Hello,
 
I recently upgraded my AOL to the 9.0 version. Why I don't leave well enough alone, I'll never know. The result has caused a few minor glitches  such as when I copy mail the Subject matter does not appear. (so far) Mail from Jim Mortensen in last Mail Call didn't mean much if you didn't know who the Joe he was referring to was Joe David Brown of the 460th. Howard Hensleigh had mention him in a previous Mail Call. I'll repeat Jim's mail in this Mail Call.
 
Yesterday  we hit the 30,000 mark for hits on our website.
 
Ben
 
 
Website---www.517prct.org
 
Mail Calll--Ben517@aol.com
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Subject---Joe David Brown
-Hi Ben

Joe was my best friend from the time we met up in our little Observer Group.
We went through the jump in Southern France and then through his battle
field commission. Later on he was wounded and evacuated to the US.

We kept in touch as he became a well-known novelist and then a writer for
Sports Illustrated. His assignment had to do with race tracks and horses!
His untimely death was a real blow.

Anyway, among his books, The Freeholder was published in 1949. But his
all-time best work was Stars in My Crown, published in 1947 and made into a
movie starring Joel McRae. Great! I think it is still available on VCR.

Joe was the best story teller I ever knew whether it was about Alabama or
about his reporter's life in Manhattan. He was a true spellbinder.

He also had one helluva temper.

Jim Mortensen 460th
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Ben: This is about tennis. If you are not a fan, it is not JUST about tennis. Andy Roddick faced a challenge last week and overcame it. He was on the brink of defeat. We, and succeeding generations, often forget how close the axis powers were to wrapping up World War II. We did our part in facing that challenge. The media focused on how Andy ended up as US Open champion by serving three concluding aces against the conquistador from Spain. The day before this guy somewhat arrogantly sent Andre Agassi to the showers and perhaps to retirement.

Andy really won the finals match the day before against the conquistador from Argentina. He was down two sets and in the third faced two match points. He came back to win both those points, that set, and two more sets to earn the right to play for the championship. Like many young troopers who were a little harder to beat after surviving the heat of battle, Andy should have a bright future in tennis. The press has hailed him as the new generation of US tennis. After the linesman ruled a close one against Andy, he didn’t protest. He just went on to win the next point. John McEnroe then commented that he demonstrated maturity. John could have shown some of that maturity a few years ago when he and Jimmy Connors were acting like spoiled brats, arguing every call that went against them.

This brings me to Cacius Clay, a.k.a. Mohammed Ali, who became a hero by beating the draft and distinguishing himself with his antics, verbal and otherwise. As a Moslem cleric, we voted him the best athlete of the 20th century. Did we forget Jesse Owens and Joe Lewis who set Hitler’s super race boys on their posteriors? What about Jackie Robinson and many other fine athletes who did their talking by their accomplishments in the arena and on the field without loose lips. Did we forget?

A post WWI refrain repeats, "Lest we forget, lest we forget". This is what our Association is all about. We will attempt to leave a good record of what our Combat Team and its members did. If we succeed and if later generations forget and chose to rewrite history, that will be their burden to carry.

Howard Hensleigh

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Dear Ben:

About the ACLU not wanting Our FLAGS on Federal property! Easy solution, Lets bury the ACLU in some empty dump yard, and we'll  promise not to put up any Flags!

Carlos Davis
B Co.

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Hi,
It was very easy after your instructions to retrieve the Graves speech.  I am retyping it on my computer, but I cannot be sure of  one word. It is in para a.  Can anyone fill in the blank? 
"Particularly in an airborne operation in which we land in his rear areas where his ______, lines of...."
 
Thank you,
Nila Gott
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The word that Nila was not sure is CP's-Ben
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Hi! Brian Behrens gave me your email. My deceased father was with the 517th. My mother would be interested in being on your email list, as she has been to several reunions throughout the years. Her name is Jo Spencer Clark joher@adelphia.net . She can tell you more particulars about Dick Spencer III - my dad. She also knows other people that might like to be included. Thanks! BJ Spencer

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From Dick Spencer's son.
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Sure, thanks, Ben - please add me too! I was a war baby - 1944 vintage.
BJ