Hello,
I had better send Mail Call out now in order to answer Ed Phillip's inquirey and that from others about recent Mail Calls. The last Mail Call was # 404 Dec 27. There is nothing wrong but just a lack of mail and news .I am just the messenger and have to get mail in order to send it.
Now that it is the beginning ofr the year and reunions are soon, things may pick up. I do miss mail from some members who use to keep me supplied with interesting information and ideas.
Tomorrow is January 5. January 5, 1945 the 517 had many battle caualties that day including Colonel Bill Boyle (WIA) . January 5, 2003 the Northeast is covered with snow and it is cold not unlike that of 58 years ago in Belgium.
In about two weeks the Kissimmee reunion will begin. You can still make plans but must hurry to do so.
Ben
Website---prct517.home.attbi.com or members.aol.com/prct517/
Mail Call--Ben517@aol.com
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Subj: Re: 517 Reunion
Date: 1/4/2003 11:23:28 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: epphil2@megalink.net
To: Ben517@aol.com
Thanks for writing me. Wish I could get to Florida this winter but not able to make the trip. My daughter just left after a Christmas visit - She lives in Pensacola - My plans are for the reunion in Oklahoma this spring. Snowing here today, should get a foot or more. Happy new Year -- Ed Phillips -- PS> I haven't received a newsletter from you since the 28th. Hope you are well or just taking a rest- THANKS
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Subj: Antonio Campos - 460th PFAB
Date: 12/29/2002 11:36:01 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: PRCT517
To: Ben517
Dad,
I ran across this biography on the Internet about a member of the 460th, Antonio Campos. It is from the U.S. Latinos and Latinas & WWII Oral History Project by the University of Texas. I added it to the "Soldier's Stories" page on the web site.
http://www.utexas.edu/projects/latinoarchives/narratives/06Campos_Antonio.html
Bob
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Subj: Battle of the Bulge certificate
Date: 12/29/2002 12:27:14 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: PRCT517
To: Ben517
Dad,
I don't know if anyone is interested in this, but you can order a certificate from The Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Association, available to any veteran who received credit for the Ardennes Campaign. It is a large, full color certificate, and includes the individual's name, service number and unit on the certificate.
Unfortunately, it has logos from the major divisions and units (1st Allied Airborne Army, the 82nd Infantry Division, 17th Airborne, etc.), but does not specifically include the smaller units and regiments. I.E. no 517th logo is in the plaque.
Heres the link:
http://www.battleofthebulge.org/cert.html
This is from the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge website:
http://www.battleofthebulge.org/
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Subj: Fwd: A hundred years
Date: 12/31/2002 4:46:48 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: TDorman323 ( Tom Dorman )
YEAR OF 1902 The year is 1902, one hundred years ago... what a difference a century
makes. Here are the U.S. statistics for 1902....
The average life expectancy in the US was forty-seven.Only 14 Percent of the homes in the US had a bathtub. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars. There were only 8,000 cars in the US and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily
populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California
was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage in the US was 22 cents an hour. The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist
$2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and
a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births in the US took place at home.
Ninety percent of all US physicians had no college education. Instead,
they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press
and by the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee
cost fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg
yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country
for any reason.
The five leading causes of death in the US were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii
and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented.
There were no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
One in ten US adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all
Americans had graduated from high school.
Coca Cola contained cocaine. Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all
available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one
pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,
regulates the stomach and the bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian
of health."
Eighteen percent of households in the US had at least one full-time
servant or domestic.
There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire US.
Just think what it will be like in another 100 years. It boggles the
mind... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Entry of Jan 3, 2003 at 00:40 [EST]
Name: Alex Fahrenthold
Unit: Navy
EMail: ajfahrenthold@san.rr.com
How I found the 517th page: Other
Comments: Greatings all. This is an updated email still looking for anyone that might remeber my father , Gerald Fahrenthold. He was with the 517th from the beginning thru the Bulge. At Chrismas time '44 the roster shows him attached to the 2nd BATT HQ Co. If you remember him i would love to hear from you. Thanks!
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Entry of Jan 4, 2003 at 01:08 [EST]
Name: Jerry Hager
Unit: USMC 2nd Amphibious Assault Bn, 2nd Marine Division
EMail: jehhager@aol.com
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: A very good friend of mine, Bill Starnes, had a father that was in the 517th PIR. His last name was Starnes. I can't remember his first name. I would like to know if any of you know what action the 517th seen in the Ardennes(Battle of the Bulge), major battles, etc. I am trying to assist him in researching some of the sacrifices his father made. Thanks for any assistance. Jerry Hager