Hello,
While at the Kissimmee reunion Tom Cross lent me copies of the Static line columns that he wrote in the 1980s' and at times I will include extracts from them in Mail Call.
Ben
Website----prct517.home.attbi.com or members.aol.com/prct517/
Mail Call---Ben517@aol.com
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Subj: Cancer check up
Date: 2/28/2003 5:59:38 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: trooper@softdisk.com
To: ben517@aol.com
Ben :
I just wanted to let you know that I am going in to the hospital Monday the 3rd of march for a cancer check up. I have had a black spot on my lung for some time so they want to go in and get a biopsy and see what they fined. i hope it will be ok but time will tell on that. I will have my daughter Judy keep you post . I just hope that everything goes OK so I can be in Oklahoma City in June. I have had a lot of trouble with my hip and knee but now this comes along boy it does not pay to get old. Will keep you Posted. Harry Saunders
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We will see Harry in Oklahoma City in June.
Ben
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Subj: re: Joe Cornett
Date: 2/26/2003 12:12:05 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: mickihazekamp3@msn.com
Hello Ben!
Yes, we are talking about the same Joe Cornett. Bill Cornett is my uncle.
I was not quite sure about the battalion, either 1st or 3rd.
Were you in the same battalion as my grandfather? Or was your father, etc.?
I would like to know stories. Also, I would like my uncle Bills e-mail
address if you have it. I have not talked to him in a couple of years and
he has recently moved to Tennessee. We are originally from Grand Rapids
Michigan, where I am still located.
My grandfather was born and raised in Kentucky. He died a few years ago. I
did hear some war stories, but not all. We found out more after he has
died. My grandfather has had an interesting life, and I'm thinking about
writing a book. However, there are so many "missing blanks." I am also a
history minor, with WWII being my favorite subject. I am finding it is very
hard to get information on the Airborne divisions from WWII. I dont know
why, because they were such a famous part of WWII.
Any details or info you can provide me will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for responding,
Michelle Hagan, 1st grandchild to Joe Cornett
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 428 517TH PRCT
Date: 2/26/2003 8:03:37 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: JNTURCO
Hi Ben,
I understand what you are doing. It is fine with me and I agree that the list could get pretty long. You are doing such a great job I am not thinking you are doing it wrong. Just wondered.
Looking forward to OK. Leo is feeling a little better and we are hoping by then he will be a lot better. The pain doctor is getting to the problem thankfully. We have been able to go out to lunch together once in a while. His spirits are better.
Best wishes, Joyce
*************
Leo Turco is a member of A-460
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Subj: Re: 517 Guestbook
Date: 2/27/2003 9:13:55 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Wbrad0925
To: Ben517
I found Lenard Dozier in the Christmas List of Service Men in France 1944. He was a memeber of the Service Company.
Thank you.
Wayne
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Subj: Family Roster
Date: 2/27/2003 2:45:09 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: donahoomarty@msn.com
Dear Ben~~
I see you did put me on the Roster…and thanks. Not to be picky, although
I definitely AM a friend of the 517th, I would like to be listed as the
sister of Gene "Zoot" Snyder. I'm very proud of my brother.
See you in Palm Springs?? If not, surely in Oklahoma City!
Hi to Fran.
Regards, Marty
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Subj: Change of e-mail Address
Date: 2/27/2003 6:36:45 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Ge517ne
Ben, members and friends of the 517th: I have changed my e-mail address It is now, ge517ne@aol.com
I hope this info is received.
Gene Brissey, Company E
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Gene was getting too much spam.
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Subj: Re: 517 Guestbook
Date: 2/27/2003 9:36:04 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Knealecfp
Hi Ben, Victor Quarante does not have an email of his own, however he & my mother in law both live with us much of the time when their health is down or there is snow where they live. If you could email Vic at my email address I will be sure he gets his mail call. He really enjoyed the last one you sent. Thank you so much for what you are doing. For those of us that have fought the enemy, there is no one to talk to other than those who fought with us. Thank you..
Len Kneale
for
PFC Victor Quarante
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Subj: PLEASE ADD HUNTER MACDONALD JR.
Date: 2/28/2003 12:19:41 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Bigdegner
BEN
I AM SITTING WITH HUNTER MCDONALD IN JACKSONVILLE. HE AND I WERE IN THE 2ND BN HQ COMPANY FROM TOCCOE THROUGH BERLIN. HE PRESENTLY LIVES IN NASHVILLE, TN.
PLEASE ADD HIM TO YOUR MAIL CALL LIST, HIS ADDRESS IS HMCDONALDJR@AOL.COM.
THANKS MUCH,
DARRELL EGNER
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Glad that I located Darrell. He has found several new members fo Mail Call.
Ben
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The following is an extract from a column that Tom Cross wrote for the Static Line in June 1989 concerning the Southern France Operation.
Ben
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OPERATION DRAGOON illustrated the versatility of airborne forces. It showed how things could be done under adverse circumstances. It proved the value of the Airborne Task Force Concept. It was indeed unfortunate that this gallant force, from Dragoon, was broken up and employed separately in conflicts yet to com-the Bulge.
The Bulge was the death knell for the 509th,551st and the 550th for they lost their proud unit designations due to heavy battle losses and their remaining personnel were transferred to other airborne units. We in the 517th PRCT honor the heritage of our airborne comrades from these Dragoon units.
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I Pledge Allegiance -- By Red Skelton - ... the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class each day. ...
http://home.att.net/~poofcatt/july.html
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Subj: Fwd: The Soldier
Date: 2/28/2003 6:46:09 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: WALTERWS
To: Ben517
This is a copy and paste from DUPPLE@aol.com. As a veteran, I read this aloud and with more emphasis with each line because they well coincide with my feelings.Try it! Walt Smith.
The following passage is from a sermon by John Hagee:
I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family, surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war.
He stands though, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this...
I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.
I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.
I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business.
I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.
It's the soldier not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press.
It's the soldier not the poet who gives you the > freedom of speech.
It's the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!!
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.
Prayer Wheel:
When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our US ground troops in Afghanistan, AND all over this 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 U. S. Soldier, Prayer is the very best one.