Every time I read Mail Call I sing your praises. The ability of descendants to get information about our troopers is a gift of your work. A lot has been said about memory and what we knew was going on. Ben once said all he saw was ten feet to the left and ten feet to the right. That is all most of us saw. We took the jobs assigned to us and did them well. Sometimes all a trooper knew about what was going on was to follow the guy ahead of him or support the guys on the right and left. Sometimes the information descendants seek comes from the guy in the next fox hole. Other times it comes from men like Dick Seitz whose job gave him a broader perspective of what each unit was doing at a certain time. In both instances the information is invaluable to the recipients and contributes to the history of the Combat Team. Thanks to all who contribute and again thanks to the publishers of the news. We also say thanks to Dick for sticking around and participating in our activities. Howard Hensleigh ___________________________________________________________

Hi Ben --

My cousin wrote wondering if any of the 517th paratroopers, were involved with the battle for the bridge at Remagen, Ger.   He thinks it was the only bridge into Germany left standing.     If anyone WAS involved, he was wondering if they ever met Jack Buck who was there.   If you haven't heard of Jack, he was the long time announcer for the Cardinals who passed away last year.   One of the greatest guys you'd ever care to know --- so says my cousin Jim.

Would be such a coincidence if anyone did know Jack Buck.

Still haven't found the time to get into Louisiana to meet with the long lost 517th Paratrooper Bentley Linscomb.   Spare time ended when our 71 yr. old friend moved in with us last March, then my husband had alot of health problems - our friend will be moving out some time after the middle of Sept. - then maybe I'll have some spare time to check in with Bentley Linscomb.

Happy and safe Labor Day Holiday .....   Shirley McCarey, A friend of the 517th

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Dear Ben,

I have been meaning to send these photos for some weeks now, but I had lost my camera cable to transfer the photos to my PC. Anyway, attached you will see two shots of LST 325, a partially restored D-Day landing craft that recently completed a tour meant for restoration funding.

My wife and I and some friends of ours went to Louisville and crossed to the Indiana side of the river to tour this craft. The turnout was incredible! There was a 2.5 hour line in some pretty fierce heat. There were quite a few former crew members of this type of craft in line as well as some of the guys who rode them into battle. I figured some of the guys may be interested in seeing these photos as it would remind them of the trip into Italy for the landing north of Rome (Civitivecchia?).

For some reason, they did allow photos in the bunk rooms, but I was appalled at what had to be endured by the servicemen. The "hot bunks" were stacked four high, and I could not imagine folding myself into one, let alone trying to sleep in it. The minute I mentioned that I would have been on deck, the tour guide informed that for D-Day, the men were restricted below decks for 3 nights waiting for the weather to clear. After viewing this craft, I now know why our men hit beach ready to fight. Three nights on that tub could make anyone ready to fight the devil himself just to get off of it.

I am interested in knowing how long the 517th got stuck on the LST's. I sure hope it wasn't for very long. Can anyone relate any stories of this particular mode of travel? I suppose it all relative. Probably during December '44 - February '45, you all would have gladly boarded an LST to escape the bitter cold and snow.

I just wanted to share these photos with everyone and express my appreciation once again, for the sacrifices made by so many WWII vets to preserve our way of life and freedoms. Viewing this craft drove the point home even more. If ever you get a chance to see it, it is worth the wait.

http://www.lstmemorial.org/

I am embedding a link that explains what has gone on with LST 325. It is quite a story.

Best regards,

Tom Reber

son of Lt. Bob Reber (HQ 3rd)

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We have a problem. Will try to have photos in a future Mail Call.-Ben

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Dear Ben,

_

The note from Dick Seitz brought back many memories and named those woods. I had forgotten the name, Auf de Hardt Woods, but remember so well the struggle to get into them through the deep snow and the fight to clear the woods. On one occasion I lead the third platoon, E. CO, into a section of the woods and encountered at close range a bunch of Germans. We had two men who could speak German so we tried to persuade them to surrender, they returned the request. No surrender progress was made and someone fired a shot and all hell broke loose. We chased the Germans out of the woods to who knows where. Anyway on January 26 we had fought our way to a little town called Hunnange, at that time, they have since changed the name. The next morning D, E and F company along with the tanks and stuff, stormed St. Vith. Yes, "General" it was a cold snowy mess.
Gene Brissey. Company E _____________________________________________________________________________

Ben, could do me a favor and add my daughter, Judge Seitz to the
Mail Call address? Folowing is her address   paseitz@aol.com    Thanks.
517 th all the way. Dick

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Thank you Ben. I got this email and my daughter and I got to read it together. She and I are very grateful to you, Gen. Seitz and Clark.

Mike

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Mike Kane is referring to General Seitz's email on 8,30 concerning the day that Mike's dad was WIA. Clark Archer is going to provide us with a copy of the Morning Report. Mike Kane was awarded the Silver Star for action on Jan. 21, 1945. Citation is on our website. He destroyed or damaged six enemy armored vehicles.-Ben

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Hi, Ben.

Bob had sent me an email when he posted General Order #48 and I was able to access it and print it out. Not sure where the information about joining in Dec. '44 came from. The website has a picture of D company at graduation from Toccoa and he is in that and I know he made the jump on 8-15-44, so he was with the outfit from the beginning.

My mother said that she knew he got frostbite of the hands and feet during the Bulge (as did almost everyone, I imagine) but he never talkd to us much about his being wounded either. (My sisters and I used to tease him that he probably took a round in the posterior while on the latrine!)

I and my mom were interested in learning any of the details about it. I know he went to England at one point. I have never read of anyone routinely getting R&R there, so I suspect it was related to being WIA. He was still an Irish citizen during WWII and tried to get a pass to go to Dublin but couldn't get on the ferry from Liverpoole. CO was probably afraid he would go AWOL. But he made it across Britain, so he must have been there for a while. But then again, it could have been after May,1944.

One other thing he mentioned quite a few times was that, during a night jump in North Carolina, his chute spun from the prob wash and didn't open. His pack wrapped his reserve and he free fell a bit before hitting the canopy of another trooper from another plane. He got tangled in the guy lines of that one and they both came down on the same chute. It busted the chin strap of his helmet and knocked him silly, but they both went on with the maneuvers. Good story. I never doubted it was true.

Anway, that's the extent of it what I know about his tour with the 517th. .

Been reading "Battling Buzzards". Looking forward to Paratrooper's Odyssey being on the website.

Thanks for all your assistance, Ben. You're doing God's work for us offspring.

Mike

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There was an error about his joining the 517 in Dec 11, 1944. He made PFC that day.-Ben