Hello,
I would like to be added to mail call. Thanks!

Alex Fulle
rattrap87@runbox.com

Hello again,
It has been a while since I had been in touch. My father, Roger Scherer was with the 517th and greatly enjoyed the Thunderbolt and his memories of his friends from the past. All of his stories were of the people, in the unit and those he met overseas, and the friendship and caring those gave him. This past year we spoke of his honeymoon in 1946. It was amazing to me that their big trip was to see his wartime friends, William Berry and Harold Tober, at their homes. For many years after the war, he and mom received cards, letters and announcements from the family in Nice that he met during the war. All of these things just reinforced to me how special all these soldiers were in an unimaginable time.

Sadly, I lost Dad this past Veterans Day. He was not looking forward to his 91st birthday on November 14th...Mom had passed away the previous summer and he was tired and missed her. Appropriately, he passed away peacefully in the early hours of Veterans Day and was laid to rest, with military honors, next to his beloved Jeanne on his birthday.

To all the veterans and their families, words can't express the gratitude felt in my heart, for all your dedication and caring. My father was, and always will be, my example of what we should strive to be.

Sincerely,
Susan Scherer-Clark

To Ben and Family

I am so sorry to hear of your ongoing illness. My father was in service company and you added his picture to the gallery several years ago at my request. Thank you for all you have done for all of us who had family in France and Italy. My dad was in five major battles and even though it was not on the site for the holders of the Silver Star he did get one. I finally for my Mother and after numerous attempts did get my father's medals. All of his were stolen when he was on the way home from Europe after Normandy. I also acquired the Diploma from France for my Father's participation in the Liberation of France in WWII.
You did not most likely know my Father but you would have liked him. We would ask him questions about the War but he could never talk about it. The things I know are things I found in old letters and newspapers after his Mother, my Grandmother passed away.
Bless you Ben for helping us find our Father's because those that were there mostly could never really talk about it.
You have the heartfelt adoration of my family.

Sheila Goodman Dorssey daughter of Pvt Howard Bernard Goodman Service Company

PS I copied the Christmas card from Hell for my Mother she is still living and has all my fathers ribbons, medals and such in box frames.

Sheila

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check
made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including My life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who
no longer understand it.'

hey Ben -

So glad to see you're home! I know you gave the nurses in the hospital a run for their money but even you would tire of that game after a while.

Great to get a Mail Call - but I did want to let everyone know that Leo Dean, the secretary-treasurer, is looking into the tax return question raised in an earlier Mail Call. The clerkship, too, is in Joanne's good hands. Worry not -

Love that we added Kait Saltzer to the mail list. Those of us in France last summer would remember Kait and her family, also making the trip of a lifetime in honor of her grandfather. We enjoyed happy hours around the pool - she so loved meeting the 517 troopers. I'm attaching a photo, but I don't know if it can get in Mail Call.

We are getting teeming rain here in New Jersey today - melting the piles of snow. Ugh.

Have you made your reservations yet for Palm Springs, everyone? They are planning a fabulous time!

The Thunderbolt is AT the printer!

Claire

Claire,

I read Dad your email. He said that you have been saying that The Thunderbolt has been at the printer for 3 months!!! He can't wait much more !!
Joanne

Ben,

The T'Bolt is, indeed, at the printer.........Helen, being the "perfectionist" she is, is still crossing the "t's" and dotting the "i's"..........I am hurrying, Ben, hurrying very fast. I can only imagine the number of times that I will get bolts of "nudges" from heaven (that would be you, Ben) telling me to hurry it up, and not be so persnickety with everything. What am I going to do without you?

Thanks for everything you have done for the 517th, and for me. Huge hugs and love to you and your family. God Bless you.

Helen

Joanne and Bob:

I mentioned to Dad that my neighbor Pierre fought for the Belgians in the Big One, WWII. Dad wanted to know if he stayed with Irma. Sherry asked Pierre and this is what. He said about what he did in the war.

Paul Barrett

------Original Message------
From: Sherry Barrett
To: Paul Barrett
Subject: Pierre
Sent: Feb 21, 2010 4:34 PM

He didn't know Irma, but he did fight in a battle after the battle of Bostogne (sp?). He was defending the Ramaegen (sp?) bridge.

His family lived in a house between Lemur (sp?) and Liege. It was a large home that was taken over by the Belgian and French armies. There was a large wine cellar, and the French drank as much as they could, then broke the rest of the bottles so that the Germans wouldn't get them.

Dear friends,

   Please, come and join us in honoring our veterans of the Operation Dragoon. Pleae, see attached letter. We have great programs for you. Pass this info to others.

   Rock of the Marne! All the Way!

   Monika Stoy

Operation Dragoon - The “Forgotten D-Day”

The Allied Landings in Southern France on 15 August 1944

Outpost Europe, Society of the 3^rd Infantry Division,

The US Army Center of Military History, and

The Army Historical Foundation

Honor allied veterans on the 66^th Anniversary of their invasion of Southern France

When: 8 August 2010, 1800-2100 Historical Symposium

9 August 2010; 0900-1200, 1400-1800 Historical Seminars

10 August 2010, 0900 to 1500 Memorial Ceremony and luncheon/panel discussion

Where: Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater, Hyatt Hotel, Arlington, VA; GEN Peter Chiarelli, VCSA will be guest speaker (father landed in Southern France with 3ID)

Who: Veterans of the 6^th Army Group; 7^th Army; 6^th Corps; 3^rd, 36^th, and 45^th Infantry Divisions; 1^st Allied Airborne Task Force; 1^st Special Service Force; US Army Air Corps; US Navy, and their families; French Army Veterans; Allied Air Force and Navy veterans; Soldiers; guests; members of the media; representatives of the French, British, Canadian, Greek, Dutch, Polish, and German Embassies.

Point of Contact: Monika Stoy, President, Outpost Europe
monikastoy@yahoo.com, PH: 001 703 912 4218
Address: 6531 Milva Lane, Springfield, VA. 22150 USA

Dear Friends of the 517th,
Here is a little video I made for my Friend Zoot Snyder, A Company.
I hope you enjoy it.
Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-us7_En2fU
Kind regards to you all,
Gilles

Subject: Fw: F-4 vs. Concrete Wall

it takes a moment to load the video ...but interesting for sure.

Take a look, (especially you doubters,) at what happens to a moveable object (aircraft in flight) striking an immoveable object (concrete, steel reinforced) as in the Pentagon and the Twin Towers. For the doubters, this presentation will answer your question: "Where are all the aircraft's parts?"

The people in the aircrafts, had no feeling, it came instantaneously. Now tell me we should treat Terrorists like citizens!

Read First!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An F-4 weighing 60,000 lbs travelling at 500 mph posses about 500,000.000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy.

The passenger jets that hit the WTC towers and Pentagon were doing over 500 mph!!! Watch this video: An F-4 phantom jet VS. a solid, reinforced concrete wall, at 500 mph. When you view this video, you'll see what actually happens to an airplane when it hits a concrete wall. Many of you may have seen the web site that asks the question; "If it's true that a Boeing airliner hit the Pentagon, what happened to all the parts of it? Why'd we only find very few pieces of the aircraft? Where did all the mass of that entire 737 GO?

Well, for those of you who question what happened to "all the mass of that airplane", watch this clip. It's an Air Force engineering test: A section of a concrete barrier that was to surround a nuclear reactor dome, to test if it would indeed survive an aerial attack. With the high speed cameras rolling, they attached an F- 4 Phantom to a sled on a tract, and then accelerated the jets speed up to 500 mph. And, what happens when a 'seemingly unstoppable force', meets a "Stationary, Immovable Object?" (Now, in slow motion, an F-4 collides with a wall..). I bet you'll play it more than once just to believe it. I did five times! Where do all the 'flying parts' go? The fact is, the entire plane is instantly atomized. The only parts that were even remotely recognizable, were the very tips of the jet wings, that barely cleared the edge of the concrete structure.

That's why NO pieces larger than 3 centimetres were located at the Pentagon, or the World Trade Centre Towers. And, because nothing in the planes paths were 'indestructible or immovable,' everything hit directly by the planes was immediately vapourized.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q35xHzjxB0

JUST ONE MAN'S OPINION! and pretty much says it all!

I don't care who you voted for, this is funny!

This man, 73, is wearing a protective flap over his ear while Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I wish I could shake this man's hand.. I just want to know where he got it.....?

Jerry Wolford

Guestbook entries:

Submitted by Comments:

Name: Jamie Evanish
From: Pittsburgh, Pa.
E-mail: je75main@gmail.com This is a great site. Does anyone have morning reports for Co. C of the 517th?

Added: February 26, 2010

Submitted by Comments:

Name: Jamie Evanish
From: Pittsburgh, Pa.
E-mail: je75main@gmail.com My Uncle was Stephen R. Stepek, came out of the service as a cpl, Co. C 517th pir. I'm sending for his military records. He enlisted Sep 3, 1943. Honorable discharge Oct 13, 1945. Not sure when he joined the 517th, yet. His purple heart says he was wounded Jan 16th, 1945. I know he was with the 517th at that time as a pfc. I believe he served under Lt Marks. I'd love to hear from anyone that knew him or heard of my uncle.

Added: February 26, 2010

Claire,

You have written a beautiful letter to us and captures what Ben has been to all of us. I can tell you that from the first 517th Reunion Hal and I attended in Columbus, GA in 1999 until now, has opened up to us a wonderful, wonderful group of people that we love very dearly. God bless Ben and his family.

Helen

I am sorry to hear this sad news, and am shocked that everything went to fast. Ben was a great man, and he managed to make the 517th PRCT association be one of the most dynamic WW2 veteran associations that exists.

His death is sad news for you, and for many others who have known him.

Sincerely

Jean-Loup Gassend

Ben, my father in law is a member of the Regiment and kept up with his old buddies through your Dad's postings and emails. Words can not express how important to

us and to America. Your Dad contributed more than his share to our nation, and justly deserves internment at Arlington. He is one of those truly great soldiers who

made the "Great Generation" a model for all of us to try and achieve. He will be missed by many, but most by those in his family. Our prayers are with you as you

deliver him to the God he served and who loves him very much.

Amen...

John Camp
Lt Col, USAF/SJA (Retired)
On behalf of Donald E. Boatright, "The Battling Buzzards"

To the family of Ben Barrett,
My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. Another one of our great men has departed from us, but is joining all his old friends and will be waiting for us

to join them as time goes on. He was a great man, indeed, whose light and jovial personality truly captured the spirit of his fellow men of the 517th and those of his

great generation. Ben was a joy to have at every reunion, and I always looked forward to seeing him and talking with him. He was a great friend of my grandfather Don

Fraser, and I know my grandfather always had a great respect for him. He was an honorable man, one of noble character, the kind that are often hard to come by. A true

family man, he was always ready to tell those around him about the latest happenings of kids and grandkids, and did so with such pride that it was hard to feel any way

other than impressed.
Blessings to Fran and her six children; I wish you all the best and extend my deepest condolences to you in this time of loss.

Sincerely,
Vanessa Armand [granddaughter of Major Don Fraser of HQ1]

I'm so sorry for your loss. God bless.

Regards,

John

John Bramswig - Son in law of Ed Marconi 517 Comp A

I'd like to extend my family's most heartfelt condolances to the Barrett family. My father and I both feel so fortunate to have been with Ben, Fran and Joanne last month

in Kisseemmee for the mini-reunion. We all feel a deep sense of loss for a fine man who gave so much for others. Congratulations Ben on a life well lived!
The Cross Family

Bob& family:

Mine and my families deepest condolences for your families loss. I only knew your dad from writing to him and reading his writings but felt as if I had known him my

whole life. He so reminded me of my dad in his honesty, enthusiasm, sense of duty and grace. He will be missed! I know my dad and the rest of the 517th who

preceded him were there to welcome him once more.

Donald E. Sliker
Son of
Donald Sliker
E Co 517th,RCT

Hal and I are very sorry and saddened to hear of Ben's death. Indeed, he was a very wonderful man, a man that was a very good friend, a man that loved and held the

517th together with his love for the Mail Call, and a man that will be missed very much to so many people here as well as France and Belgium. May God bless Ben and

his family.

With much love, Hal and Helen Beddow

Hi Bob,

Its very sad news, our deepest heart felt sympathy goes out to you and the family. May he rest in eternal peace.

Kind Regards
Vic

Bob,
I am so sorry to hear this. Unfortunately I never met your father in person, but I know he was a very special human being. As time goes on you will realize even more

how fortunate you were to have him in your life.
I tried to explain this to your Dad, but the joy that the Barrett’s have brought into my life through the 517 Website could never be explained. Thanks, it is much

appreciated.
Thinking of you and your family
j
Jay Sutcliffe

Hi Bob,

My sincere condolences on the passing of your father. My father was Edmund Marconi from Co. A of the 517th. He passed away in 1999 and when I hear about the

passing of another WW2 hero, I grieve yet again.
Because of when my father passed (He nor I never had a computer at the time), He had no idea of the 517th website as well as mail call since I believe it had not been

put on the web yet anyway. He would have loved all of what your dad did in terms of keeping everyone in the "know" about all things 517th PRCT.
I commend your father not only for his heroism in a time of war, but also for all his work he put into honoring our fallen, re-kindling old friendships, keeping the word out

about reunions, etc.... He deserves great honor for who he was and surely always will be, especially to all of your family.

May the LORD Bless and keep you through this time,

Edmund N. Marconi
Son of Edmund A. Marconi Pvt. 517th PRCT

Dear Mrs. Barrett, Joanne, Bob and family,

I am very sad to hear that Ben has died. I have been a reader of his
517th newsletter for one year. I am so grateful for his effort in producing this wonderful daily newsletter. It brought me a little closer to my Uncle and distant cousin

who were with the 517th and did not
survive.

What a brave and good man!

Yours truly,

Mike Woldenberg

Ben Barrett was a Godsend for all of us. Now he has been called back.

We will miss him.

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Steve Markle and all of the Markle Family

I am so sorry to hear about your father's passing.

Please be assured of my family's prayers for his soul and his family.

Thank you,

Karl

Karl A. Locker, CPA, P.C.
PO Box 5331
Austin, TX 78763-5331

Thank you for notifying us. Some of the members of the jump team live in the DC area and would be honored to pay last respects at the funeral.

From all of us on the jump team and with sincere condolences,

Commemorative Airborne Jump Team

Your family has our deepest sympathy for your loss. I know that Ben is with his family that passed before and also with all of his old buddies that has cleared the path

for him. My father in law Victor Quarante was with the 517th. and passed away last Thanksgiving Day, I know that he will be waiting for Ben, as I get mail call and

brought all of the emails to him and read them while he talked about the 517th. We will all miss him. Thank you for your service and Ben's everlasting love for his country

and soldiers in arms.
Sincerely:

Len Kneale

Words fail at the enormity of this loss. Ben was truly special in every way. Our condolences to your family, and to each and every one of us - each member of the 517

and the auxiliary.
Jim and Brenda Mortensen

Bob: my sympathies to you at this time … your family and this nation have lost a good man

Cotton Nelson

Dear Barrett family,
I am so sorry for your loss! May you find comfort in your memories! Our loss here is truly Heaven's gain!
With deepest sympathy,

Lori Richter-daughter of Orville Stubbs 517th E. Co

This is for the entire Barrett Family: I wish to express my sincere condolences to the entire Family. Be assured that all his work to bring us all “mail call” will always be

appreciated by all. His work is done, but will never be forgotten. May He rest in peace and the rest of his admirers always remember Ben and every thing that he did.

Ben, I shall miss you,but will never forget you. Until we meet again Ben rest in peace. Sincerely, Ray R. Hess

Though your heart must hold deep sadness,
may the precious memories of all you shared with your loved one comfort you and bring you peace.
with sympathy and caring thoughts.

With our love
Patou and Roland Orengo
Sospel, France

I am truly saddened by your news and so sorry for you all. His contributions and sacrifices for his country will never be forgotten. God's love and peace be with you all

during this time.

Debbie Martin & Family

We are so sorry for your loss. God bless you all.
Bobbi Jo Spencer McCauley and Jo Anne Spencer Clark

To the Barrett family,
I'm sorry to hear about your father. Please be comforted knowing he was such a good man. Ben's mail call was the source for my connection to the 517th with my father

and brother, and allowed us to get to know all the wonderful people at the reunions. I will always feel a part of the 517th family. Seeing and talking to Ben at reunions

always brought joy to my heart. He always had kind words to say. Ben's efforts had a lot to do with me getting close to my father again before he passed, and I will

always be grateful.
Tim Curtis
Son of Harland "Bud" Curtis Hdq. 1st

To the Barrett Family,

I am so sorry and hoped that he would be with us for some time to come.
You were fortunate to have him for so long. He was loved and will be missed by many. Thank you for letting us know.

With great respect,
Rick Sweet

So sorry to hear about Ben, he was a special man, afriend and he will be greatl missed. My prayers are with him and the family. He and Bill are now in heaven asking for

blessings for the 517th. So sorry, I will miss him.
Love Babbie Boyle

It is with deep sorrow that I received the word on the passing of our great freind and comrade. Toeach od the wonderful Barrett Family my heartfelt sympathy. My our

Great Lord encircle each of you with his loving arms comfort you with warm memories to help you during this period of your great soorrow. Our nation and our 517th has

lost a great warrior, a man who gave to his family, the 517th and his country, without hestitation dedication and loyalty. Ben Barrett was a great American,a

courageous paratrooper a respected leader and wonderful human being. Ben has done so very much to protect and enhance the legacy of oue great 517th and truly has

been the glue that has held us together. Again, to each of the wonderful Barrett Family my prayers and thoughts are with you during this period of your great sorrow and

all the Seitz stand ready to help you. God Bless each of you. Dick Seitz

Bob,
Myrle and I are so sad and stunned by this news. Our prayers are with you and the family.
Myrle and Betty Traver

Bob -

I am so sorry to receive the news.

The highest accolade I bestow is to say someone was a good and decent man. Your dad certainly fits that description. They simply don't make men like him anymore.

I'm glad to know his family was with him at the end. My brother was unable to be with us when dad passed and it still grieves him.

Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray you know His peace in your time of sorrow.

From one "Son of A Buzzard" to another,
mark

My deepest sympathy!! He will be missed--Edith Miller

Barrett Family,

I am sorry for your loss. A very special man indeed was Ben. Many thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time.

Love,

Mimsey Boyle Kelly

Bob Barrett and family,

I want to offer my condolences for your loss.

I did not know your father but my Dad (Teddy Pierce) who was with the 517th just passed 2 months ago and I know how difficult it is. He was slightly active years ago

with the association but after my Mom died that ended.

Respectfully,

Craig Pierce

The Barrett family
My deepest sympathy to you on the passing of my dear friend, and all of the 517 fraternity will forever be
grateful for what he did and what he meant to us. Farewell,Ben, I and the Airborne everywhere, will miss you,
but our wonderful Lord needs him more than we can understand.
Mae and I want to hold your family up in prayer for strength at this time of bereavement.
Love and prayers...
Mel Dahlberg

To Ben's family, Words fail at a time life this . Perhaps later on I can express , fully, my feelings for Ben . But for now, it is fitting that I send you my profound sympathy

and heartfelt condolences . For the last 10 or 15 years Ben and I developed a binding friendship and comaraderie that was a joy for both of us . We always managed to

have time for each other at our reunions , especially at Palm Springs. Ben was a mans man . I shall miss him greatly and I will remember him till the day I join him in

that heavenly DZ. May The Lord throw his mantel of peace upon you as he now has on for Ben . In Airborne Brotherly Love , Bob Dalrymple

Dear Bob:
Dad told me this very sad news a couple of hours ago. Words are so inadequate to express our family's sorrow and sympathy for you and the rest of your

magnificent family. How extraodinarily blessed we have been to have had the privilege and pleasure of meeting and spending such wonderful, special time with your Dad

and through the 517th -- you and the rest of the Barrett clan. Your Dad was the glue for and the spark of the 517th camadradrie, and the catalyst for various ways to

preserve the 517th's history (including such little things as having me deliver a copy of "A Cut Above" to the Florida State U Institute on WWII and the Human

Experience). Thank you to you for helping him carry out that amazing role into the 21st Century through Mail Call. What an inspiration your Dad was to say nothing of

the plain fun of being around him. It was always a special treat to go to Mass with him at the 517th reunions.
Your Dad, you and your whole family are very much in our throughts and prayers. We hope you can feel all the love that all of us have for your Dad and that love

will help offset your sorrow. Thank you for letting us know the arrangements at Arlington as I would like to be there if I can. In the meantime, if there is anything that we

can do for you or the rest of Barretts, please do not hesitate to ask.
With all our love, Pat Seitz, Alan Greer, Cache Seitz Steinberg, Rick Seitz & Torie Seitz

WE ARE SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS OF A GREAT MAN.

KATHY MCINTOSH AND JESSE K DAVIS B CO.

To the Barrett Family,

My sincere condolences to all of you over the loss of your father. He will never be forgotten and will be so missed by everyone. What a loss to the entire 517th family, it

will be difficult to carry on without Ben. Words cannot express my sorrow for you.

Karen Wallace

Dear Bob and family,

Let me add my sincere condolences for the loss of your dad. We will all
miss Ben's humor and good nature that permeated each edition of Mail
Call. I can't convey how much his efforts with the website and mail
call have meant to me personally. I am sure I am not the only
son/daughter of a trooper who found an entirely new admiration for his
dad long after his death after discovering http://517prct.org

God Bless Ben and all of you.

Mike Kane, Jr.

Dear Family Barrett,

I want to express to you all my sympathy for your departed Bob.
I only knew him through the correspondence we had since last year after the 65th Anniversary when our ROTM Color Guard joined at the ceremonies in Southern France.

I was impressed by the kindness of your father & also that he was such a dedicated person to his Comrades & all keeping busy informing everybody on the last news.

I know what a work it is being myself editor of our Association Newsletter & how useful it is to keep the people connected.

Best Regards,

Chris Viller

To Ben's family, What a pleasure to meet Ben and family this past summer in Draugignon. Our personal pilgrimage following the footsteps of our father was enriched by meeting Ben and other soldiers who fought in the war that literally saved the free world. As huge an endeavor as that war was, it was made up of the efforts of individuals.

Young men who were so very brave and who sacrificed so much like your father did. We are so happy that Ben lived such a good life and had his large family

surrounding him when he passed. Our most heartfelt prayers are with you. regards, Bella, William, Kaitlin and Conner Saltzer