Website                                           www.517prct.org

Mail Call                                   MailCall@517prct.org

Mail Call Archives            www.517prct.org/archives

Roster                            www.517prct.org/roster.pdf

Recent website additions:

Robert Kennedy, F Company biography

Ray Hess, F Company biography

1943 May 10 - Letter to parents of new recruits from Lt. McKinley

Officers of the 2nd Battalion at Camp Toccoa, 1943

Arlton Bearden, Demo Platoon, I Company (KIA Italy)

Video of A Company in Italy, Aug 14, 1944

Le Muy infos magazine - selected pages of the August 2009 celebration

MailCall News

OK, I am back.  I had a great family vacation with Paula and the girls last week in Orlando, got back Sunday night, and started my new job on Monday.  Sorry to be offline for so long, but I should have some time to catch up over the long weekend.  Keep the news coming! 

-- Bob Barrett

Dear Bob Barrett and the Entire Barrett Family:
 
In  Love and Respect for Ben Barrett:
 
Thank you as always for your kindness.  The 517th and their legacy cannot  ever be overlooked in history. Ben and his family were so instrumental in helping  our Dad going to Washington D.C. (along with Trooper Walsh) back in 2007.    I personally will never forget the kindness Ben and his family showed us when Dad was fighting physical issues due to an accident, but the Barrett family found a way at the last moments to allow Dad to attend his one and only reunion of the 517th  back in 2007.  Thanks also, to all of the others from the 517th-we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. 

[Peter Jansson and] the Jansson Family. 

Bob:  Leo and Hal looked fabulous.  Just goes to show that paratroopers can do it all, and then some.  Have they thought of  being TV personalities as their next career!  Thanks so very much for sharing the link to their TV debut.  It was a real thrill even if it had to be vicariously.  Also tell Howard thanks for the connection to the reenactors' webpage.
 
Pat Seitz and Alan Greer

[In case you missed it in the last MailCall: 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Dreams/living-dream-bill-weir-skydiving/story?id=10576103 ]

Greeting Fellow Troopers,
 
    If you have not heard James W. Etherton passed away May 2nd, 2010 in St. Clair Shores from Mesothelioma. He had been the chairman of the Detroit Chapter 82nd Assn named after him for 32 years.
    Also, please add me to your mailing list please so that I may keep communication with those in our chapter who also belong to yours and keep them posted of your endeavors.
    Always at your service.
 
All the way!
 
Bob Slivatz
VP/PAO James W. Etherton Detroit Chapter 82nd Abn Div Assn

Phil McSpadden

Greetings Barrett Family,

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to join you at Arlington to pay my respects to your father.  I thought it very generous for your family to share such a personal moment with all of us. I won't forget him.
 

I hoped our presence helped to lighten the sorrow and keep moral high. I cannot claim to have known your father well but from what I gather from friends and family he would have approved of the celebration of friendship that the weekend in DC became.  I do know Ben had a great talent for bringing people together and keeping them together. The result of of his efforts in that department is truly inspirational. The effort that all of you expended in organizing the weekend and the tours proves that Ben's skills have been passed on to his indefatigable family.  

Wishing all the Barrett's all the best. I'm sure we'll see each other again. Until then be well all.

Paul Abbene

Ben:

I received the following from an email.  I checked the 1944 Christmas Roster but did not find his name. I haven't checked any other sources to try and confirm the information listed for S/Sgt. Walter C. Shanabrough. 

Mike Wells

 
________________________________________________________________

Dear Michael,

It is with regret that I must write to you on behalf of my Father, staff sgt Walter C. Shanabrough.  He passed last Tuesday may 11 2010, at home. I would send you the obit but I don't know if your the right person to send it to.  If you could forward this on to the right person i would appreciate it.  Walter's obit appeared in the harrisburg patriot news friday MAy 14, 2010. You can retrieve it from the web if you would. If i can be any further \assistance  please contact me at bulamark@juno.com.
Thank you,
Mark Shanabrough
 
 
From "Patriot News," Harrisburg, PA:

 
Walter C. Shanabrough
 

Visit Guest Book

Walter C. Shanabrough, 85, of Marysville, PA, died Tues., May 11, 2010, at his home.
Walter served as board chairman (1986-2006) for the Blue Chip Federal Credit Union stepping down to become chairman emeritus. Previously, he owned and managed Auburn Real Estate and Construction of Harrisburg, and was a retired Car Inspector for the former Reading Railroad and was an avid model railroader including 1" gauge. He was a founding member of the Chapel Hill United Church of Christ instrumental in the construction of the current chapel, Walter received 3 bronze stars for his service from D-Day through VE-Day as a Staff Sergeant and Paratrooper with the 517th Infantry and Glider Infantry in World War II.

Walter is survived by his wife of 64 yrs, Margaret F. Ortner Shanabrough, formerly of Huntsville AL; his 2 sons, Joseph E. J. of York PA, and Mark W. (Bula Bulicek) of Chicago IL; his daughter, JoAnn Honafius (Robert) of Lebanon PA; his brother, Boise Penrose (Judy) of Camp Hill PA; his sister, Margaret Bohnerkamp of Hummelstown PA; and 3 grandchildren.
Visitation begins at 1pm, Friday, May 28, 2010, at Chapel Hill United Church of Christ, followed by a memorial service at 2pm.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Chapel Hill United Church of Christ, 701 Poplar Church Rd., Camp Hill PA 17011; or to The Nature Conservancy of PA, PO Box 6015, Alberta Lea MN 56007-6614; or to the Mennig/Shanabrough Scholarship Fund, c/o the Blue Chip Federal Credit Union, 5050 Derry St., Harrisburg PA 17111.

Bob,

As our Country approaches another Memorial Day, I wanted to send this email along with the attachment, and thank all of our 517th veterans, and all veterans who have served this great country.  Thank you for your service.  I am deeply grateful.  Because of your sacrifice I live in the best country on the planet.  Thank you so much!
 
Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1st BN

http://www.usspringle.org/Veteran.htm

Dear Sir,

I saw in the last 517th PRCT mailcall that you were wondering how to organize a searchable easy to use database for Morning reports, etc...
 

If you are interested, I can make scripts for you and provide a fully working database system, complete with search engine, exportable as an Excel file (easy to use)...
I can make this very quickly, but I only need to know if your webhosting service is offering MySQL database, and is allowing PHP language, etc...
 

I can make this for free, of course...
Let me know if you're interested, ok?
 

Christophe Mora (from France)

[I just might take Christophe up on his offer.  Yes, our web hosting service does have all the right tools available.  So stay tuned. -- BB]

From: Adschneid@aol.com [mailto:Adschneid@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 1:45 AM
To: webmaster@517prct.org

Subject: Remembering Richard Bailey Bednarz

I am now living near the US Army Garrson at Schweinfurt, Germany and I'm planning to visit Richard Bailey Bednarz's grave site at the Draguignan American Cemetery during the early summer. I would appreciate any information or memories from soldiers who knew Richard.

Richard Bailey Bednarz, one of my first cousins, was a member of the 517th's Regimental Headquarters Company. He was born on September 20, 1924 in Schulenburg, Texas, killed in action on September 21, 1944, and is buried at the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan, France.

Richard was the son of August Bednarz and Dovie Bailey Bednarz and had a brother named Robert. His wife's name was Margaret, and he had a young daughter named Charline.

Thank you.

Arland D. Schneider
Mail: CMR 457, Box 653 APO AE 09033
Residence: Henneberg Strasse 11, 97453 Mainberg, DE
Home: +49-9721-973-9750; Cell: +49-0151-2056-5026

From: JOHN COFFEE <jcfrom1973@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 25, 2010 at 7:21 PM
Subject: WW2 Airborne Historical Company

Just wanted to shoot you some photos of an event we did on May 15 & 16, 2010. We are a living history unit that portrays F Co. 517th PRCT. One of our members portrays a 596th AEC impression. The U.S. Army invited us to the Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) at Carlisle Barracks, PA. This is also home of the Army War College and Institute of Heraldry. The event was billed as a "Timeline" event with living historians and displays to outline the Army's history from colonial times to current mission.

John Coffee

See photos here

Patricia and Roland Orengo recently posted a very nice video of the ceremonies at their house in Sospel last August.  I am trying to find a way to post it for everyone. -- BB

Name that Trooper

The setting for this particular "name that trooper" episode took place in Belgium on the outskirts of the German occupied town of Manhay, on or about the 27th day of December, 1944.  Preparations were being made for a full scale attack by "H" and "I" companies plus elements of "HQ" company to take the town from its Nazi occupiers. They were readying themselves to jump off on the attack and all precautions had to be taken as the 517th was expecting a serious counter attack. Snow was knee deep and the temperature was near zero. This scenario was described by 517th trooper Pvt. W.T.Webb in his very short novel entitled "517th Parachute Combat Team Escapades".  

Pvt. Webb was responsible for laying phone line throughout the area previous to the attack on orders from his Sergeant, J. K. Horne. Our mystery trooper for this tale was the Commanding Officer who planned and set up logistics for the attack.  His rank was that of Major.  Webb was standing by for orders to attack and was in the vicinity of where a couple of tanks were digging in and preparing for an all out attack. One of the tank sergeants was chatting with Webb when Major ? ? ?  walked up and said to the Sergeant, "Your outfit has a reputation of pulling out and leaving people in the lurch. You don't do that to the 517th.  I gave orders to my gunners to shoot you if you try it.  We're all staying."  Major ? ? ?  then went on his way. This tank sergeant looks at Webb with big eyeballs and says, "Is he kidding?"  To which Webb replied, "Go ask the gunners up on the hill!"  The sergeant ran up the hill and on his way back with a look of disbelief on his face the sergeant said "That is their orders exactly".  The sergeant looked at Webb and asked "what would you do?"   Webb thought a moment then replied, "I wouldn't move my tanks."  "If he told them to shoot their own mother..... she's dead." Can you name this blood and guts major ? ? ? 

Bob Barrett had made an earlier reference to this particular incident in a previous Mail Call wanting to know from which publication this particular account was taken. The very brief paperback is entitled "517th Parachute Combat Team Escapades."  Authored by the 517's own W.T. Webb.  Look for the answer to this quiz in the next edition of "517th Mail Call"                                                     

      
Jerry Wofford
N E P H E W O F A B U Z Z A R D

Administrivia:

- If you have trouble reading this MailCall, or seeing the images, you can read it online at http://www.517prct.org/mailcall/1996.htm

- At any time, if you want to be added or removed from the MailCall list, just let me know.

- Donations for any programs involving the 517th should be sent to our treasurer Leo Dean at 14 Stonehenge Lane, Albany NY  12203.

- New address for MailCall:  MailCall@517prct.org  I will also continue to search Ben's gmail and AOL accounts for a while as well. 

- If you send me email that you do not want included in MailCall, just label it as “FYEO”.

- I now understand how Ben could get confused about what he already posted and what he didn’t.  If I miss something, please just send it again.