Subj: MAIL CALL NO. 365 517TH PRCT.
Date: 09/29/2002 7:52:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Ben517
BCC:

Hello
I missed mail from Howard Hensleigh and so I inquired about his status this morning.. He and Jan have had a few minor medical problems and he also has had a problem with is computer but expects to have it fixed today and will be active on the internet again. He says Hello to all.
Ben
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-Subj: (no subject)
Date: 9/28/2002 8:58:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: MMcmor8391
To: chrcook@juno.com, Ben517

Dear Ben & Bob:

Mardy and I leave for the Rivera on Monday and will be gone for two weeks.  The Thunderbolt went out yesterday so there should be no stress while we are gone.

Best Wishes,    Merle
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Subj: re; Rush Limbaugh's article sent by McMorow
Date: 9/28/2002 11:39:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: WALTERWS
To: Ben517

       This is the second or third time which I have read those revealing numbers and the proportionate times which I have had the same reaction.  It causes me to 'do a slow burn' to realize the discrepancies existing in proper compensation, the most difficult part for me to accept is our elected officials being self appointed Gods to award themselves lifetime ever increasing wealth!  Should we continue to sit and whine or actually do something.  Yes, I too am one of the whiners not knowing where to start!!!   Walt S.
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Subj: Re: Reunion
Date: 9/29/2002 8:13:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: chrcook@juno.com

Ben, So far I have the Barretts,the Boyles, and the Dardens with their
two children. On Mail-call, there have been some who indicated their
intentions of attending the reunion but have not received any
reservations. Bob
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Subj: Melvin Biddle
Date: 9/29/2002 10:42:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: tedandbarbathome@hotmail.com

HI Ben,
I opened the paper this morning and found an article on Melvin Biddle (Company B- Medal of Honor). I have not seen much info on him on the Web site.   Melvin has apparently lived within a few miles of me for quite some time.( Daleville, Indiana) Have you had any contact with him?  I am going to try and contact him....If nothing else, shake his hand.
If he does not object I will submit the news article to the site, it would be nice to have some photos of him out there also.

Regards,
Ted L. Crawford
Son of
Robert L. Crawford ( Co. B)
                                                ***************
I told Ted that we have much information about Mel on the website under Soldier stories.
Ben
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Tom McAvoy forwarded the following.
Ben

>>How Did We Survive??

>>Looking back, it's hard to believe that we have lived as long as we
have:
>>As children we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
>>Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special
>>treat.
>>Our baby cribs were painted with bright colored lead-based paint. We
often
>>chewed on the crib, ingesting the paint. We had no childproof lids on
>>medicine bottle, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes we had
no helmets.
>>We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
>>We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride
>>down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.  After running into
ithe bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
>e would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were
>>back when the streetlights came on.  No one was able to reach us all
day.
>We played dodgeball and sometimes the ball would really hurt.
>>We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank sugar soda, but we were
never
>>overweight; we were always outside playing.
>>Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.  Those who
>>didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
>>Some students weren't as smart as others so they failed a grade and were
>held back to repeat the same grade.
>>
>>That generation produced some of the greatest risk-takers and problem
>>solvers.  We had the freedom, failure, success and responsibility and we
>>learned how to deal with it all!!
>>
>>THINK ABOUT IT!!!!
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_Subj: mail call #224 of 7/1/02
Date: 9/29/2002 12:34:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: rdenham-sperry@stpegs.com
To: Ben517@aol.com

In answer to Brett Stadler's question re his "grandfathers mention of boxing matches involving the 517th and others" my husband, Al Sperry submits the following (please excuse spelling of names etc. as I'm typing from a handwritten note he handed me):

When the 517th returned to Joigny from 6 weeks at the airfield at Achiet, Belgium, there was a call for participants to take part in boxing matches. The matches were held at the Joigny city market square "gym". It was pretty crude and amateurish but a lot of fun. There were two fight nights. The first was held on July 13, 1945, twelve fighters, all from the 517th except for Attilio Stazzone from Btny A 460, and Ignatius Dail from same. I lost a decision to Jim Golston.
There was a second fight night a few days later where I got a TKO over Joe Silveria of B Company. Shortly after the second fight night we left for Camp Phillip Morris and the Madavaska Victory ship to go home.
Back to the USA and to Fort Bragg I was contacted by Lt. Guy Higgins who was to be coach of the regimental boxing team for the 517th. We would be training for the "Army Service Forces, Fourth Service Command, Post Boxing Tournament, Fort Bragg, N.C." This included 13th Div.:326th Glider Rgt., 515th P.I.R., 517th P.I.R., Div. Arty., plus Pope Field A.T.C., and the FA RTC.
I won my first match over Richard Graves, a F.A.R.T.C. boxer. Then in the final three nights was decisioned by my own team mate, Stanley Geonano. So we had a 1st and 2nd place in the lightweight novice division and with the other winners and runners up, the 517th won the team trophy.
This is already pretty long but I have the complete list of fighters and results if you want more info or have any specific questions.
                               
            Al Sperry
            B Co. 517th
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