Wonderful account by Mr. Brissey. What a great gift to give his family with an account like this!

I am printing it for JB Walton (F Co.).

Thanks!

Tom

Gene Brissey

Hi Ben,
I am shocked, surprised and a lot more to find hat Bob has placed my story on the 517th Web Site. I hope troopers read all or parts of it.
Gene

Bob Barrett

After a little more research, it turns out that Joe David Brown of the 517th (Actually a 2nd Lt with the 460 PFAB, according to the Christmas roster) wrote 3 books, all made into movies.

One of them is called "Kings Go Forth". The movie version, made in 1958, stars Frank Sinatra as an American GI Lieutenant stationed in southern France in the late summer of 1944. Sound familiar?

Phil McSpadden

Joe David Brown was a member of Hq Btry, 460th, first in the fire direction center, later given a direct commisson as forward observer. Not only did he write the story that was filmed as Paper Moon, he also wrote "All the Kings Men" which was set in Southern France, starring Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtiss and Natalie Wood.....he also wrote 'Stars in My Crown" about a country preacher, starring Joel McCrea and I forget the leading actress. As a side-light, I was a good friend of Joe's along with Herbert Jeff, both of B'ham, and in 1957-8 I was Personnel Officer of the 501st/101st Abn, when we were doing an assembly line processing of everyone to make us ready to go any place/any time, and I was interviewing each individual after he had finished processing....along came a tall red-head named Joe D Brown, Jr!!!! I had thought Joe (Sr) had lost a hand in combat, but it turns out he injured his hand, evacuated to England, and married his nurse....small world....Phil McSpadden

Lt. Walter Irwin, the S-2 of 2nd 517, Huertgen Forest, 1944.

______________________________________________________

Howard Hensleigh

Dear Ben,

Bob mentioned in Mail Call 620 that he had found a 517^th link to Jo David Brown. There seems to be an author in several airborne outfits. Joe David Brown is ours. Easy company of the 506^th had one, a Harvard man, who wrote about sharks. He was missing while studying them in the Pacific. His last piece of research may have been from the inside.

Although I did know Herb Jeff, Woody Woodhull, Roberts, Tommy Thompson and more of the 460^th forward observer types, I was not acquainted with Joe David until I took an overseas trip. While waiting for the plane, I bought a paper back. It looked like it had something to do with the paratroops. After the first few pages, I couldn’t put the book down. It was a compelling tale. I knew this guy had to be with the 517^th. He knew too many details noone else would know. Tommy Thompson confirmed that when I returned to the Pentagon. My paperback was lost. I remembered the book by the name of the movie, "Combat Patrol"so there was a disconnect.

Herb Jeff, Woody’s radioman who patrolled with us, and I got together at OK City. Herb generously sent me a copy of the book, "Kings Go Forth".

Herb and Joe David both grew up in Birmingham’s east side. They did not know each other until they met in the 460^th. Here are a few of Herb’s comments in a recent letter. "Joe was a good man. When a group was shipped from Toccoa to Mackall, he was there to welcome the new group to the 460^th. Joe became very successful. Several of his books were selected by the Book of the Month Club, and at least two became films. He died about ten years ago."

If you and Bob give Joe some recognition on our website, he deserves it. He left a mark. Like many of our troopers he was a colorful individual. Stories about him abound. From the Combat Team’s viewpoint, we can claim a recognized author. This guy from East Birmingham stands up well against the Harvard author of Band of Brothers fame.

See you down south, Howard Hensleigh

Howard Hensleigh

Ben,

I have a second request from Joe Pastran for information about his uncle Fred Olivas. Fred was in A Co. Joe would like to hear from men in the First Battalion who knew his uncle. He is also interested in receiving Thunderbolt. For Bob Christie and Tom Reber’s benefit, Joe’s address is: Joe Pastran, 1187 NE Ross Road, Bend, OR 97701

Note to Joe. I will send this snail mail too, in case Joe is not on the internet.

Joe: Thanks for your note. If we do not already have you on the mailing list for the Thunderbolt, we will add you. We like but do not make mandatory a donation of fifteen or twenty dollars a year to cover Thunderbolt expenses.

Ben and Bob Barrett run our Mail Call (ben517@aol.com) and website (www.517prcht.org). They have things organized so you can look up information about 517th members and units. If you or anyone in your family have access to a computer internet link up, you can find out a lot while on these sites. They have just added a search engine to help people like you. I’m no expert, but this will allow you to type in your uncle’s name and find out where he is mentioned in all the available information.

Keep at it until you find out all you can.

Sincerely, Howard Hensleigh

Howard Hensleigh

This is a PS to the Joe David Brown letter.

Two of Joe’s books listed in Kings Go Forth are Stars In My Crown and The Freeholder. One of our members said that Stars In My Crown is Joe’s best.

My best, HH