Hello,

I often get notice of "Mail Returned" because of mail box full, mail timed out etc.If you miss a "Mail Call", let me know and I will try to send it again. However after three notices of fail delivery, I eliminate the name from my email roster.( some may have made final jump)
I also try to avoid sending downloads and attachments because some people then have a problem getting "Mail Call" with attachments. However, we can put pertinent downloads on the website.

Ben

Website---www.517prct.org

Mail Call---Ben517@aol.com .
____________________________________________________________
Subj: 517th Award 
Date: 8/27/2003 2:19:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: CaptMike97
To: Ben517

Hi Ben,
     Thought I would send some more 517th memorabila I have that my mother had saved from my father's time in the war.
      This attachment is a copy of the award letter of the Bronze Star to my father during the Battle of the Bulge campaign.   Thought you might want to add it to your web site. 
Thanks,
Michael Nell Arterburn
Son of SSgt Nello R. Arterburn, 3rd Bat., Co. G
__________________________________________________________________________
8/27/2003 2:22:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: CaptMike97
To: Ben517

Hi Ben,
     Here is yet another interesting piece of memorabila that is from my Dad's time in the war.   This post card or picture card must have come from somewhere overseas.  Have no idea of it's origin, but it is quite an interesting piece reflecting the sentiment of the time from the French.

Thanks,
Michael Nell Arterburn
Son of SSgt Nello R. Arterburn, 3rd Bat., Co. G
                                        **************
The postcard depicts Hitler being hung.-Ben
___________________________________________________________
Subj: 517th Newspaper Clipping 
Date: 8/27/2003 2:27:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: CaptMike97

Hi Ben,
     I wanted to send this newspaper clipping regarding a buddy of my father's from the 517th.  He was SSgt Orville Donaldson who was one of only four of the original 14 cadre men who made it through the war.   He received a Purple Heart for being shot in the leg, but survived and continued to fight with G Company until the end of the war.  He returned safely to the United States only to be killed in an accident in his home town at the young age of 29.  This man was a good man according to my father who had a hard time accepting his untimely death.

Thanks,
Michael Nell Arterburn
Son of SSgt Nello R. Arterburn, 3rd Bat., Co. G
___________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 532 517TH PRCT 
Date: 8/27/2003 9:14:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: mjkanejd@earthlink.net

Hi Ben.

Thanks for letting me be a part of the 517th family through Mail Call.

Your mention about your being WIA and Clark Archer and the daily report prompted me to wonder if I could find some information about the circumstances of my dad, Mike Kane, D Co, being WIA during the Bulge.  His discharge papers state it was on Jan 23, 1945 so I assume it must have been near St.Vith.  When I was growing up, he mentioned several times that he had been wounded, but he never elaborated beyond that and really downplayed it as no big deal.  I have no idea how it happened, how serious it was, if it kept him out of action and for how long, when and where he returned to the unit, if he did, etc.  Of course, now that he is gone, I feel a lot of regret that I was insensitive and never asked him directly about that, typical bratty kid that I was.

Is there any way of finding out the circumstances?

I recently learned that US Military History Center is right in my back yard in Carlisle, PA.  That's just 10 miles from my home and I drive right past it at least once a week.  Maybe they have such information there?

In any event, thanks for everything, Ben, Bob and everyone else!

Mike Kane, Jr.
________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 532 517TH PRCT 
Date: 8/27/2003 10:39:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: artann3447@juno.com
To: Ben517@aol.com

To Michael Carrillo:  A friend of mine was one of Beavers(your Dads) very
best friends while in service (in the 517) his name is Jim Degnan,  Jim
has his own problems from haveing been shot in both knees in combat. Why
don't   you help Beaver to drop him a note, I know he would he would be
extremly happy to hear from him. his address is Jim Degnan  146 Jennifer
Ln. Calumet City IL. 60409-1415 (he doesnot have a computer) Jim is one
of those very unfortunate Veterans that every wakeing moment carries
sever pain from his injuries while in the 517 , He has sever problems
trying to walk,  Tom McAvoy
______________________________________________________________________

Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 529 517TH PRCT--August 22, 2003 
Date: 8/27/2003 10:44:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Mike517TH
To: Ben517

TO STEVENSON WALLACE.... UNLESS THERE ARE TWO CHUCK WALLACE'S IN THE 517TH, I KNOW YOUR FATHER VERY WELL. WE WENT  THROUGH BASIC TRAINING  AND JUMP SCHOOL TOGETHER  AND WERE EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE WITH EACH OTHER. TELL HIM 'THE DAGO' SAYS HELLO. AND ASK HIM ABOUT THE DONNYBROOK HE AND I  HAD  IN JUMP SCHOOL. WE SLUGGED IT OUT UNTIL WE GOT ARM WEARY AND JUST WALKED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. WE BOTH ENDED UP IN THE DISPENSARY THE NEXT MORNING. I KNOW HE WAS FROM TENN., SO  THE CHANCES ARE HE IS MY OLD BUDDY CHUCK.  MY VERY BEST TO HIM. MIKE SPANO
_______________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 532 517TH PRCT 
Date: 8/27/2003 10:55:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: mjkanejd@earthlink.net

Thanks, Ben. 

The Military history website has a pretty good index of things in its archives, though I didn't see anything relating to casualty reports. Don't know if you have looked at that.  I saw it has such things as Col. Graves personal papers.  I am going to take a day off of work sometime soon and spend the day snooping through the stacks. I'll let you know when I plan to do that. If there is something you see in their index, I'd be happy to try to get a copy made and scan it.

By the way, the "attached message" is actually your original message. My email must be configured to attach it to the reply, rather than print it.  You can ignore it.

Thanks again for your help!

Mike Kane
________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 529 517TH PRCT--August 22, 2003 
Date: 8/27/2003 12:57:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: donaldm@thestreetfamily.com
To: Ben517@aol.com

Hi Joe, I am Don Street from Muskogee, Ok, I was also in "G" Company, I
visited with your Dad and Mom in Duncan some ten years ago, your
Dad is a good man, I can understand why you do not get much information from your Dad concerning the wartime activities...Like myself, it is something you want to forget...Does your Dad have a Computer? Regards, dstreet@azalea.net
                                                     **************
Don's mail is directed to Joe Combest, son of Benjamin-Ben
_____________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Parachuting into water (Fog) 
Date: 8/27/2003 3:49:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: JBJB93
To: WALTERWS, JBJB93, Ben517

Hello Mr Smith,

Thank you for getting back to me regarding you memories of the jump and there after.  I am interested in all you have to say.  I can't imagine doing what you GI's did - but guess I would If I had to.

Were you troopers jumping from more than a thousand feet?  I've heard the jumps can be PRETTY low.

Highest regards,

John Bramswig
son in law of Ed Marconi (deceased - from Brooklyn NY)
_______________________________________________________________________