Hello,
I just got back from the Florida mini reunion .
We fought the war again and the results were the same. We won .
It will take a few Mail Calls to catch up on all the mail .May have lost some and may have mixed some up.
Ben
Website--prct517.home.attbi.com or members.aol.com/prct517/
Mail Call--Ben517@aol.com
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Subj: Carl Kiefer
Date: 1/25/2003 10:38:49 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: lud@fea.net (Lud Gibbons )
To: Ben517@aol.com
Carl Kiefer Co.A died Jan.22. I'll let you know about services.
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 409 517TH PRCT
Date: 1/17/2003 9:16:12 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Blchestnut (Bruce Chestnut )
BEN,
Ref: Maria's speech at the Church in st. Jacques (Trois Ponts).
If my memory serves me correct Maria Gaspard and maybe others that I don't know about, have been giving these talks in st. Jacques on the anniversary of CHARLIE KEEN giving a big donation to that Church in the form of gold candle sticks aand other church related gold items. CHARLIE wouldn't want me to mention this but he has left us now for a better place and I think all of us should know about it. His presentations to the church was sometime the latter part of the 1980's. I am sure that in Maria's speech before the church. CHARLIE KEEN,S name is mentioned. I was with Charlie many times during our trips to Belgium in the 1980's along with Carl Kiefer, Nolan Powell, Sug Lawrence, Don Frazer, Bill Boyle and many many more.I think of our Belgium friends often and hope to get back over there in the future.
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 409 517TH PRCT
Date: 1/18/2003 6:41:15 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Dalry596@webtv.net
To: Ben517@aol.com
Ben: Re 2nd Platoon , 596th Engrs, I called Bill Conger and he refreshed
my memory. The 2nd under Lt Dillard was indirect support of the 2ndBn
and jumpedwith them. Bill says each squad was assigned to each of the Bn
companies. Our representation in our ODYSSEY is rather brief as I was
not aware of the depth of the projet. Clark Archer sent me the current
material I believe in 1983, but I failed to grasp the significance of
the effort quickly. As a consequence, I took longer than Clark and La
Chaseus could delay to gather info from my unit, especially my platoon
leaders. But they did their best to represent our unit, for which I am
eternally grateful. ABBL, Bob Dalrymple PS: Hope all have a fine time at
FL Mini. My regards to all there. We planto attend P Spgs in Apr and O/C
in June, the Good Lord willing and etc. B
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-Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO 408 517TH PRCT
Date: 1/19/2003 10:57:07 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: SARGE31121
Hello Ben.. I know it sometimes takes me a while to answer the e-mail....but am a little slow...I would have liked to make the Florida reunion this year but the dates are the same time that I have to have some minor surgery done on the 20 th of Jan &this was a higher thing on my list. But am planning on the big one this year. You do a great job and have my highest praises for your work and I know all us fellow troopers love you for this...the old Sarge Lou
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_Subj: (no subject)
Date: 1/19/2003 8:15:33 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Newlb109
To: Ben517,
The Final Inspection
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Subj: Catching Up
Date: 1/21/2003 3:02:26 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Genedie77
To: Ben517
This year got off to a bad start for me, under the weather for a while. Speaking of weather, 58 years ago we all who were in the "Bulge" were under the weather for several days and as I have read notes from several men I agree it was kinda rough. Richard Hammel of E CO, Ben and Howard (welcome back Howard) have mentioned the cold and the snow, among other things. Even though I was there, I felt worse the first part of this January than I did all those days from Trois Ponts to St Vith. No need to mention any special details of those days because if you were there you already know. I do have a vivid memory of spending one night in a house in Hunnange (now Hunningen) before the final attack on St. Vith where we followed the tanks most of the way and then we were diverted and did not enter the city. The night, in a relatively warm house, helped make that final struggle through the snow a bit easier. I notice in the last Mail Call that Ben said that we may not receive another Mail Call until 27 Jan. which was the date, 58 years ago, that we liberated St. Vith. A note from, Howard, in a very recent Mail asked if anyone hit their drop zone. I sure didn't but landed somewhere near Les Arcs or perhaps closer to La Motte. At about noon a couple boys and I found most of the company gathered in a wooded area. I think the Rhone Valley and the Mediterranean were out there somewhere in the direction in which we moved and encountered hundreds of Germans in the valley. We were fired on all afternoon as we remained dug in. Thanks to those 4.2 mortars the valley was cleaned out just before dark. I lost one good friend, Charles Lemen, and my dog tags. Charles, remains in Draguigan, and of no importance at all, I retrieved my dog tags from a French family in 1990.
Back to Belgium and Mail Call, I greatly enjoyed, Marie Gasper's, words spoken at St. Jacques, I believe. Her words make the cold of 58 years ago feel warmer in my memories.
Gene Brissey
Company E
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_Subj: Elam J. Cronquist
Date: 1/21/2003 6:24:21 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: CASEYBENNION
Hi Ben,
My father received a bronze star for heroic achievement in action near Trois Ponts. His name is Elam J. Cronquist from Logan, Utah. I didn't see him listed on the honor roll. Also, I would like to learn more on how to obtain his military records and history. Thank you. Shanna Cronquist
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_Subj: MY FATHER
Date: 1/22/2003 12:27:28 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: saltaire@pinn.net
To: Ben517@aol.com
Thank you so much for the great information on the 517... My father was
in the 517.
I have very little information on what my father did during the war...
He never talked
about the war ..He stayed in the Army and was in the 82nd Airborne... He
stayed in
the army for many years.. He died about 12 years ago, and now I have so
many
questions I wish I could ask him. My children are very interested in his
history... I would appreciate any information that you could give us..
His name was
Maurice White... I found his name under the Bronze star listing, however
I know that
he had many medals. I will research more .. I have some old pictures
taken in
France and Rome , and I will try to send them .. If you could tell me
how to get his
military history during the war I would be very thankful;. Please put me
on the list
for any information....
Thank You
Becky Martinette
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Subj: Fw: For all U.S. troops everywhere
Date: 1/22/2003 8:17:45 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: acdoty@southwind.net (Cecil Doty )
To: Ben517@aol
>Subject: For all U.S. troops everywhere
>Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 14:17:00 -0000
>
>Prayer wheel for our soldiers...please don't break it
>
>Please send this on after a short prayer.
>
>Prayer wheel for our soldiers...please don't break it
>
>Prayer Wheel
>
>"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they
>protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they
>perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our
>Lord and Savior. Amen."
>
>Prayer Wheel: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a
>prayer for our troops in Afghanistan, and around the world.
>
>There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.... Just send this
>to all the
>people in your address book. Do not stop the wheel, please....
>Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine &
>others deployed in harm's way,
>
>Prayer is the very best one.
*************
Several members sent prayer wheel to me.
Ben
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