-----Original Message-----
From: Ben517@aol.com [mailto:Ben517@aol.com]

Dear Sirs:

Melvin Biddle was with the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Tean
when his actions resulted in him being awarded the MOH.
Regards,

Ben Barrett
"H" Co. 517th PRCT
                                               ************
Just trying to keep the fire burning that General Richard Seitz  set under the ASOM a whlile back.
Ben

Subj: Chance meeting 
Date: 12/11/2002 3:47:17 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: d_e_militaria@hotmail.com

Mr. Barrett,

I wanted to let you know that I happen to meet Mr. Frank Dallas this morning
in Fayetteville, NC. He goes to the same Hardee's restaurant I go to in the
mornings. I had given him and another gentleman with him my card and
mentioned I collected Airborne memorabilia. He said he had been in the
517th. When he said his name, I was shocked, because I was just reading
about him on the website! It was an honor to meet him, and I told him so.

I told him that if he wanted to give an oral history to give me a call.

I thought you might find this interesting.

Kind regards and have a great holiday!

Mike Sumrell
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Subj: No Subject 
Date: 12/11/2002 6:21:28 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: JBJB93
To: Ben517

Great job with the medals Chris.  Hey lets get some more of you troopers and family/friends sending more photos of medals.

Regards,

John Bramswig
son in law of Ed Marconi (deceased) Brooklyn
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Subj: AWOL 
Date: 12/12/2002 12:59:32 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net

Dear Ben:
 
Thanks for your call.  It reminded me that I had been AWOL from Mail Call for a while.  As you know my computer has been sending out virus laden messages.  I have not been able to figure out how I can send the guy to jail who is doing this.  With the good things of life, there seem to be people who want to screw it up.  A horizontal but stroke would be too good for them.  Perhaps the other end of an M-1 properly equipped with a razor 0sharp bayonet would do the trick.   
 
Al Goodman gave me a call too, so I thought it was incumbent on me to let the other interested recipients of Mail Call know that Jan and I are still alive and well.  She is home from a 3 months stay in the hospital with a determined strep infection.  She is improving every day.  I have not missed a day in the office, but have a persistent "wound" ( a health care term, not a combat therm) in the left arch. 
 
Jan and I are grateful to all of you who are interested in our welfare.  You are a member of that band of brothers who will always be in our hearts and minds 'till death do us part.  We wish you and your families the most rewarding of Christmas Holiday Seasons.
 
We would be remiss if we did not pay special tribute to Ben and his loyal son for making this means of communications possible.  Not only that, but the website makes certain the we band of brothers will be remembered to the end of the earth.  It brought together many scattered pieces of information about the 517th and then adds to it the current remembrances of those of us who survive.  Having witnessed what you did from start to finish, I must say the each one of you deserve every tribute extended by those who honor you
 
To heck with that happy holidays stuff---MERRY CHRISTMAS to each one of you.
 
God bless,  Howard H.. 
 
--- Howard Hensleigh
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We have in previous Mail Calls, 48 hours in the life of the 1st and 2nd battalions Here is the 3rd battalion. This information was provided by Clark Archer.
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