Hello,
Last Mail Call I mentioned about being bombed by American airplanes. Below is mail from Mike Spano and Fred Beyer that we received about a year and a half ago..It would be great if both Mike and Fred could come to the Oklahoma City reunion.
You may have received my complete address book in last Mail Call. Forgot to use blind copy method.
Ben
Website----www.517prct.org
Mail Call---Ben517@aol.com
_________________________________________________________
From our website
WWII Recollections -
______________________________________________________-
Subj: Mail Call No. 164
Date: 10/12/2001 4:49:00 PM Eastern Daylight time
From: Mike Spano
To: Ben517
Ben, You asked for personal stories. Here's one I will never forget. I know that thousands of eerie events happened to lots of guys that made them believe in a guardian angel. Here's mine.
It was in Manhay. I was with I Company, Third platoon. We led the attack and were right in the middle of our own massive artillery barrage. That night we all jumped into already dug foxholes. The next morning, one of the guys in the foxhole only a few yards away asked me if I would switch foxholes with him. Can't remember his name, but he was a B.A.R. man. Without hesitation I said "sure", and made the switch. It was late morning, I believe, when a P38 lightning flew overhead. Because of its twin fuselage, it was one of the few planes I could recognize, so I jumped out of the foxhole to take care of a personal matter. Suddenly, the P38 dives and drops a 500 pounder. I dove back in the foxhole. That's when I heard that awful scream. I popped my head up just in time to see the guy with whom I had switched foxholes running with no right arm. Just shreds hung down from what remained of his shoulder. I slumped down in disbelief. If I didn't switch foxholes with him, that would be me. Neither he nor his buddy survived just that one bomb. Friendly fire did it to us again. For quite some time I suffered what is called survivor's guilt. Manhay wasn't the only rime my guardian angel was looking after me. I'll tell you about another incident in which I was shot when leading an attack as pointman at a later time. It boggles my mind. Incidentally, if the trooper who was with me in the foxhole is among our members, please write me.
Mike 517
Date: 10/13/2001 10:00:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Fred Beyer
I was in Manhay, and will never forget the artillery barrage the night before I lost my arm from that P38. It could be the one you are talking about. I was in a foxhole with Cleo Browning and believe he was killed. I do remember that Lt. Stott was killed that night.
I don't remember any one named Mike off hand. Refresh my memory, will you?
Sunday October 14, 2001
Fred Beyer
Date: 10/13/2001 10:51:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From Mike Spano
Hi, FT Beyer...
I was astounded to hear that you survived the P38 attack. When I saw you running, I thought you would never make it with all the blood loss. God bless you. It was either you or your buddy who switched foxholes with me prior to the attack. Do you remember? Believe me, the switch happened. Was it you or your buddy who was the B.A.R. man? Please let me hear from you. However, we are driving to Florida tomorrow to our winter home and need a week to get my PC turned on there. I can't believe it. All these years I thought you were dead. I don't think we knew each other very well, so I didn't expect you to remember me when I couldn't recall your name either. But I'll never forget the incident. I was in the foxhole next to you.
Mike Spano
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Proud to Be an American
Date: 5/2/2003 8:39:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: BoomBoomAlicki
To: Ben517
"We ought to be beating our chests every day. We ought to look in the
mirror and get proud and stick out our chests and suck in our bellies and
say, 'Damn, we're Americans.'"
- Jay Garner, the retired lieutenant general charged with overseeing the
rebuilding of Iraq, Reuters, 5/1/03
_______________________________________________________________________
Subj: One U.S. Marine is Better ...
Date: 5/2/2003 10:37:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: rbarrett@alum.mit.edu
To: Ben517@aol.com
A large group of Iraqi soldiers are moving down a road when they hear a voice call from behind a sand dune.... "One U.S. Marine is better than ten Iraqis." The Iraqi commander quickly sends 10 of his best soldiers over the dune, whereupon a gun-battle breaks out and continues for a few minutes then silence.
The voice then calls out... "One Marine is better than one hundred Iraqis." Furious, the Iraqi commander sends his next best 100 troops over the dune and instantly a huge gunfight commences. After 10 minutes of battle, again silence.
The Marine's voice calls out again.... "One Marine is better than one thousand Iraqis." The enraged Iraqi commander musters one thousand fighters and sends them across the dune. Cannons, rockets and machine gun fire ring out as a huge battle is fought. Then silence. Eventually one wounded Iraqi fighter crawls back over the dune and with his dying words tells his commander...
"Don't send any more men.... it's a trap.... there's two of them!"
_____________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO.474 51`7TH PRCT
Date: 5/3/2003 10:37:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: seitz2@webtv.net
To: Ben517@aol.com
Ben, reference Patti Johanson request for possible places in France to
visit. Onr place that is of keen interest is La Muy which has a
airborne museum dedicated to the liberation of Souther France with
interesting data concerning the 517th. The two young Frenchmen are in
charge of the museum are great friend of the 517 th and would be happy
to meet them and would provide them with a wealth of information on the
517th. Personal regards and great respect for you, Ben. 517th all the
way. Dick Seitz
__________________________________________________________________________
Subj: John Lissner
Date: 4/30/2003 3:48:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: gwtayler@juno.com
Hi Ben ---
Talked with John recently, and seems to be doing pretty well. I'm
hopeful that Veronica's son, Brian Keating who is a pilot for
Continental, can at least show John how to retrieve mail on his computer!
Know he would enjoy MAIL CALL. Brian is down in Niceville, Florida,
frequently, a wonderful guy. Or maybe Dorothy Mackenzie can inspire
John! Or Tom Cross, Dick Seitz?
So enjoy MAIL CALL! You and your son do a wonderful job, service, to us
all.
Take care, and keep it rolling.
Best,
Gail W. T.
___________________________________________________________________________
Subj: D-Day Terminology
Date: 5/3/2003 2:45:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: CaptMike97
To: Ben517
Military Terminology
D-Day (The D is for Day)
The day an attack or movement is to take place. Generally mentioned in secret orders which can be prepared long in advance of the day of an action. When the proper time for the attack arrives, notice is sent out that D-Day for the attack prescribed in such and such an order will be 4 July 1918--for example. (The same definition for H-Hour-except that the hour is named instead of the day.) For example, H Hour and D Day might be 5:30 a.m. 4 July 1918.
Capt Mike
Michael N. Arterburn
Claremont, CA