Hello,
Website----www.517prct.org
Mail Call---Ben517@aol.com
_517th WWII Photos
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 468 . 517TH PRCT
Date: 4/21/2003 8:28:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: nancy.steinfurth@attbi.com
Hi, Ben. I forgot to put on our conference registration form that my father, Karl Steinfurth, was with the 460th. Thanks for passing this along.
Nancy Steinfurth
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Subj: LTC Boyle's Wounds
Date: 4/25/2003 5:11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: lory.curtis@jordan.k12.ut.us
Ben Can anyone help me with a question I have concerning Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Boyle’s wounds? I understand that LTC Boyle was wounded by machine gun fire and close to dying. My father H.L. “Bud” Curtis told me that Bob Steele was the one who used psychology to get LTC Boyle to his feet and back to the unit’s aide station in time before he died. My father informs me all of this is recorded on pages 326 and 327 of Battling Buzzards. My question comes from the Thunderbolt newspaper, dated first quarter 2003, page 7, letters to the editor where it says that Major Frazer sent Michael De Filippo and Lt Lynch to find LTC Boyle. When they found him they got him to his feet and back to the C.P. Which story is the correct one or are they both correct. Did Bob Steele help these two get LTC Boyle back to the aide station? Also does anyone know where Bob Steele is today? My father would like to talk to him. Please let me know. Thanks for all your help and thanks for having this email and Web Site available. Lory V. Curtis, son of Bud Curtis
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Subj: Re: LTC Boyle's Wounds
Date: 4/25/2003 8:24:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Wild bill 517
To: Ben517
Steele is correct.Do not know if re was using psychology
or not. I, Steele and two radio operators were moving
from the front lines (A and C cos.) to the C.P. and were
Challenged in German. The gunner (burp gun) fired'
I was hit in both arms. Crawled to a bush, felt blood
spurting, said a prayer(to not let me die]. tried to apply
pressure above the wound and found that my hands
would not work properly( no pressure). I accepted death
at that time. I heard heavy fire where A and C Cos. were.
I heard a few shots from Steele and the radio operators.
Then one of them called my name. I was slow to answer.
When i did they came to me and I told them to go to
Major Fraser, tell him i was wounded ,that A&c Cos were
in a heavy firefight and he(Fraser) was in command.
The three went about 20 yards and talked. Then Steele
returned. I told him to go do what i told him to do.
He said they will deliver the message. I am staying with
you. I sdaid go, i am going to die anyhow. He said
" Col. "The trouble with you is "Yiu havn't got enough
guts to help yourself""". Isaid"Give me ahand'. He did,
and i took it. He helped me to my feet, and i half walked
and he half carried me to the BN. CP. After I talked to
Fraser I went to the aid station. Perhaps it was there that
Di Filipio talks about. My mind is not that clear after that
in every detail. ----------------You may take this as my account.
You may use it o r forward it as you see fit'
Bill Boyle
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Subj: Re: LTC Boyle's Wounds
Date: 4/25/2003 8:30:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Wild bill 517
To: Ben517
PS. I do not know where Bob Steele is. Nor do I
know if anyone else does. Unfortunately many of
us have met are maker. If Curtis wishes to talk to me
he may.
Bill Boyle
Wild Bill 517@aol.com
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Subj: Re: Airborne Cooks by Al Herink in Mail Call 469
Date: 4/25/2003 9:57:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Tomx517
Ben:
Al Herink said it right. We in the 2nd BN. were proud of our Combat Cooks. Everyone pulled their load in combat and the cooks were no exception. Al Herink is a outstanding example of this type of an airborne combat chef. Am certain that Dick Seitz and those of us remaining will agree. By the way Al is also an inventor of sorts. He had the patent rights for a sandbag loader that we could have used in combat but now has a civilian purpose for emergency use in floods etc. Do not remember whether he was that creative in the 2nd BN Mess but he gets the benefit of the doubt on this one. Al is a good friend.
Tom X
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Subj: Re: Mail
Date: 4/25/2003 10:36:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: saltaire@pinn.net
Dear Ben,
Thank you , I appreciate the extra work.. I miss my mail form the 517.
Becky
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Subj: Fwd: Check out DaySpring.com Web Movie Pages - God Bless America
Date: 4/25/2003 11:41:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Genesir
This is a very inspiring web page. Make sure you have your sound on.
Click here: DaySpring.com Web Movie Pages - God Bless America
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Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 469 517TTH PRCT
Date: 4/26/2003 10:44:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: seitz2@webtv.net
Ben, hats off to Al Herink for reninding us al of the galant work of
our fine cooks who jumped into combat as ammo bearers. Thanks Al.
Airborne all the way. Dick Seitz.
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Subj: A Welcome Mail Call
Date: 4/26/2003 1:43:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Ge517ne
Ben, I have been concerned that no Mail Calls have come my way for several days. Very pleased to open the mail box this morning and see one. It seems that some of the past contributors are taking a break. Of course if there is nothing to say why say it. Comments about the reunion are always welcome and I spend a lot of time thinking about what I hope to do while there. One thing for sure is that I want to meet and speak with as many of the troopers as possible. It seems at past reunions we spend a little too much time with our former close friends. This is not bad but perhaps an extra effort to chat with "unknowns" would be a good idea. We can find something to yak about. One subject that I plan to bring with me is the boots which I wore every day of our combat. They are hard but I can still wear them for a few minutes. I burned one of them somewhat while in Bergstein, trying to dry them during our second day there. When I was hit by shrapnel on 8 Feb. 45 every item of my clothing was hit except one glove and my boots. Some well meaning person politely tried to relieve me of those well worn boots but I insisted on taking them with me. Now don't you think that these boots could be a subject for discussion. One thing for sure I hope to meet Howard and Boom Boom and share some words with them. Unfortunately, I expect to see only one Company E man, Dick Hammel. I was looking forward to seeing Harry Saunders, but sadly he left us a short time ago. Of course I hope to see Dick Seitz and Tom Cross who were in some respects connected with Company E. Bill Boyle has also been a fixture at the reunions, though I have not had the pleasure of getting to know him very well. Of course there are several others known to me to various degrees. I have urged, John Kruum Jr. to come but he is still young and still working. He is an interesting person and has traveled to Belgium and France a few times to visit the battle fields of his father. On two occasions he and his wife have joined my wife and me on trips to Belgium and France. Great travelers and John is a great driver. Ben, you implied that it is conceivable that this could be our last reunion. Of course most anything is possible. So, come on, everyone who can make it do it.
Gene Brissey
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Entry of Apr 26, 2003 at 17:17 [EST]
Name: Michael J. Kane, Jr.
Unit:
EMail: mjkanejd@earthlink.net
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: My father was Michael J. Kane, D Company, 517 PRCT. He was a very proud to have been a paratrooper, but not as proud as I am to be his son. I grew up listening to stories but never really appreciated what he and the others sacrificed until he was gone. I would give anything to hear him tell them one more time. Thank you for the opportunity to get to know a little about his unit and his friends. I would love to hear from anyone who knew him. I have quite a few photos from the war that I have scanned and would be happy to send them on a disk. Michael J. Kane, Jr.