Hello,
Website---www.517prct.org
Mail Call---Ben517@aol.com
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Subj: foreword
Date: 3/27/2003 7:16:45 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Wild bill 517
To: winant@planetinternet.be
CC: Ben517
I am Wild Bill 517@aol.com. I am honored to think
that you would like me to write the foreword to your
book and will do my best. I would need to have the
main idea of the book. Ihave read your letter to
Ben 517 and perhaps I have assumed too much
but If that is your wish I will.
My best wishes
Bill Boyle
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Subj: Foreword.
Date: 3/28/2003 4:48:35 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: winant@planetinternet.be
To: wildbill517@aol.com
CC: ben517@aol.com, Ge517ne@aol.
Dear Colonel Boyle,
I was very glad to see your positive answer to my question. I thank you very much herefore. My book is not finish yet but I wouldn't finish it without you wrote the foreword. Don't be in a hurry, I'v got a lot of time to make of this book a good reading book. As you know, this is my third book about W.W.II and the story opens on June, 6th, from the debarqment in Normandy, when the Americans are coming on the French beaches to deliver Europe from the Nazi's, crossing and delivering Belgium, Market Garden, Wacht am Rhein, Battle of the Bulge and crossing the Rhine by the Axis forces, until freedom came back in Europe. I hope to publish it next year!
I'm very proud to write such a book which will be of great interest, not only to all the Belgian people but to those who appreciate reading of the exploits of the two great Axis fighting units. The main idea of this war story is to show to the youth what a total regime or to be a 'dictator' means and where it could lead, because in Belgium the pupils do not have to learn history at school until they are 17 years old and by the fact don't know the bases of what happened between 1940 and 1945 in their country. We have to show and learn them what the word 'Democracy' means. (they have a good example with Iraq and Saddam at this moment!).
The American soldiers had played their part in no uncertain manner, but not without grievous losses in fine officers and men. Their gallantry was well recognized in the award of some medals. In recording the deeds of the Regiment (517th) on the Battlefield of the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), we must not forget that individual American young soldiers served with distinction in nearly all theatres of operations where the Axis Forces were in action against the agressor or enemy. Althrought their deeds are not recorded in this book, they have made their contribution to the records of the Regiment and played their part as good Parachute Infantrymen.
The basis of this history has been the admirable war diaries kept by some Battalion Itelligence Officers. Sometimes it is very difficult for me to fill up the blank spaces with "Nothing unusual. Some shelling". To this bases I have added mass of individual records and reminiscences. Officers and men let me their diaries, letters and papers for months on end, without complaint.
I hope that my book will be widely read. I wrote it in Dutch, but could be translated later in French or English, but this is futur! It is the record of a great fighting nation, which has not only upheld the tradition of the parachutists in battle, but which has added fresh lustre to the long history of the Brigade.
When it comes to this business of fighting, the proudest claim a man can make is that he is a front soldier. I am glad that I know some of these men and that I could tell a piece of story of the front live where the 517th P.I.R. is the hero.
I'm trying above all things to be accurate, not only because this could be an official record, but as a tribute to the many 'old' friends and comrades who may read what I have written, and still more to those who will never read it and to whom I'll dedicate my book. The Belgian People wouldn't forget what the American soldiers did for them.
So Colonel, this was a little 'resume' of my book. There is no doubt about it that I'll write your name, as that of your lads in the Index. I'm very gratefull to you and appreciate your help.
My best regards.
Claudy WINANT.
P.S. Could it be possible to have a picture of you in uniform?
My address is :
Claudy WINANT
Toekomststraat, 19
3404 - LANDEN.
BELGIUM
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Subj: 517
Date: 3/28/2003 2:45:41 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: JBJB93
To: meltren@samlink.com, Ben517
Hello Mr Trenary,
Saw your email on the 517th. Hope you are doing better. I saw you were Comp A. My father in law Ed Marconi (deceased, from Brooklyn NY) was in Comp A from Italy to the occupation of Germany with the 82nd AB. He was wounded Feb 8th Bergstein area. Do you perhaps recall him at all. Anything you can remember is appreciated.
regards,
John Bramswig
jbjb93@aol.com
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Subj: FW: Good Quote
Date: 3/28/2003 12:27:48 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: chrislindner@bellsouth.net
Hi Ben:
I thought this was a GREAT QUOTE!!
Chris Lindner
Pretty good comeback.......chalk one up for Colin Powell and
America..........................
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by
the
Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of
empire building by George Bush.
He answered by saying that, "Over the years, the United States has sent
many
of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond
our borders.
The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is
enough to bury those that did not return."
It became very quiet in the room.
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Subj: DICK ROBB
Date: 3/27/2003 11:06:11 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: saltaire@pinn.net
To: Ben517@aol.com
Hi Ben,
I have a question. Do you have any information on Dick Robb from H
company?
I have sent many emails to Cecil Doty, and have not received a reply..
He sent
me a great picture that belongs on the 517 page. I wish to thank him
very much..
I would also like to thank Bob Barnes.. I wish it was possible to sit
and talk with
them for hours... Your web page makes it almost possible.. Thank you
Becky Martinette (father Maurice White 517 H company.)
Does Fred Harmon have a email address?
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Subj: FW: Jet breaking Sound Barrier
Date: 3/28/2003 9:31:17 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: rbarrett@alum.mit.edu
To: ben517@aol.com
Probably not really a subject for your mail call, but I thought this was an interesting photo.
Bob
Subject: Re: Jet breaking Sound Barrier
http://rense.com/general8/boom.htm
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