Just received this request from two people this morning. One is from a niece and the other is from a grrandson of 517 members.
_Subj: poem
Ben,
This poem was on the CRPR group that I belong to and though it might be enjoyed here. I haven't
received a mail call since the 18th, don't know if I just am not getting them again or if you haven't sent any out since then. But please put this poem in the mail call. I think it is a wonderful poem
Thanks,
Cindy Keller
Hello Uncle Dallas and Aunt Jerri
*************
How can I refuse not to do so.-Ben
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
THEY LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT,"
This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan.
___________________________________________________________________
Subj: Fwd: A Soldier's Christmas Poem
Hi Mr. Barrett.
How are things in Mass? Good I hope. I havn't e-mailed you in a while and this poem made me think of you and all the guys @ the 517th. If there's any way to post this on the web-site, I would appreciate it. ALso, for the first time in years, I missed Veteran's day this year because I was out of town. I always like to send you and all of the other veterans that I've met since searching for imfo. on my grandfather, a "thank you" on Veteran's Day which may be a small thing to you guys but very important to me. SOrry to you and all of the other veteran's that are used to getting an "email card" from me on Veteran's Day. For what it's worth, "Happy Belated, Very Belated, Veteran's Day."
Your friend,
Chris Liddell
member of the 517th Grandson's club. : )
PS: What's the exact date of the Florida Reunion this year?
I would really like to make plans to attend.
*****************
Reunion dates are Jan. 18-23
Chris's request for information about his gfrandfather was the spark that resulted in the 517th Website and although we have not been able to give him much help in finding details about his grandfather who was in "F" company and awarded a Silver Star, he has been a most loyal member. and contributer to "Mail Call"-Ben
______________________________________________________________________
Tom McAvoy Regimental Hqs.
Don't know if you people know or are interested The Post Office has now
Purple Heart Stamps for sale as regular postage stamps??? Same price asa
first class stamps, I received one from a friend I was in service with.,
so went down to the post Office and inquired about them, Tom McAvoy
___________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Raymond L. Thompson
Date: 11/24/2003 8:29:12 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: PRCT517
To: Ben517
RE: Most recent entry on the guestbook:
-----------------------------
Entry of Nov 23, 2003 at 20:50 [EST]
Name: Anita Collins
Unit:
EMail: User356332@aol.com
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: I wrote a note last year asking for information on Raymond F. Thompson of the 517th. I did find that he was in "H" co. Does anyone remember Raymond or what happened to him?
----------------------------
This is the second time that Anita Collins has requested information (also on March 2002), so I don't know if anyone ever answered her. Pvt. Raymond F. Thompson can be found on the "WWII Honor roll" site (http://www.abmc.gov/searchww.htm) , where it says that he was KIA on Sept 8, 1944, and he was from Florida. Unfortuately, for some reason he is not listed on the 517th KIA list from December 3 1944 memorial booklet. He does show up in one of the Company H casualty reports (H Co, NBC on June 22 1944), but we do not yet have the records for H Company from Clark Archer for September 44.
That's all I can find from our web site. But you know the H Company guys to ask for more info.
Bob