Hello,
I am making corrections to The Relatives and Friends roaster as I receive them. We have about 80 members on that roster and about 200 on my 517 email roster. I can send either or both of these rosters to any one who wants a copy.
Ben
Website--prct517.home.attbi.com or members.aol.com/prct517/
Mail Call--Ben517@aol.com
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Space Shuttle Memorial
To visit the recommended page, click here:
http://www.shareapage.com/refer/redir.cfm?page_id=49735&d=02-02-03
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Subj: RE: MAIL CALL NO. 416 517TH PRCT
Date: 2/3/2003 12:02:47 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: lory.curtis@jordan.k12.ut.us
Ben, I can’ image anyone who would want to delete. This is a great web site. Thanks to you and others who keep this going. You are greatly appreciated.
Question: My father has asked me to research a medal the French government is now awarding to WWII veterans who fought in France. I know about the “Thank You America”Certificate they give out thanks to Chris Lindner, but I do not know of any medal. Does anyone have any information??
Lory Curtis
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Subj: Our Friends in Callian, Feyence and all of Provence
Date: 2/4/2003 8:50:27 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: hhensleigh@earthlink.net
To: Ben517@aol.com
CC: BRUNOSALLE@aol.com, frederic@misaki.com
Dear Ben, Bruno and Frederic:
Here is an answer to Bruno (BRUNOSALLE4@aolo.com) who is interested in news of the 517 in connection with several towns in Southern France. We were there. The ones I can contribute to are Callian and Feyence and will add Montauroux, very near Callian, and St. Cezaire, the next town up the road, northeast. I am delighted to know that all of these towns are being remembered. They were important in the airborne invasion of Southern France on August 15, 1944 and their names revive memories in the minds of members of our 517th Association. We remember the terrain and the people who lived there. It is an inspiration to know that there are young people that are celebrating, and preserving the memory of the historic 1944 events that liberated some of the most picturesque landscape in the world known as Provence and the Maritime Alps. It is no surprise that such young people would spring from the 1944 inhabitants of that region who helped accomplish that liberation. If I wrote all I remember about those towns that are home to you and your friends, it would fill a book and be too much to translate. So, I will br brief and save the more elaborate memories to be put in words for another time. I was there three separate times, two of them with large elements of the third battalion of the 517th. Parachute Infantry, regimental Combat Team. The first was by mistake when our air corps dropped us in the Maritime Alps near Callian instead of near le Muy and la Motte. Your neighbors oriented us and a brave Callian man acted as our guide on the way to le Muy. His wife realized the danger and kissed him goodby with a tear stained face. We made a forced march, assembled our scattered third battalion and successfully attacked and took the south part of les Arcs in the afternoon and evening of August 16. The second visit was prompted by our regimental commander’s realization that we had jump casualties in your area (broken legs, backs and arms). While the rest of the 517th was in the les Arcs area, he sent me to Callian and Captain McGeever to the Feyence area to get the casualties to a hospital. Unfortunately, the Germans occupied the area. The people in Callian told me that the jump casualties had been moved "next door" to Montauroux, which was still held by a large German force. A man from Callian knew a way to get into Montauroux without alerting the Germans and volunteered to go with me. The regimental commander of the 141st Infantry was about to bombard Montauroux with artillery in preparation for an attack on the town. I asked him to wait until I could report to him from the town. When we came into Montauroux, the Germans were loading onto trucks on their way out. When they left I radioed the colonel that he could come on in without artillery and a fight. So the roofs of Montauroux, and perhaps some lives, were spared by our efforts. The tremendous news was that the Germans left our jump casualties in the small medical clinic overlooking the valley below. Our battalion surgeon, Captain Plassman, was in charge. He had treated several of the wounded German soldiers and may have performed an emergency operation on one of their officers. Some of the things that happen in combat are inexplicable. He was dressed in a white medical frock and everything was in order. Lt. Col. Zais had given me a couple of cartons of cigarets which made the smokers almost as happy as the 141st "meat wagon" (ambulance) that took them to an army hospital. The third time I almost got to Feyence. The entire third battalion was supposed to be back in Callian. Feyence was held by a large contingent of German troops. In getting to Callian by foot, half of the battalion had been misdirected and instead of coming to Callian was headed for Feyence. Lt. Col. Paxton, our battalion commander, told me to take an old black sedan he had and go down the road towards Feyence to bring the "lost sheep" into the fold. I told him that Feyence was in enemy hands, but he assured me that the road was clear. (Never doubt the words of the commanding officer.) I took off down that road with an I Company man in the old black car. When we got near Feyence, the Germans started firing 20 millimeter shells at us. I swerved in behind a disabled German truck. The truck took several hits, but we were ok. We crawled out of the car into a ditch and later got the car and a jeep belonging to a British colonel out of the hot spot. All four tires of the jeep were flat and in it was a map showing all of the FFI locations in Southern France. It was marked "Secret". Our keeping the map from falling into the hands of the enemy probably saved a number of lives. Captain Joe McGeever commandeered a ammunition supply truck and with its driver and some of the battalion S-2 section including George Meline, roared through the German lines, picked up the jump casualties near Feyence and roared back out to get them to the hospital. Several days later our Sgt. Heckard helped liberate Feyence and capture a large body of the enemy, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. When we left your immediate area it was to attack and wrest from enemy hands the town and environs of St Cezaire, another neighboring town. If the mayor of that town is still looking for his Fiat automobile, give him our apologies. We used it to scout ahead most of the way to Col de Braus and Sospel. I could not leave this writing without expressing the admiration for the people of your area. They were always helpful. As civilians they volunteered to help us in supplying information and guidance we could not have done without. Many of you took us into your homes where we shared our K rations that were made a banquet with your fresh vegetables and home cooking skills. Most of all you were always friendly and expressed your gratitude for what we were doing. The long years of occupation rankled the spirit of the French soul. Together we put an end to that. As together the French assisted us over 200 years ago in gaining our independence. We have not forgotten that and we are heartened that you remember us also. I am sure that you are wondering why I promised to be brief, so you may stop here. What follows is some of the longer version I promise to finish some day. The mission of the airborne troops of the First Airborne Task Force under the command of Major General Frederick was to form an "umbrella" of protection for the seaborne invasion troops. In plane after plane we took off from a makeshift runway in Italy after midnight on August 14. The flight took about three hours. We were in tight formation. The ride was rough as we were awash in the prop blasts from the planes that were ahead of us. At about four-thirty we got the red light to get ready and then the green light to jump. It was absolutely dark. We hit the ground quicker than expected. From the rough landing, we suspected that we were not in the valley selected for the drop zone. After the crowded noisy plane, there was a feeling of quiet and isolation. Paratroopers are usually scattered. I stowed my chute, assembled my M-1 and signaled my position. Soon I had collected twelve troopers, not all from my machine gun section. Since I was not sure where we were, I sent ten of the men out in all directions to go five hundred yards and then back track to me. In a few minutes they were all back. One said he thought he had found a house. I left Sergeants Boyer and Podalac to collect more men and equipment and took five men to see if we could find a house so we could locate ourselves. I posted these men behind trees in the yard before lifting the brass knocker on the door which we found in the darkness. After banging the knocker several times, I heard a female voice on a balcony above ask what I supposed was "What is going on?" In my poor French I replied that we were American paratroopers. In short order the house exploded with activity and we were invited in. I had to pull out several maps before we found one with Callian and Feyence on it. To be continued at a later date.
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Subj: RE: MAIL CALL NO. 416 517TH PRCT
Date: 2/3/2003 7:21:39 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: msabine@nc.rr.com
To: Ben517@aol.com
Please add to your list of relatives Betty Sabine, widow of Bob Sabine and Brooke Dvorak, daughter of Bob Sabine.
Thanks,
Mike Sabine
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Subj: Bill Mauldin
Date: 2/4/2003 6:34:47 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: dpastalenic@dctnet.net
Hi Ben - Continued thanks for all you do to keep the 517th interest
going.
Question: Does Bill Mauldin have a published book with all his
cartoons? Many thanks for checking.
John M. Pastalenic - dpastalenic@dctnet.net)
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Subj: Re: roster correcection
Date: 2/4/2003 9:03:34 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: dantree@msn.com
Hi Ben I have a correction for you, my name is Dan Stubbs son of Orville Stubbs, you have me listed as Orville son of Orville E. Stubbs also no middle initial for Orville, Thanks for the site and keep up the good work, Thanks again Dan Stubbs
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Entry of Feb 5, 2003 at 13:14 [EST]
Name: Frederic Brega
Unit: French Alpin Troops (4eRGA) in...1996...!!
EMail: fredericbrega@hotmail.com
How I found the 517th page: A friend told me
Comments: Dear all, First of all, please be aware that what you guys have done here in South of France during summer 44 remains in local people memories and hearts. I am Frederic Brega, 29, born in Nice. History of Liberation of Provence is my hobby, having gathered for almost 20years various stories and remains from the battle field, with a dream: open a museum here on "Liberation of Provence" in Nice (should become true due to the interest / help of some local authorities!). This interest comes first from the many stories about war heard from family/relatives. Main story: my grand-mother was a beautiful Ukrainian lady who immigrated to Nice in 1917 (Lenine Revolution). In 1944 she was divorced with 2 children my father and his sister). She died 10 years ago but I can remember that there was something in her home that I could never touch: a Silver US Jump Wings insigna offered by a 517th guy she was in love with....in 44...!!.This insigna was a stupid metal piece but full of souvenirs. I tried to found this insigna with my father, however we considered it as definitly lost among the stuff remaining from my grand-mother. By chance we found it recently by coincidence and now it is standing with other pieces I have collected from the battle areas. History and 1944 events is a hobby taking a huge place in my life today - the deeper I go ahead in my inquiries, the heavier is the work to do to classify, record etc.... But this will remain for the other generation and it is a duty to collect all what we can collect now because later it will be too late. Your coming her in 44 is still strongly attached to the people collective records. Our parents can remember the white bread they received when the americans came, replacing the bad black one... and 1000 of other stories. Recently, I am investigating in 2 villages you have certainly been yourselves: La Colle sur Loup (near Vence) and the small village of Bouyon (near Nice) where the camp of the US guy was near the old cimetery at the entrance of the village. Have you any stories, records about that?? Any help highly appreciated!!! Other interesting places for my investigation: Fayence, Callian, St Cezaire, Grasse, St Vallier, Bar/Loup, La Colle, Vence, Bouyon, Villeuneuve Loubet, Nice... Therefore, I would be happy and very grateful as well to receive any story, or copy of documents / photos / whatever linked to 517th!! Many thanks in advance! With very best regards, Frederic
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