, and the men's stories just get better and
better. It was delightful to greet Brenda Mortensen at her first 517th
Reunion with her husband, Jim. Because of the weather, we were either
in the Hospitality Room, or would you believe........out shopping. It
was great fun hanging out with the ladies that have been attending these mini's
for many years. For those that regularly come to Kissimmee, you were
certainly missed, but we hope to see you next year.
It is such a
privilege to be with these wonderful men and women of the 517th year after
year. May God bless each and every one of them, and that we
will see them again next year.
Plan to attend next year's Florida mini
January 16-19 (departing on the 20th) 2010.
Ray Estrella
Hello Ben, what a great picture of the 517 troopers next to the old "Gooney Bird". I never jumped out of one. When I went thru jump school, we jumped out of C-119's, the "Flying Boxcar"--Best Regards--Ray Estrella
Lila Webb
Dear Ben,
Here is a list of those attending the mini reunion in Kissimmee Florida
Lt. General Seitz, William T. Webb, Leila B. Webb, Ben Barrett, Jim Mortenson, Brenda Mortenson, Leroy Johnson, Hunter McDonald Jr., Emmie McDonald Jr, Keith Boury, Jack Collins, Jack Collins Jr., Susan Collins Mikitka, Nick Mikitka ,Sam Povich, Iren Povich, Ponnie Davis, Merle McMorrow, Margret McMorrow, Chris Lindner
Sincerely,
Leila B. Webb
Ruth Ann Riek
Please take Bob Riek off the email address. He has Alzheimer's and won't be
able to come to any of the reunion meetings.
Thanks so much
Ruth Ann
Riek
Andy Hill
Ben,
I was laid off (permanently) after ten years on the job with USIS
on
January 9th. So, please, remove my USIS e-mail address from
your list
(andy.hill@usis.com). Please continue to send Mail
Call to my home
address (andyhill72@gmail.com).
Thank
you,
Andy Hill
Grandson of Harry Hill
B Company
