I am including is this "Mail Call" an except from mail that I received from Merle McMorrow. Merle and Mardy just concluded an interesting trip to Europe and rather than have him write another email telling us about the trip I have taken the liberty to put part of his mail to me in this "Mail Call".

We have enlisted many new members to Mail Call in the past few years and some may not know about the contribution that Merle has made to the 517 Association.

Merle was president of the association at the time that our long time leader, Bill Lewis, passed away and if it wasn't for the efforts of Merle going to Tennessee, securing records, publishing The Thunderbolt and keeping the 517 Association together, I don't think that we would have an active organization today. There would be no reunions, Thunderbolt, website and Mail Call.

We have always been fortunate to have outstanding men as presidents of the 517 including our present leader, Howard Hensleigh.

We have good news concerning Ed. Winship.

Mail Call Ben517@aol.com

Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives

Hello again.

Here's an update on Ed Winship's condition. Dad is back in his room in the residence. They think his stroke was caused by a fall he had in the middle of the night. The stroke has left his right side paralyzed and his speech slurred. The good news is that they expect him to recover and to regain his speech, but they're not sure about regaining the use of his right side. The other good news is that it happened in the excellent health care facility where he lives and they are taking great care of him. They're already lining up his speech and physical therapy. I got to talk to him on the phone today and and while it was, of course difficult to understand him, he was able to express how moved he was that all the guys in the regiment and all the mail callers know of his condition. I know your prayers mean a lot to him. He's in the 517th and he puts his faith in God-if that's not enough to get him through this, nothing is.

Isn't it great to have this forum, where we can keep track of these amazing guys?

My best to all of you.

Rich Winship

John Alicki

My thoughts will be with the Father in heaven for Ed Winship's complete recovery.
"Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees

Gene Brissey
Ref. Joseph Martel's question as to the number of Company E men remaining after being relieved. Approximately 30 "walked" away from Bergstein. After the unit was settled somewhere, several men returned to the company. I have a picture taken at this time there are 40 men in the picture. I understand that there were a few absent when the picture was taken. For sure there was less than a platoon who left Bergstein. There were nine men in my squad when we went in, only four or five walked away. The battle around Bergstein just about wiped out the 2nd Bn. I don't have an actual count. As we all probably know this was the last combat for the 517th. That's why the loss of Sgt. Roger Bender and others who may have come all the way from the first day in Italy, or other earlier days, hits me so hard.

Gene Brissey

Gene Brissey

Howard Hensleigh's words, in Mail Call 688, about remaining men returning to the rear after the battle around Bergstein were read with interest but great sadness. Comments from Boom Boom, Pat Seitz, Chris Liddell, Ben and others with reference to my notes were greatly appreciated. I have two other buddies and friends type items which have been written in my mind. Hopefully they will be acceptable to Mail Call.

Gene

Ben: I see that Yvon Hervais sent the same message to Merle Mcmorrow. I
shall query Yvon about some more details and report to all . Bob

Dear Yvon : So good to hear from you and your family .But not so good to
hear of your health problems. You will be in our prayers daily. Now to
your proposal of a monument in Southern France ; we are very interested
in your idea, but need more details of what you have in mind . Would
you please tell us details , such as , type of monument, location,
size, material to be used for construction (concrete , stone, steel,
etc.). Much love and affection . Bob Dalrymple

Dear Ben:

We had a great trip but not enough time. The museums could take weeks to go through. We spent two days in London and saw the usual sights, Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard, the war room and the war museum. Spent time on Omaha, Utah and Juno. The Peace Museum at Caen was great. Three newspapers with 6 inch high headlines announcing the invasion on June 6, 1944 were displayed. One was a Los Angeles paper, one was a New York paper and the third one was the Fargo Forum.. The group from all over the United States showed a little more respect after that.

I was the only WW II vet on the trip. We had some as young as 26. We got to St. Mere Eglise and they still have a fellow hanging from the church steeple. Got to Bastogne for a couple of hours and through another museum. Mardy and I had lunch with Irma Tagnion and Marie Gaspar in Bastogne. They were so happy to see us as we were to see them.

We went to the Ludendorff Railroad bridge at Remagen, saw the room in the school where Eisenhower had his headquarters and where the armistice was signed in Reims and then on to Cologne and Berlin. More museums at Check Point Charlie, the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, parts of the Berlin wall and the courtyard where Hitler had those executed that tried to overthrow him in July 1944. All in all it was a great trip. I am afraid the Don Lassen trip in June will result in crowds and lines at every location.