Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 200 517TH PRCT
Date: 12/20/2001 10:18:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: RWINSHIP@glenbrook.k12.il.us

Dear Ben,

Sorry, but the Christmas greetings you sent in mail call was mostly unreadable-very blurry.  I'd love to get a good copy.  Would you mind trying again?

Your story about friendly fire was interesting.  My dad said pretty much the same thing--it was just part of what you had to deal with.  I don't imagine "I" Company got an apology or an investigation from the War Dept. after what happened to them in front of Manhay.

Speaking of Manhay, as Christmas approaches, I am thinking about what you guys were going through 57 years ago.  While it's beyond my comprehension (thank God), I'm sure it's probably still very present in your minds.

A note to Howard Hensleigh:  You should write a book!  Your stories are great!  By the way, what happened to the trooper who hit the parade ground stand?  Did you promote him on the spot? 

A very Merry Christmas to all of the 517th.  I'm sure it will be a lot warmer than it was in Belgium.  And a Merry Christmas to all Mail Call friends!

Rich Winship

Son of Ed Winship
H Company 
    Anyone else have a problem with "Christmas Greeting" in last Mail Call?
__Note mail below from Dot. _____________________________________________________________________--                                                

Subj: Re: (no subject)
Date: 12/20/2001 10:35:28 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: CackyG
To: Ben517

Yes, it came through just fine.  Since it's an insert, it has to load the image and that if fuzzy until fully loaded and then it clears up.  Maybe the person didn't wait until it fully loaded.

Mail call get better and better with all the stories coming through.

Dot
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Subj: Re: Fwd: Christmas Greetings
Date: 12/20/2001 10:35:39 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: RWINSHIP@glenbrook.k12.il.us

Hi, Ben
This one came through perfectly.  Have no idea why the other one didn't.  Oh well, the miracles of technology!
Thanks again.

Rich
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Subj: Re: Reunion
Date: 12/19/2001 9:33:53 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: chrcook@juno.com
To: Ben517@aol.com

Funny you should ask. I was about to send you the list and a couple of
questions.  Can we find out if we have a piano player coming to the
reunion ? The cut-off date has been extended to Jan. 3rd.  Our
hospitality room will be on second floor above last year's. It is a
little larger with a built-in bar. John Camp said he and family of
Father-in-law  John Boatwright were hoping to come, but I haven't heard
from him.                    
                  Leo & Joyce Turco                 Dick & Roberta Miller
      Ben & Fran Barrett
                  Tom Reber                              Bill & Babbie
Boyle           Floyd & Adriana Polk
                  Dan & Pat Smith                     Florence Mehegan  
          Charles Zinzers
                  Dallas & Jerrie Long                Al & Alice Goodman
        Ed (Dog) & Helen (Chloe) Jordan
                Fred & Audrey Coffman          James & Betty Jean
Benton  Jesse & Louise Davis
                  Richard & Kathy McIntosh      Merle & Mardy McMorrow
Clark & Tiger Archer
                  Robert & Patricia Vaught         J. K.& Grace Horn    
          Bill & Leila Webb
                  Ed & Ilge Flannery                   Jessie & Lou
Darden              Nat Schoenbergs
                  Leroy Johnson                          Bob & Mildred
Christie          Lud Gibbons & Marty Donahoo
                  Bob & Kathleen Hart        Jim Royers
     Some others have indicated they might come. There may be some who
have reserved room at Ramada. John will send me list of those tomorrow
and I'll pass it on. Bob
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Subj: Re: 517TH PRCT
Date: 12/20/2001 12:31:34 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: debers@locnet.net
To: Ben517@aol.com

Dear Mr. Ben,

I have a couple of photos of some paratroopers.  One of them is my father,
Wallace V. Wheat who was in Co E of the 517th PCT in 1943-1944.

I would like to see if you can put them on the website and that the other
men can be identified and possibly can be forwarded or copied by the
families.  I have looked for months through hundreds of pictures and haven't
found my father's picture anywhere and I know if someone is out there
researching like I am, they would be grateful to get these pictures.

Now, my father somehow transferred over to the 82nd airborne, Hqtrs Co 1st
Bat. of the 505th during early 1945 and I can't distinguish which pictures
are of him in the 517th or the 505th.

But, since he was definitely in the 517th, I thought maybe we could put the
pictures up on your site.

These pictures have been scanned and I have cleaned them up as best as I
can.  They are really good pictures.  They are not fuzzy or anything.

Debra Wheat Baudoin

Have the photos. They are clear and will put them on the photos page of the website. Can anyone help identified the other trooper for Debra?
Ben
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 200 517TH PRCT
Date: 12/20/2001 11:16:18 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: JBJB93
To: Ben517

Hello All 517th Hero's.  Happy Healthy Holiday to you, your wives, children & friends.  Best Wishes, John Bramswig (son in Law) and Ed Marconi - son of Ed Marconi Company A - 517
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Subj: Re: contact
Date: 12/20/2001 11:39:09 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net

Thanks Ben.  I hope Russ will get some B Co. people on line.    B Co. was at one time quite active.  I'll write or call Whitey Hillsdale, who was to B Co. what Jim Birder was to I Co.  God bless,  HH
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Subj: Re: No Subject
Date: 12/20/2001 12:22:11 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: acdoty@southwind.net
To: JBJB93@aol.com
CC: Ben517@aol.com

Hello John;

On April 4th 1945 the 517th, now a part of the 13th Airborne Division. moved
to a departure Airfield in northeastern France.    We went to Airfield # 54
near Achiet, France..  We were still there when the Germans  surrendered.  I
assume all of the 517th made  a victory  jump on VE day.  I know the 3rd Bn
did.   H Co. jumped from C 46s for the first time and only time I was with
the 517th.  The C 46s had doors on both sides of the plane.  I jumped from
the left side , number 13.

John your father-in -law was in A Co  of the 1st Bn. and I believe they
jumped also.

I'm sending this to Ben also in hope that some of our other 517th Troopers
will remember this jump.  I have some pictures I took of this jump.

Cecil H. Doty
----- Original Message -----
From: <JBJB93@aol.com>
To: <acdoty@southwind.net>
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 12:30 PM

> Hello,
>
> My father in law Ed Marconi Comp A told me that he was on the run way when
a
> jeep sped down yelling the war was over.  did you actually jump on VE day
&
> perhaps only some companies jumped?  My father in law passed away & I am
> trying to put together info on him.
>
> John Bramswig
> jbjb93@aol.com
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