Subj: RECOLLECTIONS 
Date: 10/29/2002 7:09:11 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Genedie77
To: Ben517

Capture of La Roquette
From: Gene Brissey, E. Company
In late August 1944 we entered the high ground overlooking the Var River. On the other side was the small town of La Roquette, occupied by Germans. There were no bridges so we stopped while someone decided what to do. Food was brought to us along with candy and other goodies. We ate and we troops expected to spend the night. The commander decided to send E. Company across the river to capture the town. We were not at all happy about this because all I could hear was this was going to be a very difficult mission. Some even called it a suicide mission. We said good bye to our non E CO buddies and most of us ate all our candy and whatever else we could. At about midnight a Frenchman led us down a "mountain goat" trail to the river in total darkness. The river was not deep, we were told, so we started walking. The water soon became about shoulder deep depending on how tall a man was. We lost a mortar plate and possibly some other things and almost lost a couple of short guys. Expecting to come under fire at any moment we made it across and crawled up the filthy bank on the East side. Up a hill and dug in. After light came we were trying to decide what to do. One of our boys shot two German Officers who came by on a motorcycle. For me came the call of nature which I answered by crawling out of my small slit trench. Just as the call was being answered bullets came in around me. I was literally caught with my pants down. I dragged myself back into the hole with my pants down as bullets continued to come in around my naked knees. I pulled my pants up and yelled, lets get out of here. We struggled over the hill and got organized and started around through the trees and surrounded the town. It appeared that the Germans were unaware of our presence. I was on the lower terrace of a grape arbor looking down at Germans marching along the road right below my eyes. Their hob nail boots were making a lot of noise as they marched by and entered the "court yard" of the town. Soon someone gave the order and all hell broke loose. We captured at least 75 and killed 15 or so. A mortar shell hit the area of my squad and our squad leader, Ray Helms and a rifleman, Cecil Duncan were hit. The only trooper casualties. I was placed in charge of a large group of prisoners who begged me not to have them shot. Some were very young. Some of them gave us hard tack which tasted rather good since we were hungry. We spent the night there and our troops did not get to us until noon or later the next day. Ray and Cecil survived with minor problems and were hauled out as soon as possible. This was one of the most unusual and successful missions we ever encountered in view of the circumstances.
Gene Brissey
                                                ****************
We have entered Gene's story in Recollections on the website
____________________________________________________________________________

Entry of Oct 27, 2002 at 15:41 [EST]
Name: JIM MILLER
Unit: n/a
EMail: JiMiller48@aol.com
How I found the 517th page: unknown
Comments: Ben I received your Email and I appreciate the time out u took to check it out for me. I have some really old pictures my father took but no notations are on them if any of u would like to see them let me know. I know their are some of a military wedding ceremony taking place that is definately in the European theater. once again I thank you. I received the pictures before my mother passed away with somemore of his things. She never really talked much about him to me. If I can ever help u let me know thnx J. Miller
_________________________________________________________________

Subj: RE: Virus
Date: 10/30/2002 12:00:08 PM Eastern Standard Time
From:  hhensleigh@earthlink.net

Ben,  Sorry about that.  How can I stop it?  It is screwing up my computer operation with a lot of virus mail not delivered.  I have been deleting all the junk.  Thanks, Howard
________________________________________________________________________-

Subj: AntiVirus software 
Date: 10/31/2002 4:43:33 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: PRCT517
To: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
CC: Ben517

Howard,

My only suggestion to get rid of the virus is, unfortunately, to buy a copy of a virus scan product and have it scan your PC.  The only 2 major products are Norton Anti-Virus or McAfee VirusScan.  You can generally get them at any major computer or office supply store (Best-Buy, CompUSA, OfficeMax, Staples).  If you get it on sale, and you usually can, it should be around $20, I think.  If you don't have a local store, then you can order it online, at any of the above stores, but that takes longer.

I recommend this, since there will be more viruses in the future.

Bob Barrett
____________________________________________________________

How to identify virus and_hoaxes:

Detect the undetectable. Beware of warnings that claim a virus is undetectable. In general, if you keep your antivirus software up-to-date, your system will nab the latest viruses.

Study the subject. If the e-mail message's subject line includes words such as "Urgent," "Warning," or even "Virus Alert," it's often a good indication that you're dealing with a hoax. Read the e-mail message with great skepticism, not great urgency.

Beware of tech talk. Look out for pseudo-technical discussions on the dangers of the virus. Some hoax messages include pure gobbledygook.

Check the sources. To create an aura of credibility, a hoax often quotes a well-known company or agency, such as Microsoft, the Federal Communications Commission, or an antivirus company. Check the Web sites of the sources quoted (or see your antivirus vendor's site). Remember also that Microsoft never posts virus alerts via e-mail.

Scrutinize the instructions. Beware of messages that insist you delete a file manually. True, at times you should do so, but in the context of the other tip-offs, this instruction should raise a red flag.

Don't spread the word. False alerts always urge you to tell everyone you know. Genuine alerts never do. Ignore the instructions, delete the message, and don't alarm everyone on your mailing list.
______________________________________________________________________

Subj: 517th 
Date: 11/1/2002 8:16:07 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: tslaginadv@hotmail.com
To: Ben517@aol.com

Bob,
I was reading a Solider's Story dated 12/24/01 from JIM MORTENSEN who told of a rifleman attached to his small group to Col de Bras who yelled, *...get out you SOB's.* and came out with 3 German prisoners. The rifleman's name was HORNE.

Respectfully, John
________________________________________________________________________

Subj: Re: 517 
Date: 11/2/2002 8:29:31 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: tslaginadv@hotmail.com

Ben,
I failed to answer your question on how I discovered your web site; I was walking down the muddy roads of memories and typed in information that directed me to your site. All of us should document our experiences for the future generations. We have memories that history books will never be able to record unless we share and hope Spielberg will document it for us! Maybe someone should record the stories that are remembered and shared at the Gatherings. We are getting fewer in numbers as time goes on.

Ben,
I was with B Battery 460th FA Bn. Wire Section. I spent most of my time as an FO. Did you know a Lt. Jukie?
Regards,
John
_________________________________________________________________________________

Subj: Re: 517 
Date: 11/2/2002 12:36:28 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: tslaginadv@hotmail.com

Ben,

I would greatly appreciate being on the mailing list.

John G. Campbell
2120 58th Ave. Ste# 131
Vero Beach, Florida 32966
Phone#  772-873-9004

What is your 1944 Christmas Roster?
I have been reading on the Mini-Reunion in Kissimmee in hopes I can attend.
I was in the artillery. The high tech of today would have been a blessing in our day considering it was one of my duties to carry the bulky radios! 
In answer to a question last night; I only remember the soldier's name as Horne and cannot give certainty to a given name.
Best Regards,
John
                                                  *************
John is referring to J.K. Horne
_________________________________________________________________________

Subj: Hollywood's Disdain for Vets 
Date: 11/1/2002 8:03:07 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: BoomBoomAlicki
To: Ben517

"Tinseltown's most poisonous venom is reserved for the military.  Other than
Mel Gibson's 'We Were Soldiers' or movies starring Chuck Norris, how many
Vietnam films do not portray veterans of that conflict as bloodthirsty
lunatics, doped-out losers, or sufferers from some other severe form of
mental illness?

"...The revulsion felt for the military...goes beyond Vietnam-themed flicks.
Recent cinematic offerings depict crackpot Marines attempting to nuke San
Francisco ('The Rock') or approving the killing of an out-of-step private
('A Few Good Men').  From watching 'The General's Daughter,' one gets the
idea that the typical rapist is not an inhabitant of the urban jungle or of
a correctional institution but an officer candidate at West Point."

- Author Daniel J. Flynn in his new book "Why the Left Hates America"
___________________________________________________________________________
__