Kent Immerfall
( Kent is the nephew of Lt. Floyd Stott who was KIA at Manhay. )
Dear Ben,
I'm not certain how this Mail Call works, but, "Yes," I did receive your
e-mail. I have also received a couple of e-mails from Howard Hensleigh who
also knew Floyd Stott. I am so appreciative of you fellows taking the time
to write. I am even more impressed that you all care to use Cyber space to
reach out to us unknowing folks.
I did find an account about Manhay in a search of the 517th site (from the
book Paratroopers' Odyssey). Howard told me that those
numbers and times may not mesh with what he recalls because they were taken well
after the day of the battle.
All I know is that my Uncle Floyd and many of his men were killed by
friendly fire.
God Bless You and Thank You, Mr. Armed Forces Man, for all that you did to
allow me to be free.
Kent Immerfall
Kent Immerfall
Dear Mr. Ben Barrett,
I will send this directly to the Ben517 e-mail address since I figured it
was your personal e-mail address. I did send another just a few minutes
ago that was an answer to one you put out to see if I got it.
As I told Mr. Howard Hensleigh, I would just like to correspond with some
men who really knew my Uncle Floyd to learn a bit about him as a young
man. As a youngster, and growing up with Floyd's name as my own middle
name, I normally wanted to know about him. My grandparents did not speak
about him and when my Mother talked about Floyd she would become very
emotional. They never accepted or will ever get over his loss.
I do recall having a pair of paratrooper pants, or that's at least what I
called them. I was probably 8 or 9. The pants
were Army-brown, were very baggy, and had long front pockets.
A few years ago a buddy and I took up parachuting for a few weeks. I
did it to see what Floyd "felt" as he jumped from a plane. Of course it
was much different equipment than you fellows used and I didn't have anyone
shooting at me.
I do have some items of Floyd's. I used to have medals and other
Armed Forces items but I think Mom threw those out when I was in
college and they were moving from Iowa to Missouri in the 60s.
Luckily, I have some letters and cards that Floyd sent to my Great Aunt so I
know a little of what he experienced. I also have some photos either Floyd
took or had somebody take while he was in Europe. Not all of them have
explanations on the back so I really don't know who the other soldiers are or
where these photos were taken. I can explain each one to someone if they
want me to. Or I could try scanning them and sending them to an e-mail
address. Some of the 517th may recognize themselves or somebody they
knew.
I thought about Floyd and all of you fellows yesterday. It just
wasn't because it was Armed Forces Day. I think a lot about this man I
never knew. I trust that someday we will meet in another life. I
only hope I am worthy to carry his namesake.
Sincerely,
Kent Floyd Immerfall
Bob Hart
Ben, Due to new computer, new address, hartbobkath@cs.com Any way I can get messages for last 5
days? Thank you, Bob Hart
Shanna Cronquist
Ben,
After months of waiting I received duplicate medals from the Army today. Originally, they had omitted his Purple Heart, which turned out to be a blessing. I wrote to the Military Awards Branch in Alexandria, Va., and included Dad's discharge papers, and a newspaper clipping of his Bronze Star Citation. His original records were lost in the fire. Anyway, to make a long story short, his Bronze Star Award was amended to include a "V" Device and an Oak Leaf Cluster. I was very moved. I also received certificates of his awards, which I will proudly display. The French Croix de Guere was also mentioned in the letter I received. I was hoping that someone would have a copy of the Unit Citations, specifically for the 517PRCT and 2/517PIR. It would be very appreciated. Ben, thank you so much for your website. Without it, I wouldn't have these symbols of recognition to remember my father. Shanna Cronquist /daughter of Elam Cronquist D Company
After months of waiting I received duplicate medals from the Army today. Originally, they had omitted his Purple Heart, which turned out to be a blessing. I wrote to the Military Awards Branch in Alexandria, Va., and included Dad's discharge papers, and a newspaper clipping of his Bronze Star Citation. His original records were lost in the fire. Anyway, to make a long story short, his Bronze Star Award was amended to include a "V" Device and an Oak Leaf Cluster. I was very moved. I also received certificates of his awards, which I will proudly display. The French Croix de Guere was also mentioned in the letter I received. I was hoping that someone would have a copy of the Unit Citations, specifically for the 517PRCT and 2/517PIR. It would be very appreciated. Ben, thank you so much for your website. Without it, I wouldn't have these symbols of recognition to remember my father. Shanna Cronquist /daughter of Elam Cronquist D Company
Richard Havill
Ben: My recollections of Manhay is a little different than
H.H.s. I
remember being informed there
was a time on target barrage of three minutes, alet up of one minute,
another barrage of three min-
utes, then we were to proceed into Manhay. We got into position and when
barrage came, shells
were landing right among us. After the first shelling, I heard some of
those near me get up and move around talking to each other. I stayed on the
ground, and after the shelling, the first thing I
heard was our first sergeant Carpenter Cussing us out to get to get up and
take the town. The few
of us left followed him through town throwing grenades into basement
windows, I remembered three germans giving up. They said they were cooks. I
don't remember much after that, the next
day we dug in on the outskirts, where our own plane {aP-38} bombed us with
two 500 lb pound
bombs. This is just a short resume. Lieutenant Stott was slain that night
with many others.
Richard {Dick} Havill Pfc I Company.
remember being informed there
was a time on target barrage of three minutes, alet up of one minute,
another barrage of three min-
utes, then we were to proceed into Manhay. We got into position and when
barrage came, shells
were landing right among us. After the first shelling, I heard some of
those near me get up and move around talking to each other. I stayed on the
ground, and after the shelling, the first thing I
heard was our first sergeant Carpenter Cussing us out to get to get up and
take the town. The few
of us left followed him through town throwing grenades into basement
windows, I remembered three germans giving up. They said they were cooks. I
don't remember much after that, the next
day we dug in on the outskirts, where our own plane {aP-38} bombed us with
two 500 lb pound
bombs. This is just a short resume. Lieutenant Stott was slain that night
with many others.
Richard {Dick} Havill Pfc I Company.
Morris McDowell
Ben, this is for Howard Hensleigh.
Howard, I really enjoy your reflections on your career in the 517th. This stories are living history we should preserve. Thanks very much, Morris McDowell, cousin of pvt. Layton Pippin KIA Jan 5, 1945, Bergeval.
Howard, I really enjoy your reflections on your career in the 517th. This stories are living history we should preserve. Thanks very much, Morris McDowell, cousin of pvt. Layton Pippin KIA Jan 5, 1945, Bergeval.
______________________________________________________________
Howard Hensleigh
Morris: Thank you gentlemen for your interest in what we
were and did a long time ago. It is men like your cousin Layton who died
and gave the most. Please pass along to your family our highest
regards. Howard Hensleigh