Greetings:
Received your msg concerning your grandfather, Alex Tait.
You're grandfather and I served together in Regimental Headquarters, 517th
Prct. (See roster on 517th Website for Regimental HQ.) I was the
Regimental Demolition Officer and Alex as I recall in Communication.
After
the war we communicated with each other around Christmas time. Later as
years went by we lost touch.
We both came from PA. My
belated condolence of his passing on.
You and your family should be very
proud of your grandfather. He was truly an outstanding gentleman and
officer, and attained the distinction of honorably serving his country in WWII
and Korea. I recall he willingly always welcomed his duty and took great
pride in accomplishing all his assignment no matter how difficult.
Men and
women of your grandfather's generation were given a gift of which many today are
unaware. In fact, I think your grandfather would have denied it as a gift.
But from my perspective he and others like him were given the gift of
opportunity to serve their Country, and to receive the thanks of this Great
Nation for the honorable service.
Incidently, I also served in the Far East
during the Korean War and retired as Major.
Like a veterans of WWII &
Korea who are dying at the rate of over 1,000 a month, I at 87 years will be
ready to march to the beat of the drummer whenever the call comes.
As they
say in Polish..."Byc zBogiem"
Boom Boom
Gene Brissey
Hope friend Jesse D. is up and pushing things around. Herb Jeff's note
about Jesse D's. which hand question when told to give me ten, brought back
memory of an incident in which I was involved while in jump school at Benning.
We were jumping from platforms and tumbling. The tough two-striper would get us
on the platforms and order, ready, set, go. Those who went before the go had to
do 30. I slipped up once and the mean mudder said, "give me 30". I asked, which
hand? He said your RIGHT! I did those rather well. He then said "now give me 30
with your RIGHT hand. I looked up at him and he assured me that he had not made
a mistake. I pushed until he counted to thirty. By that time I could barley get
my nose out of the dirt and I didn't anticipate the go again. He spoke with me
later and found that we were both from the Cincinnati area. We became friends.
He was not a mean mudder after all and I became a good tumbler.
Gene
Gene Frice
Ben,
Finally got back to the email-had about 5
of your award winning epics on the computer since we returned from Palm
Springs-always enjoy. Good seeing you at the
gathering.
I noted Lehann Larson's letter about the
German ID document. That is a "Soldiers ID" document which all were required to
carry. Looking at the picture he was either in the Luftwaffe (airforce) due to
the eagle insignia or was a parachutist (as they were, in a way, part of the
Luft), although their individual "parachutist" badge" is a diving eagle (but
they still wear the Luft breast badge as well). The metal badge he is wearing is
most likely their combat infantry badge ? The red ribbon of course is the wound
badge and he is also wearing the Iron Cross. The picture was not clear enough to
read the written material nor could I read the name.
Have a nice day.
Gene
Frice, F Co
