----- Original Message -----From: Ben517@aol.comSent: Saturday, March 23, 2002 12:24 PMTo: undisclosed-recipients:;Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 259 517TH PRCT
Hello,
Things have been quiet on the internet for the past few days and therefore plans to send out "Mail Call" daily will have to wait until volumn picks up. Send mail.
We have added to the Photos section on the website a picture of Castle Hill , Bergstein and with the same photo the story of the Battle for the Huertgen Forest with mail from both the Americans and Germans concerning the battle that never should have taken place.
If you are not on AOL please let me know if you receive the above portrait.
Ben
Website--------------members.aol.com/prct517/
Mail Call-------------Ben517@aol.com
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 258 517THT PRCT
Date: 3/20/2002 8:08:20 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
Dear Ben, In looking through the pictures, I saw a number of Chuck Glass of G Company. Now I am going to relate the story of how G Co. broke the Army record on making the 25 mile march with full field equipment. I wasn't there. It occurred just before Russ Miller and I reported in to Major Zais in November 1943. The story was fresh on everyone's mind at that time. As mentioned by others and as I believe as related in the Odyssey, Col. Walsh selected different companies to break the Army records. It fell to G Company to break the 25 mile march record. Every man present for duty had to hit the road. Chuck Glass arrive about 0400 hours on the day appointed fresh from a big time on furlough. He was present for duty and shouldered his field equipment, which included the company's light machine guns and 60 mortars. Hour after hour the Company ground out the march. Chuck in the last mile or two passed out. This was just another small problem to be solved. Along with the machine guns and mortars, the Company shouldered Glass and carried him across the finish line to break the record by several hours. According to the troopers who made the march, the whole Company was about to expire during the last mile. Then someone started to sing--"Airborne we fly the skies, paratroopers do or die............." Hooper loved that song so it probably was the CO who started it. Undoubtedly Lt. Steele joined in and he could raise the dead. This perked up the unit and they crossed the finish line with heads high along with Glass and the crew served weapons. I am sure Dallas Long and others can add to this one, or correct me if I am off base.
Before I leave Lt. Steele, he almost got shot in the early pre-dawn hours on Tennessee maneuvers. We had made another forced March of at least 25 miles without food or water. We bedded down, but were roused from our pup tents half dead to move out. Steel chose this occasion to sing "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning"!
You won't believe it, but I loved the Army. Howard Hensleigh
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Subj: Florida Wildfires
Date: 3/20/2002 9:22:08 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: chrcook@juno.com
Hi Ben, We are in fire season. It may be as bad as last year when we had
over 200 fires in our district. Got home tonight at 8.30. The fire
started yesterday from an escaped controled burn and is still burning.
Lots of muck that the tractors can't get to. It may burn for two more
days. Must be over 200 acres by now. Mail call is great. Trying to get
the roster printed and mailed. Sat hello to our Band of Brothers. Bob Christie
____________________________________________________________________Subj: Mail Call
Date: 3/21/2002 2:02:26 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: RCooper663
Ben:
A couple of items Gene Brissey omitted a length of pre tested Safety Fuse
a crimping tool and some wooden matches in a water proof container.
I also had a nickel plated steel mirror in a leather case which I carried in my left breast pocket which I still have. If my memory still serves me 3rd platoon D. CO. had a mission to move out to a village or town the name of which I cannot remember occupy some high ground and wait for B 25 bombers to bomb at 7:00 or 7:30 AM and then move in on a German OCS School. We practiced for that mission for weeks. Then as we all know we were 5 or 6 miles off our drop zone. I can remember hearing the bombers but we had no chance to get there.
Our drop zone was supposed to have irrigation ditches running parallel to the azimuth we were to follow after securing my gear I took a reading on my compass. With all the fog you could not see your hand before your face. I could hear water running so I thought I was all right took two steps and fell into one of the ditches knocking my helmet off I grabbed it put it back on my head water and all. We managed to all assemble in the corner of the zone we were in. As I remember quite a few of us were mad we couldn't reach our objective.
Hey I got kind of windy tonight while most all of you are sleeping. If I am wrong I know some of you Historians out there will set me straight.
Still Air Borne all the way
Bob Cooper
________________________________________________________Subj: " A Brothers Love".
Date: 3/23/2002 10:02:39 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: seitz2@webtv.net
Ben, Pat O Donnell feels this is very " compelling reading an suggested
that I pass it on to the great troopers of that great 517. I haven't
read it, but will take a look Always thanks to you for the tremendous
job you do for so many. Airborne. Dick.
________________________________________________Subj: " A Brothers Love".
Date: 3/23/2002 10:02:39 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: seitz2@webtv.net
To: Ben517@aol.com
Ben, Pat O Donnell fels this is very " compelling reading an syggested
that I pass it on to the great troopers of that great 517. I haven't
read it, but will take a look Always thanks to you for the tremendous
job you do for so many. Airborne. Dick.
_________________________________________________________________________Subj: Re: (no subject)
Date: 3/23/2002 12:38:05 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: MMcmor8391
Ben:
Our most severe weather arrived on the first day of spring but the temperatures are going to be up in the 40's by Wednesday. The sun is high enough now to have some warmth in it.
I would love the stories. I don't know if you explored the website but ND has only the 517th as a contributing source. At least it will be one more place where the 517th will get some recognition.
A Bob Mc Donald whom I am corresponding with has just finished reading the books on our Unit. His father was in the Armored Division fighting around Soy and the other towns over Christmas in 1944 and he can't understand why the 517th did get more recognition in other books he has read.
The Thunderbolt should come out this next week.
You and Fran have a nice Easter.
Merle
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The website Merle is referring to is the Veterans History Project.
Ben