Subj: Quote of the Day
Date: 12/12/2001 3:29:10 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: CackyG
To: Ben517

Quote of the Day:
>
>"It is God's job to forgive Osama bin Laden.
>It is the job of the U.S. Special Forces to arrange a face to face
>meeting."
>
>Lieutenant General Dan K. McNeill
>Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps
>Ft. Bragg, North Carolina
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 194 517TH PRCT
Date: 12/10/2001 8:51:46 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net

Dear Ben:

I was about to correct Boom Boom's English when he wondered what those troopers were doing under the blankets laying on the deck.  I was going to tell him it should have been lying on the deck.  Then I thought again about it.

What about it Boom Boom?   

There must be some humor interspersed with the very good and very serious content of these Mail Calls.  With all the serious business we were about long ago there were always a few laughs that made life under trying times a little easier, sometimes laughs that only a dog face would understand.    Howard Hensleigh
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Subj: Seasons Greetings
Date: 12/10/2001 10:05:49 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: battlerml517@yahoo.com

Hello Mr. Barrett,

Hello sir.  I just had to drop you a line to tell you
that you and everyone else in charge of the 517th
P.R.C.T. website has done an excellent job.  Also, I
have a few questions for you.  I recently bought the
book by Bill Mauldin "Up Front," filled with all the
Willie and Joe cartoon strips.  He mentioned a
paratrooper reporter who jumped into southern france
who he said was one hell of a reporter, his name is
Bob Vermillion.  Was he part of the 517th?  Also,
whether or not this could change anything, my
grandfather, Neil F. Schmid Sr., he was awarded two
purple hearts and two bronze stars.  I noticed that a
list of medal winners is being posted and the purple
heart list wasn't completed.  Would you know when that
will possibly be finished?  Also, since my grandfather
received two bronze stars, would it be out of the
question to put his name on the list because I'm a bit
surprised he isn't on there.  Also, you wouldn't happen
to have heard of my grandfather Neil F. Schmid or know
of what battalion and company he was in?  Another
thing, the list of "Casualty Reports," when, if you
know, will that be near or be totally complete?
Lastly, what units was the 517th attached to
throughout the war?  Which big name units like hte
82nd airborne were the 517 with?  How long was the
regiment with the 82nd and what did they participate
in with that unit? I would like to thank you for
reading over my letter and hope to get a message back.
Thank you dearly and have a safe and healthy holiday
season.

Sincerely,
Michael Lind

Boom Boom, Leo Dean and Lou Holzworth were in Regimental Headquarters Co. with Neil Schmid. Can you help Michael?
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 194 517TH PRCT
Date: 12/11/2001 12:20:07 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Ltlpws5355

hi ben,
update on jesse davis.  off the ventilator today and up in a chair.  still in icu but maybe gets to move out tomorrow.  very confused from pain meds and thinks we were in new orleans. has his belly slit open from one end to the other and they left it open to heal.  after the war, when he was sent home, he spent 13 months in the hospital in battle creek michigan.  this is after he step on the land mine and blew half his foot off.  i heard my whole life how his big army boot saved his life.....more updates later......kathy mc intosh
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Subj: Re: disc and mail call
Date: 12/11/2001 1:25:49 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: chris.lindner@lycos.com
Hi Ben:

No big deal on the guy or gal thing.  Have you ever seen any of the pictures I sent in from Bob West????

Do you know if Bob West, Bob Christi, Bud Wyatt or any of the guys I heard from are going to the Florida reunion?  I would like to go but it's hard leaving my 16 year old son (not a good age to leave him in the house alone)
Thanks,
Chris
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Subj: Santa Rosa
Date: 12/11/2001 2:25:05 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: CaptMike97
To: Ben517
File: SS_Santa_Rosa.bmp (1143102 bytes) DL Time (TCP/IP): < 1 minute

Hi Ben,
     I thought you might be interested in a photo of the SS Santa Rosa that transported the 517th overseas.  I found the photo on the internet.  It is attached in bmp format.  
Merry Christmas,
Michael N. Arterburn
Oldest Son of Sgt. Nello

Attached as a download in this "Mail Call"
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Subj: Additional Info for the Honor Roll
Date: 12/11/2001 6:11:02 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
Dear Ben:
I visited the Honor Roll and have a few bits of additional & corrective info:
    James Birder was in I Co. and killed at Bergstein Germany
    Joseph McGeever was in HQ. 3rd Bn.  He was H.Q.. Co. cdr & later Bn. Exec. when killed
    Arthur Riddler was in G Co.
    Willis Woodcock was in I Co.

You and Clark Archer have done a marvelous job of putting this together for posterity. 

My best,  Howard Hensleigh

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Subj: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas 2001 Style
Date: 12/12/2001 3:27:26 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: CackyG
To: Ben517

This is a different Night Before Christmas.  I thought you might enjoy reading it..............Dot
>  "'Twas the Night Before Ramadan" by Mullah Mohammed Omar
>
> 'Twas the night before Ramadan, and all through the cave
>  Not a creature was stirring; it felt like a grave.
>  The turbans were hung by the fire pit with care,
>  In hopes that the Air Force would not soon be there.
>
>  The soldiers were restless without any beds,
>  While visions of air strikes flashed in their heads.
>  Osama in his burkha and I in my goatskin cap,
>  Had just settled down for a cold, barren winter's nap.
> 
>  When out on the ledge there arose such a clatter,
>  I grabbed my Kalashnikov to see what was the matter.
>  Away from the racket I ran like a girl,  
>  Tripped over a goat; into a ball I did curl.
> 
>  The moon shone down on the new-fallen snow
>  And lit up the valley with an ominous glow,
>  When, what to my one good eye should appear,
>  But a dozen Apaches, and tanks in the rear.
>
>  And their leader, so fearless, his troops he did push,
>  I knew in an instant it must be George Bush.
>  More rapid than eagles his forces they came,
>  And they whistled, and shouted, and called out our names...
> 
>  "Now Omar! Osama! Muhammad! Abdul!
>  We come for you now; we've taken Kabul!
>  To the top of the cliffs! To the back of their caves!
>  When you chose this war, you dug your own graves!"
> 
>  As the dry leaves that before the assault choppers fly,
>  When they meet with an obstacle, light up the sky.
>  So up to the ledge his forces they flew
>  With full magazines, and flamethrowers too.
> 
>  And then, in a twinkling, I heard with a thud
>  The explosions of Tomahawks; not one was a dud.
>  As I chambered my rifle, and was turning around,
>  Osama was there, disguised in a gown.
> 
>  He was dressed all in drag, from his head to his toes,
>  And he said he would flee while I held off his foes.
>  A bundle of money he had stuffed in his pack,
>  He said "I'm going to Baghdad and I'm not looking back!"
> 
>  His eyes were all glassy; he trembled with fear,
>  The American bombs, they rang in his ears.
>  He saddled his goat, then turned tail and fled,
>  But a Marine Corps sniper caught him instead.
> 
>  I watched with cold fear as his body did slump,
>  The goat threw him off; he fell with a thump.
>  And so, there I stood, my plans all destroyed,
>  About to suffer a fate I could not avoid.
> 
>  I dropped to my knees; asked Allah for help,
>  His voice boomed in my ears, "You ignorant whelp!
>  I gave you the Bible, the Torah and Koran,
>  But you were too arrogant to understand.
> 
>  I told you to honor your neighbors and wives,
>  Not to enslave them, or degrade their lives!
>  You invoke My good name to sanction your deeds,
>  But you are the last thing that this world needs.
>
>  And so, I'll send you and Bin Laden to Hell."
>  The last words I heard, as the bombs fell,
>  Were from George Bush himself as he mounted the wall,
>  "One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all!"
>
>  Written by Jack Falbey.
>  Inspired by the spirit of freedom
>


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