Recent website additions:
Remembrance of Capt.
Robert P. Woodhull, by Tory Parlin
2009 Europe Road Trip
Photos
Myrle Traver, F Co.
biography
Helen and Hal Beddow
I was so sorry to hear of Dixie Welborn's death, and now I
hear of Brian's death. I was able to spend some time with both of
them at Salt Lake City. They sat in front of Hal and me on the bus ride
out to the military museum, and we were able to visit with them at that time and
also other times in Salt Lake. I enjoyed getting to know them better
and was looking forward to seeing them again at the next reunion. We send
condolences to their family.
Claire
Giblin
Ben, I just read
with sadness of the death of Brian Welbourne, right on the heels of the death of
his beloved Dixie.
I was honored to spend time with both of them in Salt
Lake City, and they will be greatly missed. They were really devoted to
the 517.
Best wishes to their families. We're so sorry.
Claire Giblin
Nolan
Powell
Ben
More information from Coalinga, CA concerning the funeral of Brian
Welborn.
The service will be at the gravesite at 10:00 AM Saturday morning
10/10/2009.
It will be a full military service provided by the Lemoore Naval
Air Station. The burial service will be at the Pleasant
Valley Cemetery Coalinga, CA. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to
the Family of Brian Welborn at 241 Lincoln St.
Coalinga, CA 93210.
Nolan L. Powell
Dieter Laes,
Hi Ben,
Thank your for the information you send me. As all the
information on your website, it has been very help full. Paratroopers Odyssey is
a very good source of correct general information (not like the books of Gerald
Astor). Still I am hoping to find more personal recollections/ remembrances from
members of the 1st battalion. I hope you can help me get in
contact with men who were in the Soy-Hotton-Trinal area
during December '44.
Ben, I really appreciate your help and your regularly
update by the "Mail Call", thank you.
Sincerely,
Dieter Laes, Belgium
Gilles Guignard
Dear Friends of the 517th,
Here is an article I wrote about Don Fraser in the French
"Militaria Magazine" - October 2009 issue.
I am attaching it as a pdf attachment to this email.
The website (in English) of this great magazine can be seen
here:
Kind regards,
Gilles
Howard Hensleigh
Note to Gale Jeff Douglas: Your father, Herb Jeff of the
460th, and I got together at the Oklahoma City reunion for a session with a
gentleman who taped our recollections of all those Third Battalion patrols
on which he and Capt. Woodhull provided us with artillery support. He
frequently referred to the close relationship he had with Woody. He said
that Woody purposely did not take him on the attack at Bergstein because he knew
of the dangers to the forward observers for the attack. He indicated
that Woody and he had talked about the necessity of at least one of them
returning to the States so their relationship could be transmitted to the other
family in the event one of them did not make it. This is another instance
where Mail Call and the website have enabled that to happen providing you and
Tory as descendants to share your respect for our troopers who have passed
on. I am sure you will enjoy Tory's adventure in finding information about
Woody when you read it on the website. As for your father he always
got Woody's fire orders transmitted correctly. Highest regards,
Howard Hensleigh
Howard Hensleigh
Dear Gilles, Thank you immensely for the package that arrived
today. The new postcards are great, but the old ones look more like the
St. Cezaire I knew. The T shirt and the celebration it represents are
appreciated by the soldiers who are still remembered there. We express our
thanks to you for assisting us in achieving our Association's objectives of
keeping alive the memory of those who gave their lives in the worthwhile cause
of liberating Southern France. Again thanks, Howard
Hensleigh