Hello,
Website--prct517.home.attbi.com or
members.aol.com/prct517/
Mail Call--Ben517@aol.com
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Kissimmee Snowbird
Reunion
Date: 11/14/2002 1:42:06 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: chrcook@juno.com
Hi Ben,
At this time, there are eleven registrations. Five of those are
going to the
Space Center. It looks as though I picked the wrong trip.
There are plenty of
activities and trips to many attractions in the area
that I could have
chosen, that don't require a commitment sixty days
before the event, but I
thought quite a few were interested in the Space
trip. We could go to the
Space Center any time supplying our own
transportation without our own
personal guides and without fighting the
traffic, etc. However, we would still
have to pay $46.00 for a guided tour
and $3.00 more wouldn't help much with
hired transportation. If I don't
receive some indication of interest in this
trip by Saturday.Nov.16,I
will have to cancel it. I will refund the money to
those who have made
reservations for the trip. Maybe it wasn't such a good
idea to schedule
our reunion in the same year as the big one in Oklahoma
City.
Bob
**************
How about helping Bob by sending in early
registrations?
Ben
_______________________________________________________
Subj: Forbes.com
story
Date: 11/13/2002 1:51:54 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:
RCooper663
http://www.forbes.com/2002/11/11/cx_ml_1111vets.html
Ben
this article is quite long but if you think it note worthy the guys should see
it.
Bob_
________________________________________________________
Subj: Please add me to the
mailing list
Date: 11/14/2002 1:20:31 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Brent.George@slbg.com
To: Ben517@aol.com
My
grandfather was Clarence Lee George. He served in the Battery 'D' of
the
460th from the beginning of the paratroopers to the end of the war. I
have
tried extensively to locate persons he fought with having no luck, I
am
asking for your help. I would appreciate if you could send me a list
of
Battery 'D' members of the 460th from one of your reunions.
I am in
the military now and it would mean a lot to me if I could find out
more about
my grandfather who died a month before I was born.
As you know, many of the
men did not talk of the war until just recently. No
one in my family really
knows much about his actions in the war.
I have a lot of great pictures I
would like to share on this site but I
would like to have someone else look
them over to help me determine some of
the names.
I will be very
grateful for your advice.
Thank you,
Brent L.
George
<<...OLE_Obj...>>
999 Executive Parkway Drive
St. Louis, MO 63141 USA
Tel: (+1) 314.613.1661
Fax: (+1)
314.205.2303
_______________________________________________________________________
Subj: Revised copy of poem
Date: 11/13/2002 10:52:10 PM Eastern
Standard Time
From: dinnylee@koalas.com
BEN; FOUND A TYPO IN ORIGINAL. HERE IT IS
FIXED. VIRGINIA Virginia Jorgen wrote:
Dear Ben: Bill Myers of E-Company sent me this great poem he wrote in 1945. Today he couldn't believe that he wrote it. I thought all you troopers would appreciate it. I have his permission to send it to you. He also sent me information on my husband, Andy, which has been great. I've had a hard time finding anyone in E-Company who was under Andy. Andy was a 1st Lieutenant. Bill Myers was his Sergeant and fondly remembered him. Perhaps you could put the poem on the website, too. Thanks. And thank you again for keeping this great website and Mail Call going. I am just going to type the poem myself.
I tried sending you the original that he had sent me, which is in his own writing, but it takes forever to send it that way. Virginia Jorge
A PROUD PARATROOPER"
What a guy won't go through,
It's hard to explain,
To proudly wear those
Paratroop wings
Some people say, "that guy don't
care, he must be nuts
he says to himself, "sure I
care, but I've got the guts."
There's something about
those Wings and Boots,
That justify the chances, coming
down
He tries to picture what's below,
when standing in the door.
Because he's ready, and he's said
his prayers before.
On! comes the green light, and
out he goes
And if it wasn't for God, he'd
feel pretty low.
With faith, and courage, he hits
the ground,
And goes into action against, the
Jerries all around.
Then when it's over, and maybe his
buddy isn't there,
Don't ever let him hear, "that guy's
nuts, he must not care."
(Signed, "Wm. R. Myers")
Subj: Parakitties
Date: 11/13/2002 10:28:29 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: twalsh@juno.com
To: Ben517@aol.com
File:
ParaKitties1.zip (763759 bytes) DL Time (TCP/IP): < 1 minute
>>Hi Ben...
My Sister, Gail, recently came across some old
photographs while going
through Dad's stuff and asked me to scan and post
them. Although in
today's climate they may not be politically correct we
thought some of you
folks might find them interesting all the same.
They supposedly portray
some of the first "live" parachute tests which the US
Army conducted in
the early 1940s, probably at Ft. Benning... All
before they dared strap
chutes on the first bold infantry men. I guess
they chose to use cats
because with nine lives they splat less and recycle
better than cows.
Apparently dogs followed the cats but Gail has yet to find
those pics.
The photos are courtesy of the US Army Air Forces. If
anyone has more
knowledge than us on this subject we are all ears.
Enjoy...TW<<
Trooper Walsh / Managing Director
Zoo Genesis,
LLC
2393 North Edgewood Street
Arlington, VA 22207
USA
*****************
Trooper Walsh and Gail are the son and daughter of General
Walsh , the first
Commanding Officer of the 517.
I will include the
download in this Mail but I'm just the messenger. Trooper Walsh warns us
that today that may not be politically
correct.
Ben
_________________________________________________________________________
Subj:
Re: Parakitties
Date: 11/14/2002 1:55:52 PM Eastern Standard
Time
From: Ben517
To: twalsh@juno.com
Hi Trooper,
Always glad to
hear from you and Gail.
The photos of Parakitties came through very clear
and were excellent. However, I would like to follow your suggestion and find out
if there is anymore knowledge of their authenticity. I just have to question the
use of cats. .Leonardo da Vinci had designs for a parachute as far back as
the fifteenth century. Airplane pilots and even civilians had been jumping from
airplanes in trouble for many years before 1940. and the German army had
paratroopers before that time. I have to question if any knowledge could be
gained from the use of any animal.
I hope it will be possible for you and
Gail to come to our Kissimmee reunion in January.
Very Best
Regards,
Ben
__________________________________________________________
Subj: Parakitties
Date: 11/14/2002 6:41:10 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: twalsh@juno.com
To: Ben517@aol.com
CC: gwtayler
@juno.com, twalsh@juno.com
>>Hi
Ben...
All that I know of those pics are what Gail relayed to me, which I
passed on to you in my letter. Why and when the Army felt compelled to
throw cats out of planes (?) I haven't a clue. Perhaps they were trying
out a new chute designs (looks like one may be different than the other per
shot)? Maybe some guy in the Army hated cats (no sign of splattered
cats)? The only markings on them are undated and consists of the
following:
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH
U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES
IF
REPRODUCED
AUTHORIZED
CREDIT LINE MUST
READ AS ABOVE
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
BASE PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION
LAWSON FIELD, FORT BENNING, GA.
As
for knowledge potentially gained by using cats or other live animals... As
the pics suggest the cats were squirming and twisting in their chutes.
Gotta admit that dropping a rock or dummy would not simulate that kind of
movement so maybe that was the test??? Got me.
Do with them what
you want - I'm just passing on what I find to be interesting images apparently
generated by the US Army for God only knows what purpose. If you post them
perhaps they will strike a memory with someone in the 517th who was tight with
God when all was happening...?...! Is almost funny how all my letters to
you don't appear fit for posting on the List Serve - lol. No one ever
accused a Walsh of being politically correct. Maybe one of these
days.
Regards...TW<<
Trooper Walsh / Managing
Director
Zoo Genesis, LLC
2393 North Edgewood Street
Arlington,
VA 22207 USA