Whew! Well, I finally finished posting the Paratroopers' Odyssey book onto the web site. All the major sections are included, especially the history, with all maps and photos.

A couple of sections are not yet posted:

- The Photo Essay, which includes a lot of photos from Boom Boom, but, unfortunately, are too small to do well on a web site.

- The Awards and Citations - included in other places on the web site

- Statistics - also elsewhere

- Index - Page numbers don't work on a web version.

But what is there is all the important history and stories. Great stuff! Good reading for anyone looking for a complete history, as told by the participants.

Note: It is a lot of stuff, and anyone who wants to load it or print it out will need to be ready. It works fine with a fast cable or DSL connection, but may take a while to load over a phone modem. There are about 151 pages printed, with many maps and pictures.

Let me know if you have any comments or corrections.

____________________________________________________________

Bud Wyatt

Hi Jess, You old fart, I"ve wonder about you for many years and here you pop up in the 517th home page E-mail. Hope you have made plans to attend the 5l7th Reunion at Kissimmee, Fl. on 18 Jan. Thru 22 Jan. 2004 You will see a fair amount of your old buddies. There is a fair amount of 2nd Battalion attending. Let me know? Bud Wyatt

Jess is Jessie Pipkin.-Ben

I found this picture of John Lissner in the 13th Airborne History (1949):

Vera Stano

Happy New Year!

I just revisited the website and loved looking at those beautiful, young heroic faces. As you know I worked very hard on a scrapbook for my dad. In his typical fashion he was less vocal than I or my mom tend to be....however, I did get "great job" out of him. Believe it or not THAT IS A HUGE COMPLIMENT!!! The part that touched him the most was the 1944 Christmas card. It was such a wonderful addition to my book. I had highlighted my dad's name (Willard J Kohler) so he could find it easily; he was so touched all the hours of working on the book were summed up when he read the lists of fellow heros. He still is rather tight lipped about his "adventures" but he sure does swell with pride when he says he was with the 517. His health as changed drastically since Thanksgiving. I hope he shares some moments with me soon.

I have added your wonderful website to my list of favorites and check it at least every few days to view the new additions. Again, thank you for helping me complete my project on time. It was a memorable Christmas.

Vera Stano

Hi Ben,

This is Rick Vasquez, son of Nacho Vasquez, 3rd battalion and I would like my home e-mail address to be added to the mail call please. I have been out of the loop for about 6 months and would appreciate being back on it.

I would also like to know if there is a trip still being planned to Southern France this coming August.

We would like to wish everyone connected to the 517th a happy and healthy new year and especially thank Ben and Bob for keeping up such a great website.

Thank you and God bless.

Rick

June Huffman

Please re-run the name of the Hotel where the Reunion is being held. I
have lost my info, but I do have reservations. (Just don't know where to
go when I get to Orlando) Maybe I'll get the Thunderbolt soon and all
the info will be in it. Thanks! This being handicapped is for the
birds! Hopefully the Dr. will take my cast off on Tuesday.
Thanks...Happy New Year!

Tom Cross

Ben:
       Bob is doing an excellent job on putting Paratroopers' Odyssey
on the 517th Website. At the rate he is going we will become known as The Airborne History Website.
       Received a report from my son Wayne who attended John Lissner's Funeral In Arlington National Cemetery today. He stated that it was well attended, dignified, and did justice to our wonderful airborne comrade. He had a nice talk with Pat Seitz and for some reason or other failed to catch up with Dorothy MacKenzie\, the infamous 517th Para Bear Napper, at the Fort Myer Reception following the Funeral. We will all miss John for he never seemed to change over the years. Just listening to his voice over the telephone a short time ago sent back wonderful memories of service together in the 517th. He always sounded the same-just like he did when first we met at Camp Toccoa. I know Dick Seitz feels the same for he too was a member of John's elite Fraternal Organization infamously known as The Mulligan Guards.
Regards, Tom