Recent website
additions:
St. Cezaire and Les Arcs
today
A Company in Life Magazine
1944
Pvt. Harry A. Hill, B
Company - 200 photos and clippings
Pvt. Richard L. Lynam, H Company,
KIA
Operation
Dragoon After Action Reports
Mail Handling Procedure During the Invasion of Southern
France
Pat Seitz and Allan Greer
Dear Ben: We just want to let you know, on this
Memorial Day, we remember not only those who are currently serving, but all of
you who stood tall and answered the call when our country needed you.
Without you we would not enjoy the precious freedoms that you preserved for
us. Thank you. God bless you and all the rest of your 517th
compatriots. Sincerely, Pat Seitz and Alan Greer
Ben,
Please extend my many thanks to Bob Dalrymple
and Howard Hensleigh for their insightful information about the weapons 517th
troopers carried. Your comments are very helpful to me
Thanks and hope to see you at the reunion in Salt Lake
City.
Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1st BN
Cecil Doty
Hello Ben, I've been thinking about Peire Cava and wonder if Howard
Hensleigh or any other trooper could help me with the name of the Sgt. from H Co
taken as POW by the Germans and what happened to him after the Mortar squares
helped him to escape.
Back to how the Mortars help him to escape: When H Co.
went on line at Peire Cava the Co Commander gave me the three Mortar Squares and
was told to set up a defense on right end of the company line, and give close in
protection for 460th. After setting up our mortars we picked three or four
targets, we zeroed in each mortars. We were being resupplied with ammo. We
soon had more ammo than we could carry out if we had to move. Now I had to decide
what to do about that. So I decided to give the troops some practice by
using some of our supplies, after thinking about it for while, I called the men
together and told what we were going to do. I gave them the target and
after each were sure they were on target, we fired five rounds from each
mortar
In about forty minutes we hear some thing in front of our location and
there was the Sgt. He asked why we had fired on that location. I
told I had no good reason. Then he told us the Germans had him digging his
own grave and when we fired on that target he was able to
escape.
After taking him back to Company's Headquarter, I don't know
what happened to him.
Next time I'll tell you about directing fire for 4.2
mortars
Cecil Doty
Don Sliker
Jerry Wolford
With the coming of Memorial Day on May 25th let us all take a
moment to remember those fallen soldiers who lost their lives on foreign soil in
the name of freedom. This is the American Cemetery in Margraten Holland where Al
Cavnar Jr was buried in 1945. He died at the age of 19 years. Later his remains
as well as the remains of thousands of American soldiers buried
overseas during WW II were returned to the United States for reburial on
American soil. Rest in peace brave soldiers for your cause was
just.
jw
Al Junior days before his death. A member of Patton's Army. 89th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Mechanized.
Pat Seitz and Allan Greer
Dear Ben: What a remarkable, uplifting and inspiring story about Mrs.
Miller and her son Bill. We look forward to seeing everyone in Salt
Lake. Because of my trial schedule we will only arrive on Saturday and
look forward to the banquet on Sunday evening. Pat Seitz and Alan Greer
Howard Hensleigh
Dear Ben; Thank you for the best possible Memorial Day
edition of Mail Call. It enabled us to go through the entire list of the
troopers in the outfit who gave the most, along with the fitting remarks of the
chaplains made long ago, but just as fitting today, like them never
growing old.
My best airborne regards to all our survivors, Howard
Hensleigh
Pat Seitz and Allan Greer
Ben: Amen.
Chris Lindner
|
HI BEN:
I COULD NOT LET THIS WEEKEND GO BY
WITHOUT TELLING MY FAVORITE VETERANS:
HAPPY MEMORIAL
DAY !!!!!
I will not leave out any of the
veterans throughout the years that have fought for our country and for the
FREEDOM OF AMERICAN.
THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF
YOU FOR WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH FOR ALL OF US LIVING IN A FREE
AMERICAN.
AS ALL OF US FEEL "THANK YOU" IS
SURELY NOT ENOUGH TO SAY TO ALL OF THE VETERANS.
Chris Lindner
Ray Estrella
Ben,
on behalf of our family, please convey our heartfelt thanks to the men of
the 517th and 596th for their service to our country. our freedom,
and everything that goes with it is owed to the sacrifice put forth
by you men, both living and dead. Memorial Day is a dedicated day of
remembrance, but to us, everyday is a day of remembrance with prayers and
gratitude.--Ray
Estrella |