We have is this "Mail Call" correspondence from from a French friend concerning the fortification around Sospel. Those who fought in that area including Col de Braus will be interested in the fortifications that the 517 encountered with small arms.. Check on Richard Lavalle's website.

If California people will send us information about their mini reunion, we will place it on the website.The same goes for the mid-west reunion. Details about the Florida mini are on our website.

Website---www.517prct.org

To Gene Brissey. Gene thanks for you nice e mail You were very kind
and I appreciated so much your thoughtfulness. Thanks Gene.
I am, very proud of the fine troopers in the 2nd Battalion and all the
troopers in the 517 and I'm proud of having personally selected many of
them. I've said many times to many people they were the cream of
American youth--strong, hearty, full of vigor , courage and skill. All
great troopers and great Ameicans who will always be in the front rank
ofmy esteem and admiration as well as occupying a special place in my
heart and mind. Again, thanks Gene, Airborne, Dick Seitz

Martha and Oscar Berg "C" Co.

Thanks for all your hard work, We really appreciate it and look forward to each mail call.

Anyway, Oscar and I will celebrate 60 years of marriage on the 20th of November 2003. We were married in the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Everett, WA in 1943.

.Thanks,

Martha & Oscar

Bob Barrett to Chris Anslinger:

I am forwarding you a copy of these messages (below) received from Richard
Lavalle. He is looking for copies or more info about some of the pictures
on our web site, especially of forts in the Sospel area. The photos that he
refers to all come from the materials that you submitted to us from Don
Barry's scrapbook. (examples attached)

I a not sure if Richard is looking for originals, better copies, additional
photos or more information. Could you contact him directly?

Richard: If you could send us some photos of those forts as they look
today, I am sure that would be of interest to many of the 517th soldiers.

Thanks,

Bob Barrett
webmaster@517prct.org

----------------------------

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
landscape 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 pick you up
proudly in my JEEP ( She is an authentic WILLYS from 1943) and made you re
visit the places where you fought in 1944.
Hope you'll pay some attention to my letter, receive my best regards
Richard LAVALLE

From: rilavalle@club-internet.fr [mailto:rilavalle@club-internet.fr]
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 3:59 PM
To: rbarrett@alum.mit.edu
Subject: Still your photos of sospel
Importance: High

Hi Barrett
Yes I have found the photos on your website and this are some whom we are
particulary interested, although all are fantastics.

From: rilavalle@club-internet.fr [mailto:rilavalle@club-internet.fr]
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 3:53 PM
To: webmaster@517prct.org

Hello Bob
I gonna send you a lot of photos as soon as possible, but now have a look on
our web site, I'm sure you will appreciate. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/agaisen/
Richard

Check out his website.-Ben

Thanks to Tom McAvoy for sending the Toccoa "43, photos of himself, Harlan Brown and Bob Brighton. What a youthful group!
" Youth is the gay and pleasant spring of life, when joy is stirring in the dancing blood, and nature calls us with a thousand songs to share her general feast."
Boom Boom Alicki
Ben.. I asked Tom to send you copies