I am still catching up on the mail.I don't want to make each Mail Call too long.
Ben
Website---prct517.home.attbi.com or members.aol.com/prct517/
Mail Call--Ben517@aol.com
_________________________________________________________ _Subj: Proposing an Army Unit for Oliver North's "War Stories" Date: 1/22/2003 3:46:45 AM Eastern Standard Time From: DGentry509 (Don Gentry ) To: warstories@foxnews.com BCC: Ben517
Dear COL North,
My boss lived near you in VA. You may know him. LTC Charles Canella, West Point. Now retired and living in Denver area. I was at Vint Hill Farms, VA at the time.
To the point: I have not coordinated this with the Unit but am shooting from the hip and looking for your consideration to contact the Unit directly if you should decide to put these fine men in their rightful place in History while they can provide first person accounts. At present, they have multiple reunions each year as they get older. Some are staying home and sending family to represent them. I love these guys. As do the French and Belgium survivors that still live and contribute to the 517 Mail Call.
I believe the following to be true.
This Unit:
1. Parachute Regimental Combat Team (PRCT)
2. Combat Jump in ETO
3. Has a MOH soldier, still living
4. Their "D-Day" Combat Jump was not 6 June 44 but in August 1944, the swipe at the underbelly of German Occupied France.
5. The MOH winners name has been used by higher units, like Corps, although they were an Independent Combat Team with their own Arty and Eng. Units.
6. These men were in combat in Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany
7. This unit has reunions. Also the Medical unit that served them was just located and there are links to their web page.
8. My cousin by marriage was wounded while serving with this unit on 25 Dec 44 near Soy-Hotten and was in the same Company as the MOH winner. Small world.
9. I believe that there were no MOH winners in the 82nd or 101st ABN. I could be wrong.
10. Only in the last month or two has this MOH winner been given recognition of his unit by the ABN museum and other units from the Ardeness. This would make a good story alone. It must really be frustrating to be treated like an orphan.
11. I am on their email list for weekly updates and info.
13. The MOH winner was PFC Melvin Biddle, B Co. 1st Bn, 517th PIR
14. Reunions: Jan 19-23, Kissimmee, FL Going on NOW! April 6-11, 2003-Palm Springs, CA June 2-6, 2003-Oklahoma City, OK
15. Unit History:
The 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team (PRCT), one of the U.S. Army's first elite combat units, began its existence in March of 1943, training in the backwoods of Georgia. Although it began as an element of the 17th Airborne Division and was eventually incorporated into the 13th Airborne Division, the 517th saw most of its combat (in Italy, southern France, and the Battle of the Bulge) as an independent unit.
Before its dissolution after only thirty-three months, the outfit of 2,500 men endured some of the heaviest fighting of the European campaigns - from Italy through the invasion of Southern France, then the bitter winter in the Ardennes (in the Battle of the Bulge) and the final thrust into Germany.
During its relatively brief lifetime, the 517th Regimental Parachute Combat Team collected one Congressional Medal of Honor, six Distinguished Service Crosses, five Legion of Merits, 131 Silver Stars, 631 Bronze Stars, 2 Air Medals, 4 Soldiers Medals, 17 French Croix De Guerre, and 1,576 Purple Hearts -- at the cost of 247 killed.
The 517th was formally deactivated in 1946.-- intro borrowed (paraphrased) from Kirkus Review of 'Battling Buzzards' Campaign Credits Campaign Citation* Recognized Rome-Arno WDGO 99 6 November 1945 Southern France WDGO 87 16 October 1945 Parachute Assault WDGO 70 20 August 1945 Rhineland WDGO 118 12 December 1945 Ardennes-Alsace WDGO 114 7 December 1945 Central Europe WDGO 116 11 December 1945 * War Department General Order #
Thanks for your time. I have your book, "Mission Compromised".
Best Regards,
Don Gentry MSG Retired (Still Serving) Army Security Agency East Wenatchee, WA ____________________________________________________________
Subj: Check out 01/22: AOL News: WWII Cartoonist Bill Mauldin Dies at 81 Date: 1/22/2003 8:52:02 PM Eastern Standard Time From: CackyG To: Ben517
Ben, How can I contact Gene Brissey? I think my Dad was in the same platoon as he was. My Dad was Frederick W. Mitchell. Daddy was injured January 3, 1945 while they were jumping behind enemy lines. A shell exploded just as Daddy touched ground and it literally took the top of his head off. Daddy had a silver plate in his head and was blind for some time after his injuries. I have emailed Robert Morris's son, Bill, and evidently Daddy was injured at the same time that his Dad was. I would love to know if Mr. Brissey remembers my Dad. Daddy died in 1968 so our memories of the few stories he told have grown dim with the years. If you can contact him and he remembers Daddy would you give him my email address
Thank You Gloria Mitchell Schinkal __________________________________________________________ Subj: Mauldin Date: 1/23/2003 4:50:48 PM Eastern Standard Time From: gdp@oregontrail.net
Hi Ben: It is a sad thing to have to say goodby to another good man. Bill Mauldin was much more than "just a cartoonist". He gave us all a daily thrust toward humor that helped thousands keep a grip on reality by causing us to laugh at whatever predicament we were in that day. God bless you Bill, and Good By!!
Ben, do you still have the address for the parachute screen saver? I had some problems lost or deleted it. Thank you, Gary Poole ____________________________________________________________________________ Subj: Hello Date: 1/23/2003 11:31:05 PM Eastern Standard Time From: RRyan164 To: Ben517
Hi, I'm writing this for my husband-- whose name during his time in the service -- was Robert L. Jones. He was in the 517th and would like to hear any news you might have to share. Thanks, Alice L. Burton ____________________________________________________________________________ -Subj: Alton L. Allen (Shorty) Date: 1/24/2003 6:09:37 PM Eastern Standard Time From: oldranger@uia.net To: Ben517@aol.com
I have recently gotten information about my uncle. I attempting to find out how and where he was killed. Maybe if I get lucky I will find somebody who knew him. Alton was from Laquin Penn (it no longer exists). While I was growing up I heard about "uncle Shorty" but it wasn't until recently I that I learned that my desire to jump out of airplanes came honestly. I spent 24 years in the Army as a Paratrooper. If you need any additional information please contact me.
Dear Friends: I am not on the internet. Would you, Ben, please send the following to the Museum? In your AIRBORNE & SPECIAL OPS ROLL CALL INFO included in the museum packet you sent me recently, you failed to list the 517th Infantry and the 596th Engieers in the Airborne Units section. You did list the 460th Field Artillery correctly. The above three units were pulled from the 17 th A/B during maneuvers in TN in early 1944, and redesignated the 517th Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team. We fought entirely in the ETO as a separate Combat Team. Please correct this as soon as possible. Thank you. Robert W Dalrymple, former CO , 596th Engrs. END. *************** This is about par for the Airborne Museum. However, Patrick Trembaly at the museum has been very cooperative when notified of ererors and omissions. This notice has been forwarded to him. Ben