Ben:

Here is a tribute to Al Dearing. He was Mr. S-2 in the 517^th. He was responsible for the training of the S-2 sections of the Regiment. He was educated in Europe and spoke French fluently. He was a little older and the type of guy who could have rested out the was in a soft spot. Instead he chose to be a parachutist and we were lucky to get him. I didn’t always agree with him. He had more reverence for the FFI than I did. Maybe he knew things I didn’t. Maybe I knew things he didn’t. I saw him in New York in the summer of 1947 when he was in public relations work. In the 1950's he served on General ridgway’s staff in Korea. He told me at the Albany reunion that he had to remind ridgway of the part we played in the Bulge in achieving 18^th Airborne Corps objectives. ridgway remembered. Sometimes we remember the humorous things.

In Southern France, the Regimental S-2 section came through our bivouac area on a patrol. I saw the chance to learn how it should be done. Lt. Col. Paxton gave me leave to go. Al led his entire section including Sgts. Grizaffi and Morgan who later joined us as lieutenants. We went blaring right around the mountain road, hair pin turns and all, into no man’s land. I was thinking, "This isn’t the way we do it in the 3^rd Bn.". The self propelled 88 motors roared and they soon stuck their noses over the crest of a knoll and started firing. We all went up over a mountain in an 8 foot deep ravine with 88s hitting all around, but never in the ravine. Although he started out first, Al was the last man over the top. He later told me that the purpose of the patrol was to locate the enemy. We did accomplish that mission.

Al Dearing was a great human being and a booster of the 517^th Combat Team throughout all his years. Howard Hensleigh

BEN, my father howard miller , was part of the 517 th in some of the history you have on your web site it    list him being in company  G  AS  a sgt . I  am looking at a form,honorable discharge,  WD AGO 53-55  1 NOVEMBER  1944 .  ON this form it list, organization  co. G  517th para inf  R egt.  battles and campaigns  GO 33 & 40 WD 45 , ROME-ARNO SOUTHERN FRANCE RHINELAND ARDENNES CENTRAL EUROPE. Under  decorations and citations it list, good conduct medal,american theater service medal european african middle eastern service medal, w/5 bronze stars and 1 bronze arrowhead.    date of induction  12 apr 43 . Ben I have tried to find on your web site the info I have found on this form, I cant find it is there a way we can ad this, to the web site. I am sure that some of these     medals are given to every one but, im not sure about the bronze stars or the arrow head,by the way,what is a bronze arrow head given for.   Ben my father past away on october the 19 th he was very proud of his military acomplishments.He never braged or talked about what he did we just knew that he was proud. please look at some of  these things i found in a folder  and see  if you can find somebody that knew him. The GROUND GENERAL SCHOOL  28 JUNE 1948   ,TECHNIQUE  OF AERIAL DLIVERY given at 82nd Airborne division  30 nov 1951,Standardization of inspection procedurs and techniques, 10th special forces group  FT.BRAGG. CO H TIS ISD FT. BENNING Sgt Instructor, june 46-june-48. UNITED STATES ARMY INTELLIGENC,MILITARY POLICE, AND SPECIAL WEAPONS SCHOOL,EUROPE . COURSE TAKEN, RUSSIAN PHASE-intelligence specialist dual area course 9 dec 1958 -25june 1959,  8 feb 1960 26 feb 1960 russian language refresher course. U.S. ARMY INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL,  course taken installation intelligence officer. SENIOR PARACHUTIST BADGE With combat jump 19 june 1951, master parachutist badge 15 sept. 1955. Ben this is just a short list. thanks for your help. J.C. MILLER.