Subj: Mike De Filippo 
Date: 10/25/2002 1:32:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: AARGoodman
To: Ben517
CC: chrcook@juno.com, MMcmor8391, Wild bill 517

I just had an interesting phone call from Mike and referred him to Merle and Bob to get on the Roster and Thunderbolt mail list. He was looking for info on the Palm Springs Party which I gave him and referred him to Bill Christian. He joined the 517 in June 44 in Italy as a replacement in the 1st Battalion and related how he was sent out to get Col Boyle in Belgium after Bill was wounded and tried to pick him up by his wounded arm. If he fails to make contact I have all his data , address phone no. etc. He lives in Apple Valley Ca.  He called re the Sept Col.  in the Static line re Stavelot and his memories there.  I guess we found a lost sheep. Al
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Subj: (no subject) 
Date: 10/25/2002 7:30:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: BoomBoomAlicki
To: Ben517

A Taste of the Bad Life

"(T)hese weeks under the gun (of the DC sniper) have provided a small taste
of what life is like for Israelis and what life could be for us if we fail
to prosecute the war on terror.  Everything we associate with calm and
security - our neighborhoods, our schools and our shopping malls - could
become danger zones."

- Columnist Mona Charen
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-Subj: Re: Purple Heart Information 
Date: 10/26/2002 12:00:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: whgraham@frontiernet.net
To: Ben517@aol.com

Thank you very much, I have the display with Dad's medals.  I will now include these papers with them.  I really appreciate your time and help.  I miss Dad a lot but your Mail Call is a little like visiting with him.
Gratefully,
Bill Graham
                                                        *************
I've sent Bill General Orders and Morning reports that had information about his father. They were furnished to me by Clark Archer.
Ben
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Subj: Re: Mail Call 377 
Date: 10/26/2002 4:50:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Genedie77

Ben
When rereading the mail I noted that Howard wrote a note which included a reference to the 442nd and the fact that they had anti tank guns plus and that they had spent some time with us. I had the opportunity to spend one night with two of their boys, an antitank gun and a truck with ammo and their other gear. On Sept. 10, '44 we moved on to a mountain overlooking Sospel. We endured heavy shelling all night so the commander decided to move back toward Luceram. He also decided to leave my squad up there on outpost. The 442nd boys and their gun remained with us. Shortly after dark I received a call from the company commander telling me that Germans had been spotted approaching our position, so be on guard while our artillery blasted them. The artillery outfit did not have an observer in our area but they started blasting anyway. At first the shells were clearing our position but soon started landing all among us. I called our CO who contacted the artillery guys and after what seemed like 30 minutes the shelling stopped much to the pleasure of all of us. Then I was ask to be an observer. In spite of the fact that I knew nothing about doing so, the artillery guy told me just to walk out into the open area and watch for shell blasts which I did for almost a lifetime and went back to the phone to report to him. Somehow we repelled the Germans and had a sleepless night. Although we were shook up, the only casualty was the 442nd truck which took a beating. Somehow they got in out the next morning and the gunners went with it. We had been told the night before that we would stay on outpost only one night, but by some stroke of luck we stayed 30 nights.
Gene Brissey, E. CO
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-Subj: E-mail address change 
Date: 10/27/2002 8:26:33 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: joestim@optonline.net

My new E-mail address is:

joestim@optonline.net

Joseph D. Stim
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Subj: Re: Mail Call 377 
Date: 10/27/2002 11:59:47 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Genedie77

Hi Ben:
Thanks for your nice message and for placing my note in recollections. Unfortunately that was only a small part of the story. I could write a book around those 30 days. A very small bit more: The morning after the German attempt to get to us and the shelling by our artillery, Three men, including a colonel, came to find me and told me that I had done a great job directing fire and that I would be recommended for the Silver Star, which I was. A Bronze Star was awarded instead, which was fine with me because I didn't even expect a job well done comment. I did write a short story of my military days for my family. I may send you a copy of the outpost story. Yes, I can read Recollections, a good feature. I have been planning to write about another action which I think was one of the most Unusual actions of the Southern France campaign. Later.
Gene
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Subj: RE: MAIL CALL NO. 378 517TH PRCT 
Date: 10/28/2002 1:06:36 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: lory.curtis@jordan.k12.ut.us
To: Ben517@aol.com

Here is a picture of my father, H.L. “Bud” Curtis taken  on August 14, 1944, just a few hours before he left Cittivechia Italy to make that historic combat jump with the 517th into Southern France.  He was a member of HHC, communications section, First Battalion.  This picture appears in the book Battling Buzards. Thanks for putting it on the web site. Lory Curtis

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