Note to Harris Johnson--about lack of credit for the men of Service Company. 

First, you have a valid point. 

The Infantry called the Queen of Battle or Ground Pounders and even more derogatory terms, is composed of internal organizations all of which support the individual rifleman who who takes and holds the ground.  Although there are other army units who do this such as the old horse cavalry that turned to tanks during WWII.  The chief function of larger elements such as the Air Force and Navy, who would not admit it, is to support the individual riflemen in taking and holding ground.  Behind the rifleman, even within the platoon you have machine gunners and mortarmen who support the rifleman.  You never hear of a company or battalion headquarters taking an objective.  They are vital in command and control, but they could be considered support for the rifleman.  Our battalion headquarters companies had communications, mortar and machine gun/bazooka platoons that supported your companies and their riflemen.  When you get to regimental headquarters there are a lot more support elements.  All of these support elements are absolutely essential, but when history is written the elements that are supported get the credit.  Your father probably was in Lt. Boom Boom Alicki's demolitions section.  When a bridge or something else needed to be blown they did it even if it were out  beyond our lines.  Service Company made sure we had supplies of ammunition, gasoline, rations, water, boots, clothing etc.  Without them none of us would have survived. 

On the way to Callian after the drop, I found a man in Service Company who could speak French and he helped get a guide and a lot of information in Callian.  I give him credit whenever I can.  This does not make up for the omissions elsewhere, but as you mention history does not give credit to all to whom it is due.  Your father did his part in a large team that worked together with each man doing his job to accomplish the missions.  At the end of the day we all know how we contributed, whether anyone else knows it or not. 

You are on the right track, Keep the faith.

Howard Hensleigh

 Thank you for your interest in the 517th.  We have searched our rosters and do not find your father's name (if this is the case).  From the pictures and other information you have about the 517th, he must have served with us on some of our missions.  He may have been dropped into Southern France before our airborne invasion on August 15, 1944 to work with the French resistance in preparation for the invasion.  British and Americans did this.  The 3rd Bn. 517th made contact with British elements when the S-2 section found their jeep disabled by German 20 mms near Feyance, France.  After the S-2 section fixed the jeep, the Brits showed up to reclaim it.  With your father's language speaking ability, he is the type of man who would be sought out by the OSS (Office of Strategic Services)  headed up by Major General William (Bill) Donovan.  Most of their operations were kept secret until the 70s and 80s when a lot of it was declassified. 

Ben; This is  an educated guess, but she may be able to find something in the OSS files.  HH