Recent website additions:
Welcome to our new and permanent address.  Please reset your settings and Favorites to:
www.517prct.org

Capt. James Birder 1945 memorial
596th PCEC short history

Contents517th Unit Overview, Stats and Short History
517PRCT Association

How to find information about a 517th soldier
Books and References about the 517th
517th WWII Photos
WWII Recollections - Stories from the 517th Soldiers
517th Mail Call
Guestbook Sign in now: Make an entry
Soldier Stories on the Web
Friendlies - Other US and European Sites with 517th Info
Reunion Info and Photos with 1949 Reunion photo

Keynote Speech by author William B. Breuer, to the 517th PRCT Reunion; July 1989
Documents - Parachute Training and WWII - Includes a complete December 1944 roster

517th Logos, Patches and Insignia
Individual Decorations
517 Honor Roll
European Grave Sites
Site Information

The Static Line
Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation
Veterans History Project
Heartland Airborne Memorial
The World War II Honor Roll Now searchable by Unit
Request Copies of Military Personnel Records
Other Links on the Web

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  to this page since January 18, 2000.

See Site Information for submitting
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Subj: Harry K. Saunders 
Date: 4/7/2003 11:35:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: rockran@fidnet.com
To: Ben517@aol.com

Harry K. Saunders passed away on April 2, 2003 due to complications following surgery for lung cancer.He fought hard for 3 1/2 weeks but just wasn't strong enough. I'm ashamed to say as his daughter that I don't even know what company he was in. But I do know he was very proud of being in the 517th. and he spoke often of many of you
                                                    *************
Harry was in E company- Ben
______________________________________________________________________

Subj: Paul William Richards 
Date: 4/7/2003 1:54:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: dawei90@hotmail.com
To: mailcall@517prct.org


Dear Mr. Barrett,
My father was Paul William Richards.
He never spoke much about what happened in WWII, but did tell me that he had been in the 517th.  He said that he had been in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France.
Just before I joined the Navy in 1975, He lived in Leavenworth, KS and we were in Safeway one afternoon and meet a Colonel or One Star General ( I can't remember) who knew my father.  This officer (I can't remember his name) spoke highly of my father.  It seems that they had been offered OCS in France and the General accepted and my father had declined, wanting to go home.
Does anyone remember my father? 
He did tell me that he had made Sgt. but was demoted because of a fight after someone had poked him in the rear with an icepick while he was typeing. (sp?).
Would anyone be willing to sell me a shoulder patch from the 517th?  I am attempting to write a short bio about my father for my children/grandchildren and would like to include as much as possible.
Thank you all for all that you endured for my freedom, my children's freedom and the freedom of our great nation.
Thank you .
Sincerely
David Reese Richards
1610 NW `16th
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
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Subj: New Generation Gap 
Date: 4/6/2003 8:22:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: BoomBoomAlicki
To: Ben517

"(F)or two weeks now we have watched, in random interviews (of military
personnel in Iraq), remarkably well-spoken, courteous and other-directed
26-year-old American adults. These young soldiers seem without modernist
guile; they show no need, or inclination, to create an ironic, snickering
distance between themselves and everything around them. What I am suggesting
is that maybe it's time for the 'youth culture' back home to think about
growing up.

"Even antiwar protests now get reduced to a kind of goofy joke, as with the
recent 'Puke-In for Peace' in San Francisco, featuring forced vomiting by
some protesters. Or wearing a big smile and a baseball cap to accept an
Oscar and insult the President of the United States. This is infantilism.
This isn't protest by people concerned about what is going on over there;
it's about drawing attention to THEM, to 'me'."

- Wall Street Journal columnist Daniel Henninger
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Subj: The Final Inspection 
Date: 4/6/2003 9:01:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: newacct1088254
To: Ben517

The Final Inspection_____________________________________________________________

Subj: Jim M. Ray and Palm Springs 
Date: 4/7/2003 2:17:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: AARGoodman

Hi Ben  Some how I lost my first message. to repeat : Joe B. RAy called me the other day to inquire how to research his brother. I sent him the research program that is on the website and your e amil address. He said he has access to a computor at work. He is  at 124A University So.,Mobile Alabama. Hope he makes constact.
Incidentally I had to cancel Palm Springs due to a bout with congestive heart failure but am making good progress and will be able to travel by June. Thanks for all you do. Al.
___________________________________________________________________________
Subj: RE: MAIL CALL NO. 456 517TH PRCT 
Date: 4/7/2003 9:37:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: lory.curtis@jordan.k12.ut.us

Ben

            Would you put this on mail call:  Can anyone explain this??  I found my father’s (Harland L. Curtis, HHC, 1st BN, 517PRCT) “dog tags” and there are two imprints that I do not understand.  On the “dog tag” the first line has his name, and on the second line is his service number followed by a “T”, then 43-44.  When I asked my father what these meant, he could not remember.  I do not know either what the  “T” or 43-44 means?  Can anyone tell me what they mean?  Thanks.

Lory V. Curtis, son of Harland “Bud” Curtis   
_________________________________________________________________________
Subj: A Poem 
Date: 4/7/2003 5:09:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: juliana@island-fever.com
To: Ben517@aol.com

Hi Ben,

I haven't seen this come across in the mail call yet:

Below is a letter received by the parent of Corporal Joshua Miles
from the 3 Battalion 2nd Marines. I thought it would be nice if you
could send it to all the people you have on your list. This simply
Poem says alot. Please pass it on.
A Parent of a Marine in the 1st Battalion 4 Marines
......Hoorah.

(My son JJ is over in Iraq at the moment fighting for his
country. Please remember to pray for him and his fellow troops.
Thanks, Charyl)


We got a letter from Josh today, if you could call it that, written
3/9. They are hearing about the anti-war protests and he was upset.
That' s all the letter talked about. He enclosed a poem he and his
buddies wrote. He wants us to get it out, let people see how they
feel. Any ideas?

"Wish You Were Here"
For all the free people that still protest.
You're welcome.
We protect you and you are protected by the best.
Your voice is strong and loud,
but who will fight for you?
No one standing in your crowd.
We are your fathers, brothers, and sons,
wearing the boots and carrying guns.
We are the ones that leave all we own,
to make sure your future is carved in stone.
We are the ones who fight and die,
We might not be able to save the world,
Well, at least we try.
We walked the paths to where we are at
and we want no choice other than that.
so when you rally your group to complain,
take a look in the back of your brain.
In order for that flag you love to fly
wars must be fought and young men must die.
We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear.
If that's not respected, we would rather stay here.
So please stop yelling, put down your signs,
and pray for those behind enemy lines.
When the conflict is over and all is well,
be thankful that we chose to go through hell.


Corporal Joshua Miles and all the boys from 3rd Batallion 2nd
Marines, Kuwait


God bless America.
In God we trust.


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