From: Ben517@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 10:59 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 628 517TH PRCT--JANUARY 27, 2004
Hello,
 
We are constantly updateing the website. You should go to the Table of Contents ocassionaly and check  out the Photos, Documents, Recollection , Soldier Stories and Guestbook  sites especially. You will find much of the 517 history there.
 
Ben
 
 
Website                                    www.517prct/org
Mail Call                                   Ben517@aol.com
MailCall Archives                  www.517prct.org/archives
Roster                                      www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
Merle McMorrow
 
Ben, you post some very flattering messages on Mail Call occasionally.  They are appreciated but not necessarily as true as you imply.  Had I not been president someone else would have stepped forward and insured we would continue as an association.  Those are the kind of people we have in the outfit. 

You and Bob downplay what you do but you two are the ones that not only keep this organization alive and well but you have caused it to grow in importance.  You provide a service well beyond the confines of our organization.  I will give you an example.

Some time back I met a school teacher at a meeting.  She informed me the history books carry very little on World War II.  She had some uncles in the war and wanted to instill in her students some appreciation for what the men did back then to make life better for them today.  I gave her the website you guys developed.  Today, she says, she is teaching WW II using real events that happened which are told by real
men that lived and died to accomplish them.  She indicates it is one of the most interesting courses in her school day.

So you see you and Bob are providing something that will be here long after the last member of the 517th makes his final. jump.

Greetings to Fran.  Make certain she takes good care of you.  We need you to be the last to go.

                                                         Merle
_________________________________________________________________________________-
Wayne Cross
 
 
Ben it was a great pleasure to meet you at the reunion.  What you and Bob have done  with the website is remarkable.  I doubt there is anything out there even remotely like it.  It is obvious that this is a labor of love.  I am also equally impressed with your devotion to "Mail Call".  You gentlemen have a terrific bond that has developed over the years.  "Mail Call" has helped keep you in touch and has facilitated the efforts of others outside your group in getting in touch with their family history.  Great Job!
Best Wishes,
Wayne
Phil McSpadden
 
Hi Ben....yes, it was my first reunion only because I did not know y'all existed (notice the southern y'all since I moved to Florida!!), but I enjoyed every minute of it, and getting to know the people there.  I did miss the bus to the Medieval Knights, but put the blame where it belongs...Howard Hensleigh!!!...I got to the Hospitality Room long before the bus arrived, but Howard and I were in a smaller room ,  where we could hear each other ,fighting the war....WE WON!!!....I made there, and kept shouting "Off with his Head" during the various duels, but fortunately all survived.....I had a lot of fun doing my "Sad Sack" skit, and hope everyone enjoyed it as well...after all we have been through, a good laugh is good for the soul...or something!!....Keep up the good work...Phil McSpadden
                                                     *************
Phil's skit was great and all appreciated his doing it for us. Also Phil works cheap.-Ben
Bob Christie
 

Just received the Thunderbolt. The Post Office is about two miles from me and it took 13 days to get it. Hope everyone else will have it within the week.I am starting to download copy for the next one. I hope I receive more letters to the Editor.At any rate there are a lot of stories on the website from Mail Call.Bob
John Alicki
 
Coins are 1&1/2" in diameter
Orders are accepted for a minimum of 1000 coins
Brass Gold Coins would be to us $0.78 per coin
Bronze Coins would be to us $1.00 per coin

Ben...Good to know your save and sound after your trip to Florida.  Sorry about your bout with the flu. Maybe the cold weather will reduce the discomfort.  Wife and I are now recuperating from the bug.
I'll buy at least 50 bronze coins.
Boom boom
Jim Benton
 
Ben,
        Betty and I were looking forward to attending the Florida mini.But two days before w e  were to leave we came down with a bad case of flu or something.We missed seeing our friends and polks oranges.I am 83 to-day and hope to see you all soon.     Jim and Betty Benton
                             Co. D
Chris Lindner
Hi Ben and Bob:

I just had to add to the rest of the groups comments on what a wonderful Mini Reunion.  Bob and Mildred you did a fantastic job again!!!! I saw in the previous “Mail Call” that the numbers were up for this Mini Reunion.  That is great. 

As a daughter (Nate Rubenstein’s) of one of the members of the 517th PRCT I noticed in addition to new trooper faces I also saw many new family members and friends of the troopers.  In fact I have a great picture to prove it (Ben I will send you some of my pictures later if you want them on the web-site).

My husband, Rick and I enjoyed having breakfast with Floyd and Adrianna Polk.  Rick told me he now understands why I enjoy the 517th family so much after he finally has had a chance to meet several of the members and their families in person.  As I have said in the past and I will say again this is definitely a unique group of people and I am sure glad I took the time to do the research on my Dads WWII days and was fortunate enough to meet the 517th PRCT Family.

 

Bob and Mildred, Thank you again for making this Mini Reunion another success.  I could not believe that we never ran out of your cookies.  They were great as always!!!!

Ben, there is never enough times that we cannot all say “THANK YOU” to you and Bob for the fantastic web-site that you have provided us with which has made it so easy for all of us to see what all of the wonderful paratroopers have done for our futures.

I am looking forward to the 2005 reunion that Hal and Helen Beddow have been so nice to organize for us.  Please remember Helen, I will do anything I can to help you with this huge job you and Hal have undertaken.

Chris Lindner

Entry of Jan 15, 2004 at 16:18 [EST]
Name: Tom Evans
Unit:
EMail: thomas.evans@wap.org
How I found the 517th page: Other
Comments: My father was Malcolm Evans of Company A. He served under Major Don Fraser and jumped in southern France. I recently read the Battling Buzzards book, but wish that I had read it earlier. What a tough bunch! If anyone has anything to share about my father, I'd like to hear from you.

Entry of Jan 22, 2004 at 17:14 [EST]
Name: Jesse Ellington
Unit:
EMail: ellingtons@earthlink.net
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: My dad was in CO.A or C. He died at Camp Mackall on Oct 1st 1943. He was buried in Cincinnati, Oh. I have several pictures of him I hope to send. One I think is with Major Boyle, shaking his had in front of a C 47 with another trooper. I used to own the Shoneys Rest in Toccoa and met some of the outfit there. Sincerely, Jesse Ellington

Entry of Jan 23, 2004 at 16:04 [EST]
Name: Joseph and Marie-Louise Spencer
Unit: Headquarters Battery 460th Field Artillery
EMail: joemarlou@mymailstation.com
How I found the 517th page: A friend told me
Comments: Glad to visit this site, my first time here.

Entry of Jan 25, 2004 at 09:33 [EST]
Name: Danny G. Brogdon Jr.
Unit:
EMail: goep54@cs.com
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: I have been searching for information on my father, Dan G Brogdon for years. He didn't talk much about his experiences. If anyone knew him, I would very much enjoy hearing from you. Danny Brogdon,

Entry of Jan 26, 2004 at 16:29 [EST]
Name: Brett Mack
Unit:
EMail: mackb80@cs.com
How I found the 517th page: Link from another web page
Comments: Im an excited to have found this website. Great website! My grandfather served with the 517th PIR. He loves to talk about his days in the airborne. Im eager to learn about what my grandfather did as well as all the other fine men that served this country. He's name is Agnew Beavens from Reading, PA (if that rings a bell with anyone.) Im going to pass along information I can find for him on here. If anyone recognizes his name drop me an email. Thanks. Have a great day!

Entry of Jan 26, 2004 at 18:01 [EST]
Name: Christopher P. Green
Unit:
EMail: Cpgreen32@aol.com
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: Fantastic website! I'm trying to find out some information on my grandfather Sgt. Bill Delaney, C Co.who was killed in action December 24,1944. If anyone who knew him could drop me an e-mail with any information or stories it would be greatly appreciated.