Hello,
Website---www.517prct.org
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Seitz 2 is back on line. Airborne. Dick Seitz
Hi Ben.. Re: General Seitz and the award he is to receive, it's great and well deserved. The icing falls to the rest of us who flatter ourselves by allowing ourselves to think some of his philosophy and courage rubbed off on the rest of us during our life from1943-1945; and remains with us today, I'm proud I was there, and remember well the day I got his approval to become a member of the 517. Bravo, General Seitz. Randolph Coleman F. Co..2nd Bn.
During our Parachute jump into So. France, Platoon Sgt. Brown together with 8 other Demolition Platoon members were immediately captured and taken to LeMuy. Also captured was our Regimental Intelligence Officer, Capt. Dearing, and who eventually negotiated the surrender of LeMuy and freed my Platoon Sgt. Brown and the rest of the Demo Squad. I might add that credit for the capture of LeMuy also goes to our 517th Engineers, the 509th, 550th and the British paratroop outfit.
When the 517th was disbanded in l945 at Ft. Bragg everyone scattered to the four winds. I tried to maintain contact but to no avail.
"Often tested, Always faithful, Brothers forever."
Boom Boom Alicki
Entry of Sep 25, 2003 at 07:04 [EST]
Name: Tom "Duke" Davis
Unit: G Company, 511th PIR
EMail: duque2@aol.com How I found the 517th page: Link from another web page
Comments: Hal or Phil Higgenbotham and I Volunteered for the paratroops at the same time at Camp Shelby, MS. He was assigned to the 517 and I to the 511. I saw him one more time at Mackall. We were from Crowder, MS. He had a sister Named Jackie. Any info would be greatly appreciated. He may be pictured in the Company E photo, but my memory is that he was in A Co. in Mackall, Thanks
In answer to the recent guestbook entry about "Hal" Higginbotham:
There is also a "Staff Sergeant Kenneth H. Higginbotham" listed in the Christmas 1944 roster in Company E "attached from Service Co."
Bob
Ben,
Thought I would send you a photo showing some 517th troopers Europe. The
only one we can ID is my grandfather Burton Stadler who is 5th from the
left.
Brett Stadler
434 296-2563
3290 Sandown Park Rd
Keswick VA 22947
From Tom Reber
This speaks better than I can.
An excerpt from mail received from Tom Reber - Ben
Just FYI, on another topic completely. I had an e-mail to Jim Royer returned as undeliverable last week, but tried again last night. He responded and advised me that they are fine, but had been without electricity for five days. Isabel hit the Baltimore area hard. Aside from the power loss and the spoiled contents of their refrigerator and freezer, they stayed dry and had a bit of a home "camping" experience.
Also, JB Walton loaned me a copy of the 1999 Georgia reunion video and I saw everyone but Mr. Hensleigh in it. In return I loaned JB Walton my copy of the huge pictorial book about the First Airborne Task Force. If I recall correctly there were a great deal of 2nd battalion photos in that one. I am keeping him in touch with Mail Call via print outs, but I still have to get him over to my house to show him the website "live".
Dad,
Forwarded message below. I can't tell which pictures he might be looking
for, since we have several groups on the photos pages, including some in the
large groups from Mike Kane and Don Barry.
I will also forward pictures of his 1943 Willy's Jeep to follow.
Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: rilavalle@club-internet.fr [mailto:rilavalle@club-internet.fr]
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 2:23 PM
To: webmaster@517prct.org
Subject: Your pictures of Sospel
Dear Sir,
My name is Richard LAVALLE, I am the secretary of an association whom the
aim is to restore and keep working a "Fort" of the MAGINOT LINE. It's name
is AGAISEN, it is situated near by the village of Sospel. And when by chance
I have discovered your web site, I have been dumbfounded. Your photos are
the missing chain between 1939 and the first restoration just after the war,
during the 50th. We are ever looking after any documents to carry on the
study of its history. Would you be so kind, If your allowed to, as mailing
me all the photos intricately scanned witch are taken near a "Fort", (they
are three which appears) : The AGAISEN, the BARBONNET, and the MONTE GROSSO.
If your are interested I may send you some photos of the "Forts" and the
lanscape to day. Have a look on our site : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/agaisen/
On an other hand, if you use to come back in my country, I will proudly pick
you up in my JEEP ( She is an authentic WILLYS from 1943) and made you re
visit the places where you fought in 1944.
Hope you take some attention to my letter, receive my best regards
Richard LAVALLE
