For
the November '88 Issue of the STATIC LINE , Tom Cross wrote the
following.
About 44 years ago, on Nov18,1944 to be exact, the 517th
PRCT departed Sospel enroute to La Colle-Sur-Loup out side of Nice by "foot
expressd". It was a 36 mile march that according to our PARATROOPER ODYSSEY ,
was really more like 50 miles due to the up and down, and around type of winding
road net from Sospel to Nice.
Tom then asked if anyone had photos of this
march for viewing at the Nashville reunion. We also would like to know if anyone
has photos of that march that we could put on the
website?
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 462
517TH PRCT
Date: 4/14/2003 11:55:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: barneylee21@msn.com( Barney
Hekkala )
To: Ben517@aol.com
Saw
your mail call re the Palm Springs reunion. There were about 80 folks there and
it was decided in the business meeting that we will be back again next year.
Turnout is a bit less each year but a great time was had by all.
Barney
_____________________________________________________________________
Subj:
Don't let foreign opinion rain on U.S. victory parade
Date: 4/15/2003 12:17:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: CaptMike97@aol.com
Michael & Judith Arterburn thought you may want to see this petition.Subj: Boom Boom
Our brave men and women made sacrifices to protect our freedom. They deserve a parade of honor to show our appreciation!
Dear Friend:
Your help is needed to make sure a victory parade down Constitution
Avenue is held to honor our Armed Forces who performed so well in Iraq.
Although a celebration followed the first Persian Gulf war in 1991,
such recognition of our troops' valor, sacrifice and startling success
reportedly doesn't presently have the support of the Bush
Administration.
Why? Because of foreign opinion: A victory parade might offend anti-
Americans in the Middle East, France, Germany and Russia.
Don't allow what detractors say -- at home as well as abroad --
to symbolically rain on this much-deserved parade! Please go to
LibertyPetitions.com and read what is at stake. Here's the address:
http://www.libertypetitions.com/petition.html?name=dont_rain_on_parade
Act now! Sign a petition calling on President George W. Bush to support
and enable such recognition of our fighting men and women. Our troops
risked their lives, with some paying the ultimate sacrifice, and we owe
them a profoundly personal moment of public honor. Besides, not having a
parade won't correct foreigners' erroneous impression for why our troops
went into Iraq and what they magnificently accomplished.
It is crucial for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, to
come through for our troops as they so magnificently did for us and the
world.
To sign the petition yourself, please go to:
http://www.libertypetitions.com/petition.html?name=dont_rain_on_parade&rpid=87349
____________________________________________________________________
Date: 4/15/2003 2:23:30 PM Eastern Daylight
Time
From:Ge517ne
Ben, is there a real
Boom Boom ? Of course there is , he keeps us awake in Mail Calls. I sure hope he
comes to the reunion, because I want to talk with him. I want to know what his
duties were at Camp Toccoa. I have been lead to believe that he, if you'll
pardon the expression, "greeted" some of the troops arriving at the camp. When I
arrived after being in the army about two weeks I was mingling with a herd of
others at the rail yard or wherever and names were being called. I might have
been first. Anyway, when I heard my name called I answered here. Some hard nose
guy up there somewhere, screamed "when your name is called you say here sir and
don't forget it.' I didn't forget. I wonder if Boom Boom was up there "Greeting"
us. I also have somehow gotten the impression that he greeted us as we jumped
from the tower for the first time. He or whoever was waiting for me at the
bottom said, You did good kid or boy or whatever they said after that slide. I
felt that I had made it until they told me that I was too little at 126 pounds
but I begged to be given a chance and got it. Many other efforts were made to
get rid of us but no such luck in my case, until 8 Feb. 1945. I still can do
three or four push ups. And still have the old boots that I wore in Italy,
France, Belgium and Germany and after. I am going to try to wear them at least
once at the Reunion. This part has nothing to do with Boom Boom but just thought
I would throw that in. Are you coming to the reunion, Boom Boom?
Gene
Brissey
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Entry of Apr 15, 2003
at 13:12 [EST]
Name: sgt bernard donohue(deceased)
Unit:
EMail:jpettit@kncinc.com
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: cannot find my bro-in law on the roster, he was one of the originals who was with Col Seitz when unit was first assembled. jumped in Sicily & so.france,1944 wounded, captured and rescued. can anybody help
Name: Rod Dawson
Unit:
EMail:rwd9@lycos.com
How I found the 517th page: Link from another web page
Comments: I am looking for some one who knew my dad. He trained in Alexandria LA in June of 1943 (517th). He passed away a few years ago and I am trying to find out what he did in the army. He did not speak much of his duty except to say he was in England and France. His name was Henry Dawson also know as Butch or Buck. If by any change anyone served with him please email me. Thanks from a son of a true Hero. Rod