Hello,
January, sixty years ago, the 517 was on the offensive in The Battle of The Bulge.
Ben
Boom Boom,
Richard Hammel....You brought some pleasant memories of days gone by (Oh youth how I love thee, old age how I abhor thee)
Here are some lines as I recall them. Not complete but I'm sure some of the ole troopers 2nd Bn might recollect...
"I pray your condescension to tell you what I know of marching with the Mulligan Guard of the Seventh Ward below. His name was Captain Hussy, a tipperary man who carried his sword like a Russian Duke whenever he took command...etc
John Alicki
Tom Cross
Richard:
You have the words to the "Mulligan Guards Song" nailed. It has been along time since I have heard/read those words.
John Lissner Co. F introduced that song to the 2nd Battalion 517th at Camp Toccoa in 1943. He then organized a 517th Chapter which held regular weekend meetings at the Hidey Ho (approximate spelling) Restaurant just outside of Camp Mackall on the road that led to the Town Of Toccoa. I believe that the County was dry at the time which made little impression on the owner at the time as long as arrangements were in place with the local Sheriff.
John explained to us newly introduced numbers to this Society that the song originated in McSorley's Saloon in Brooklyn and was revered by all who attended this elite bastion of Irishness. John's approach was not very democratic as he very early on established his standing as the Number One "Himself" and personally selected those he considered to be privileged enough to join the 517th Chapter of the Mulligan Guards. It was a small membership as I recall and although I do not remember all of the members selected I do know that Dick Seitz was high on the Membership List as was Carl Starkey Co. D. Bob Newberry CoE. ,Dave Armstrong Co. D, Bob Clauer 2nd Bn Hq. Co. and a few others were also include. I made the cut as did my wife Bette who. I believe was the only female permitted membership. She still has her Mulligan Guard Membership Card to this date.
The normal pattern for the Hidey Ho Mulligan Guards Meetings always included a ritual marching up and down the long table used for these meetings by
"Himself" who lustily bellowed the Mulligan Guard Song, you so ably recalled, and without pausing or losing his marching cadence managed to poke several holes in the ceiling. This made the evenings a rather costly affair. Needless to say this restaurant was rebuilt many times over by not only the 2nd Battalion but by the 1st and 3rd Battalions as well, Sometimes the final event was a rather poorly executed version of close combat activities that took place in the parking lot with little or no damaged being done to the contestants due to their relaxed condition at the time. The restaurant may have been named the Hidey Hole but my memory conjures up the name of Hidey Ho. However, this could be settled by one of the most active of the participants who no doubt remembers most o f the events that took place there and a few he might like to forget. I refer to none other than our glorious leader, the C.O. of the 2nd Bn. who had, at various times the SCR 300 Radio call sign Of "Dangerous Dick".
Richard, I want to thank you for helping me to revive some wonderful memories of the past. I only wish that John Lissner were present to tell his version of the Mulligan Guards History and the numerous spell binding and harrowing close calls with the US Army Manual For Military Justice that tested this valiant social group.
Regards, Tom Cross (A proud member of the original Co. E 517 PIR)
Bobby Liddell Jr.
Dear Sir:
Thanks for replying. After posting my message, I saw that Chris Liddell (my nephew) had written also. I contacted him, and he told me of some work he has done.
I appreciate your willingness to help. I wish I had asked Dad about his service, but he did not seem to want to talk about it. He was wounded twice, and the wounds caused him some problems, especially at night while sleeping. He also had nightmares in which he would shout German words.
All I remember that he told me was that he carried a BAR, and he was set up once in a fork in the road when German soldiers approached, and he shot them; and, that he was once caught, with his men, behind enemy lines, and when they ran out of water, he took their canteens, crawled through the enemy, filled their canteens, and crawled back.
Thanks, again.
Bobby Liddell, Jr.
Entry of Jan 06, 2004 at 12:08 [EST]
Name: B.Dahl
Unit:
EMail: leybarsinister@aol.com
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: Great site!Well done tribute to the brave soldiers who served in this unit. Keep up the good work.Have passed on info to my friend who served in this unit in the Second World War.Thank you!
Scene depicting the conditions faced by US troops during the attack on Herresbach. Battle of The Bulge.
Hello Ben,
As you can see below this mail, I had contact with "Wild Bill" and asked him the address of General Richard Seitz. I'm writing a book about the Liberation of Belgium by the Allies and in the chapter about the actions of the 517th P.I.R. in Belgium (I got a part of the story - until 05 januari, the day that Bill Boyle was badly wounded) - and would know what happened after.
So Mr.Boyle gave me the postaddress of Mr. Seitz. Do you have his e-mail address in your group roster of the 517th P.I.R.
Would you be so kind to send me this address so that I could keep in touch with the General?
Greetings from Belgium to the Vets of the 517th.airborne, all the way.
Best Regards,
Claudy WINANT.
