First I would like to thank Bob and Mildred Christie for putting on such a
great Reunion, they and many helpers worked their buns off. Also the
preview of the Thunderbolt looked great. Bob how do you do it?
Ben I have a great picture of you and Donna Hillard which I will send to
you via snail mail. I would suggest that you give it to your son Bob for
the Web Site so people that haven't had the pleasure of meeting you in person
will get to see the guy that does such a great job of keeping us informed
through Mail Call.
Needless to say I am so proud of the way the HQ 2nd Battalion group
turned out for the Reunion. The following were in attendance, Chris &
Rick Lindner, Emme & Hunter McDonald, Irene & Sam Povich, Jack Collins
& his son-in-law, Mildred & Bob Christie, Betty & Tom Cross, Bud
Wyatt & his son, Fritz Coffman and his wife, and last but not least my son
Darrell. Needless to say we missed Dorothy MacKenzie and June Huffman who
had last minute problems and couldn't come. Sure hope I didn't miss
anyone.
Again Ben, thanks for keeping all of the 517 connected. Without your
Mail Call I am sure the attendance at Kissimmee would have been much
smaller.
HQ. 2nd. Battalion
Hey there, Ben -
What a great time in Kissimmee this year! Not to sound like a broken
record - and it's already been so well-said by Tom Reber - but it is so good to
see everyone each time we go. Mildred and Bob Christie just make it happen
year after year. Mildred told me that attendance was UP this year - that
is fantastic. Last year's new friends were this year's old friends - and
Leo Dean is still jumping out of perfectly good planes. Always an honor to
see Col. and Barbara Boyle, and this year I enjoyed meeting Howard and Jan
Hensleigh. They'll be next year's old friends. We hope to hear from
Howard soon about their return trip. The 596 was well
represented. And it is always wonderful to see you and your dear Miss
Fran. The airborne family has been so welcoming to ours - you really are a
great bunch. It's a privilege to hang out with you.
Looking forward to seeing the pictures taken at the reunion, especially
from the last night.
Ben, with the website and Mail Call, you keep track of so much. We
report in to you, and we get the news from you. Thanks to you and
Bob so much for everything you do.
Claire Giblin
Fritz and Audrey Coffman
Hi Ben,
Audrey and I really enjoyed everyone at
Fla. We met new troopers and families
and Bob and Mildred did
such a great job as usual . Came home to lots of
snow and ice.as you
did.
Fritz and Audrey Coffman Hq 2
Bob Christie
Friends, This is my second attempt to write and send you a message.I
have been working on the Reunion accounting. I did not have the energy
last
week,so I tackled the job today. We had a surplus of funds this year,more than
in the previous three years. This is due to a number of things.We had a liquor
inventory from last year,more judicious spending this year, and contributions.I
called Jim Lyons of Medieval Shows,Inc. to tell him how much everyone enjoyed
the show and the food and drink.I called John Allen at the Ramada and made our
reservations for next year.I decided that the lower hospitality room would be
adequate and reserved it which will make everyone happy,I'm sure.I asked John to
send me a brochue from "The Holyland Experience". Mildred and I have been there
and enjoyed the various renactments and familiar sites.The restaurant had Middle
Eastern decor and a menu to go with it.I am considering it for a day trip on
Tuesday. Bob
Bob Barrett
Dad,
I know you're probably still catching up on your
emails and news, but thought I would give you some updates on what I have added
to the website while you were traveling last week.
Every month or so I do
a quick search of the Internet to see if any info on the 517th has appeared
anywhere else, and I am still surprised that I often find a few things.
Recently, I have added a dozen additions onto the "Soldier's Stories"
page. You can see all the ones marked with the "new" flag. These
include:
- Albert Caraciolo, C Co.
- Romeo Castonguay, I Co.
-
Albert Deshayes, G Co.
- George Dunaway, (what company?) *
- Richard
Eaton, A Co.
- Malcolm Evans, A Co. (His son recently posted on the Guestbook
looking for info)
- David Grange, Hq/2
- Edward Henry, F Co.
- Jim
Mortensen, 460 PFAB
- Clay Nichols, G Co.
- Nolan Powell, C Co.
- and
the "Louis A. Walsh Wassail Prop Blast bowl" at Camp Toccoa.
- Oscar the
Dummy
George Dunaway, who joined the 517th later, in January 1945, is a
former Sergeant Major of the Army. He is still alive and very active in
the Special Forces Association in Las Vegas. But I don't see him listed on the
current 517th roster.
Also, I found this photo on the Luceram, Belgium
website, where they mention "un régiment célèbre, le 517th PIR ... les
libérateurs de Lucéram". It does not identify the soldiers, but they are
paratroopers.
http://www.luceram.com/images/arm%e9e%20americaine.jpg
Also,
there is a recent Guestbook entry from Jesse Ellington, who talks about his
father who died in a plane crash at Camp MacKall in 1943. I know that I
read something recently about that crash -- a newspaper article somewhere, I
think -- but I cannot find it. I will keep looking.
On the Photos
page, I added the photos from Lyold Polk, and the 1950 Ft. Campbell photo.
(Is that from Tom Cross?)
Still catching up slowly on other photos and
materials.
I think that's it for now.
Bob B.
