Hi, Ben -

Just got back last night from another great reunion in Kissimmee!  It was sunny and warm and the weather cooperated so much that Hal Beddow and Leo Dean just about missed the meeting because they were - oh yes they were - skydiving.  Again. With Chris Lindner.  Darrell Egner chaperoned.  What does that tell us? 

Leila Webb did a great job hosting us once again, and has passed the baton to Brenda Mortensen, who will be assisted by Ray Hess's daughters!  We are looking forward to 2011! 

We had really good attendance - at the risk of forgetting someone, I know that the following troopers attended:

Bill Webb - and Leila of course, and their son who always helps so much

Dick Seitz

Merle McMorrow and the lovely Marty

Tom Cross

Ben Barrett, with Fran (attending her first reunion in a few years), along with daughter Joanne and service dog Jasper

Hal Beddow, with Helen

Leo Dean

Allan Johnson (my dad) - and my husband Jim came this year

Ray Hess and daughters and sons-in-law

Lee Johnson (the other Johnson)

Darrell Egner and Nate Rubenstein's daughter, Chris Lindner

Lou and Joyce Scaringi

George and Juliette Spears

Jack Collins, his daughter Susan, son-in-law Nick and granddaughters too!

Jesse Darden and his son Tom

Babbie Boyle was there, and joined by her nephews for the banquet.  Ponnie Davis was there, too - and I even ran into her at the airport, dressed all in white!  Very elegant!  Phil McSpadden stopped by for a day.  Kent Immerfall and Virginia Jordan were there, too.

Now - I KNOW I am missing a trooper or two from dinner or the event.  My apologies in advance.

Wade Gilbert sent copies of the 517 film, A Cut Above, for distribution at Kissimmee.  For some reason, many people had not received it yet.  If you have not ordered your copy yet, please do so today!  Leo is taking donations for large orders, but the dvd should be ordered directly from Wade!

It was wonderful to have such good visits with so many people.  We continue to enjoy each other's company and work together toward fulfilling the goals of the Association and the Auxiliary:  preserving the memory of the 517 and its contributions in WWII and helping facilitate ongoing reunions.  As it stands now, we have at least two reunions scheduled right now:  Palm Springs in April 2010 and Kissimmee in January 2011.  We are planning ahead and will be gathering! 

And yes - the Thunderbolt is coming! 

Hugs and the best to all our favorite troopers -

Claire Giblin

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Darrell Egner

Thank you Leila Webb for putting on such a wonderful Reunion in Kissimmee.  After all these years we will miss your leadership in always planning a super Reunion that gets better every year.  You will be missed!  Welcome Brenda Mortensen and another member of the Auxiliary who wishes to remain anonymous for taking on this huge chore in 2011.  The hotel has already been booked for next year and the dates are the same as this year.  We had 42 people at the Banquet.

I would also like to thank all the ladies that helped Leila with the Hospitality Room.  The food was delicious and never ran out.  Helen & Hal Beddow came down a day early to do the shopping.  The Vodka was great.  Helen is like the Energizer Bunny always on the go.  I got tired just watching her.   Thanks to Ponnie for all the delicious cakes she baked and brought to the Reunion.  Thanks to all the girls who pitched in to help clean up and keep the Hospitality room in order.  The weather was a bit cool and windy but the "517 Table" out side had it's usual group telling War stories that get bigger and better each year.  Bad Johnson even told some new ones.

Leo Dean (133 jumps), Hal Beddow (9 jumps) and Chris Lindner (3 jumps) did their usual Parachute jump and I went along to be sure we got lost on the way to the airport.  Chris and Hal had DVD's made of their jumps which I am sure Ben will put in Mail Call so all of you can enjoy them.

The Board decided that we would have a last National Reunion in 2011.  It will take place at Fort Benning.  Believe it or not I will have no comment for a change.

Again thanks for all the hard work that went in to planning the Mini and a big thanks to all of you that attended.

Darrell Egner

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Wade Gilbert

Thanks Ben.  None of you owe me anything.  You already paid in advance 65 years ago.

P.S. Donald Spears from F-Company is stopping by today to take me to lunch.  What a great treat this is.  I’m always excited to see you guys.

 Best Regards,

Wade Gilbert

(888) 999-6564
(954) 630-9797
(954) 202-1899 Fax

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Wade Gilbert

Hi Ben,

Can you please let the following people know we have their individual interviews and want to send them a copy.  All we need is their address.

 Gabriel Delesio

Willam A. MacRae

Nolan L. Powell

Brian Welborn

Jack Collins

John McDaniel

Eugene Edward Backus

Benedict J. Barrett

Hal Beddow

Richard J. and Patirica J. Seitz

R. W. Dalrymple

Leo P. Dean

George Williamson

Erle E. Ehly

Ludlow Gibbons

Eugene Brissey

Hunter McDonald III

Harold Roberts

Gene M. Frice

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Betty Traver

Hi Ben,

I thought I would let you know that Myrle has improved so much since I last wrote.  He is gaining some weight back and he looks so good.  We hope to attend the Palm Springs reunion this year.  We are so sorry to hear that there will not be any more national reunions.  We enjoyed them so and also got to see  some of our country that we hadn't seen before. 

You got out of California at the right time.  The rain and flooding has really been bad in So. California and we are getting some of the storms.

Thanks again for all the work that you and Bob put into the website and mail call.

Betty Traver

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Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Bob Lally From: Danvers MA E-mail: robertjlally@hotmail.com

Great website Ben! Nancy referred me to this site The stories and pictures are are a great testimony to those who served. My Dad (Alfred Lally) served in Company B 304th Army infantry regiment in the European theater 1943-45. I've been reading Jonathan Gawne's book "Finding your father's war" recently so your website is giving me more inspiration to research his experience. You have a great family and I was fortunate to grow up with 2 heroes of WW2 living on the same street! Added: January 16, 2010