Hello,
     Fifty-seven years ago on Dec. 16, 1944 The Battle Of The Bulge began. I am including in this "Mail Call" a poem from L'OFFENSIVE DES ARDENNES by Eddy Monfort. This is a rough translation from the French. Eddy gave me his book when we visited Belgium in 1994. It is written in French. I will bring the book to the reunion.

   The village of Manhay was twice occupied by German forces in the war and in December 1944 the order was given to take and hold Manhay at all costs. I have also included the entry in our guestbook by Edy Monfort.
Ben


Website-------------------members. aol.com/prct517/

Mail Call-------------------Ben517@aol.com

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Subj: Best Holiday Wishes
Date: 12/14/2001 10:48:54 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: reber83@mindspring.com
To: Ben517@aol.co
Ben,

Please pass on my warmest and best Holiday Wishes, to all of the 517th faithful, for a healthy, happy holiday season.

The spirit of the 517th and the memories shared via mail call are truly treasures.  Descendants like myself, enjoy the stories of our fathers and grandfathers.  This website has been an incredible resource to searching children and grandchildren.  This is incredibly important for historical preservation and accuracy..

Whenever I have the chance, I quiz younger people about their knowledge of WWII.  Their lack of understanding and knowledge is alarming.  I took a certain level of WWII knowledge for granted for so long, but no more.  I assumed it was being taught in schools, but in many cases it is not. 

I felt compelled to do my part to educate, so I recently sent out 10 copies of Astor's book to my siblings and their children.  I am assembling personal information from the outstanding 517th contributors (HH is great!) and will be consolidating all of this information and history of my Dad's military past into one source document for my family.

The information exchanged on this mail call and in the website is important.  Please keep up the great work!

Happy holidays to all!

Tom Reber
son of Lt. Bob Reber, (Hq 3rd)
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 197 517TH PRCT
Date: 12/14/2001 9:54:35 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
To: Ben517@aol.com

Note to Floyd Polk---I know old farmers like you know a lot more than they let on and that you, like good lawyers, don't ask questions when you don't know the answer.  Since you know the answer, for Boom Boom, when she cackles and lays an egg she is laying.  When she cackles and doesn't lay an egg she is both lying in her nest and lying to you.  I hate to sign my name to this, but---Howard Hensleigh
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Subj: Re: The Point System
Date: 12/15/2001 11:45:25 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
To: corne235@citlink.net
CC: Ben517@aol.com

Dear Bill,

Welcome to the crowd.  None of us really understood the point system.  Generally though here is how it worked.  A soldier got points for time in the service, being married, serving over seas and for awards.  If he had enough, when the war ended in Europe, he could go to another high point unit like the 82nd and eventually march down 5th Avenue and then home, out of the Service.  The 517th was a low point unit but some high point men stayed with us and were rewarded with a quicker trip home.

Your Dad's embarkation papers should tell the story.  If he left the day after the first A-bomb was dropped on Japan, (before Aug 15, 1945) he came home with the 517th.  If he left after that, he probably went to the 82nd for some occupation duty in Germany then home.  I remember seeing the 82nd under Gavin marching down 5th Ave.  He was a great leader, always out front where he could smell the combat area.  Seeing pictures of the 82nd in that parade---well, it was airborne all the way.

Hope you have a good trip and keep in touch, Howard Hensleigh
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Date: 12/15/2001 6:26:30 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: chrcook@juno.com
Ben, Received checks from Lud Gibbons and the Bob Harts. Leroy Johnson
called to confirm. Bob
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL
Date: 12/15/2001 6:36:56 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
To: Ben517@aol.com
Dear Ben,

All is well.  We are preparing to move into a new house on January 2, so there is the usual confusion.  I think Mail Call is a great link for the members, family members and others interested in the outfit. 

We had a young man named Reinhart in G Co.  who delivered the mail.  Every one loved him, but he could only deliver what others sent.  You are in the same boat.  As you know a computer is both a wonderful and exasperating machine.  Mine just froze and I lost the magnum opus I was writing to you.  Many who would participate have not come into the computer age.  That may change as they learn the benefits, one of which is Mail Call. 

I may write my opus later about a trooper who blew the end out of a Camp Mackall barracks demonstrating the use of demolitions.  It wasn't Boom Boom, but he probably remembers.

Having mentioned Reinhart, I must finish the sad story.  He was my #3 man behind Sgt. Brownell on my first jump with the 517th--3rd Plt.  Brownell fainted after the red light went on.  I unhooked and dragged him to the rear.  When I got back the green light was on.  Reinhart and I tossed out the bundles and I yelled, "Let's go!".  The stick went out without a hitch, partly due to this young trooper.  Reinhart was hit by a train on that night problem and was killed.  This was G Company's first casualty.

WE are counting on having you around for years delivering the mail so take care.

My best,  Howard Hensleigh
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Subj: jesse update
Date: 12/15/2001 10:30:38 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Ltlpws5355
To: Ben517

today was a good day.....daddy called first thing this am and said he could come home.  the only thing was he didn't get permission from the doctor.  so he had to stay....he took several walks and is eating regular food, which he says tastes like ....  anyway making tremendous progress from last saturday.  is in good spirits and says if he knew he was going to live this long, then he would have taken better care of himself.......more later, kathy
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Kathy is the daughter of Jesse Davis B Co.. They will be at the Kissimmee reunion.
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 197 517TH PRCT
Date: 12/16/2001 1:36:55 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: CackyG
To: Ben517

Really enjoyed mail call.  The article about older women finishing off Bin Laden was hysterical.  Maybe we should give it a try.  LOL.

Dot
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Entry of Apr 29, 2000 at 15:18 [EST]
Name: Eddy Monfort - Manhay
Unit:
EMail: em11.freegates.be
How I found the 517th page: Heard from a member of the 517th
Comments: Dear Mr Barrett and veterans of 517th. Congratulations for your site. It is very interesting and I'm enjoyed to watch every page of your site. I live in Malempré, a village situated at four kilometers from Manhay (Belgium). Manhay was liberated by the 517th during the night of the 26 to 27 December 1944. Thanks to all members of the 517th. Best wishes. Eddy
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MANHAY


Hold At All Costs

Where are the worthy GI’s running who liberated us,
They have their tanks, the Germans, with their equipment,
Have been driven back.  They seemed powerful,
Invincible soldiers, masters for a very long time.

Each time the return of the occupying forces is precise.
For the veteran of the underground the decision has been made.
Once again, in the Ardennes, there will be vengeance.
Flee people of the maquis, avoid judgment.

Civilians have left, replaced by soldiers.
Speedily, they have been crowded into truck beds.
Since Reims, in the rain, turning points, chaos,
For parachutists, what hell, no planes, no trucks!

They were forewarned...in the winter by the fire.
A surplus of potatoes, bacon, eggs.
The front has been made right.  Manhay is in the middle.
The site can be razed.   Order to leave the area.

The bolt on Fraiture has suddenly been released.
Spreading out toward Manhay, grenadiers and tanks.
Evening descending on the Ardenne obscures
The steel worms spitting their fire bursts

Suddenly, from behind the low clouds , the moon appears,
Unveiling the barrages, a chance for the enemy.
Under a pale halo, appears the reply.


Nine tanks will be destroyed, the snow has betrayed them.
This Christmas Eve, will be the breakthrough.
In the radio silence, for the imposed retreat,
An audacious Panzer, between two Shermans, slips in.
Spreading terror…a feat of great audacity.


The artillery intervenes from Monchenoul to Deux-Rys
In three days the batteries will destroy the dwelling    
Through numerous battles, until body to body,
Face to face with the enemy, their fate is sealed.

The region liberated, the village retaken,              
The spoils of the sinister building will be counted.
Where have the sheets gone, still so well-folded?
On a slain soldier, is where they will be found.

Friends have left in pursuit of the enemy.
But the heroic Ardenne regains his courage.
The meadows are cleansed and the lodging is rebuilt.
At vespers they tell the tale of this hard, cursed winter.

Today, the village, fixed like a terrace
on the side of the green massif where violent winds brew,
Has found peace, let us hope, forever.
Manhay, her story, her central square: it was well worth the detour.

Manhay “cost what it may”.  The alarm has sounded…and the order has come      
  Down.
Hold at all costs-“Tenir coute que coute”


                                                     Emile PIRARD