Subj: MAIL CALL NO. 361 517TH PRCT
Date: 09/20/2002 7:28:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Ben517

Hello,

I try to limit Mail Call to three printed pages. I usually print it out before sending it and if I find it is too long, I delete some material and place it in a later Mail Call. I meant to do that with Mail Call No.360 but forget to delete. Some days are better than others.
Ben
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 360 517TH PRCT
Date: 9/18/2002 9:41:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: TDorman323

Ben,
My dad used to tell me it was 3.5 miles to the top. Is this accurate? I remember in 1968, Forrest Sutton who was then a Sergeant Major in the 5th Special Forces came to visit after his last tour of Viet Nam. He said that he had gone to Currahee to run it one last time. He said he had gotten about 1/2 mile up the hill and said, "What the Hell am I doing?" and then he quit and walked back down.

All the best,
Tom Dorman
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Subj: sign me up! I'm back
Date: 9/17/2002 7:20:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: clairejgib@att.net

Good morning, Ben -

I have so missed MailCall - please add me to your list at this new address.

I'm especially interested in the Florida Mini. Dad (Allan Johnson 596) and I
had such a fantastic time last year.
Warmly -
Claire Giblin
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 360 517TH PRCT
Date: 9/19/2002 12:13:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: CackyG
To: Ben517

I really enjoyed reading the Romanian newspaper editorial. I plan to share it with others..............Dot Lubic
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_Subj: Fw: A SIMPLE SOLDIER............
Date: 9/19/2002 9:56:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: eharger@chartermi.net
Ben: Received this today from a fellow skydiver/Viet Nam Marine Vet.......El----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Harri
To: Elsworth Harger
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 10:04 PM
Subject: Fw: A SIMPLE SOLDIER............
-
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simply headline
In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
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