Dear Ben:
Some time ago a question was raised about a 517th coin. In yesterday’s mail I received one with a note on stationary of Phillips Publications, Box 168, Williamstown, N.J. 08094. The a note said that they could be purchased in lots of ten for $6.50 each. The coin is a respectable keepsake about the size of an old one dollar coin, with parachute wings and "517th Parachute Infantry" on one side and Spencer’s Battling Buzzard, including "Attack" in color on the other.
I will stop this news item here and leave it up to others to take the ball and run with it if there is enough interest.
Soft landings, Howard Hensleigh
Lory Curtis
Thanks Ben,Right now I am preparing to take my father to
Is the next reunion in
Howard Hensleigh
Note to Richard (Dick) Havill:
Thanks for your note. I don’t take issue with any of your version of what happened at Manhay. You were right in the impact area. Flave Carpenter must have been your platoon sergeant. Have you ever made contact with him? I was a few yards behind you when the "friendly fire" came in. There was a deadly "whistled" over our heads. At first, I didn’t know whether it was friendly or enemy. I’m not sure I knew until the next day. Do you agree that it was short of Manhay by a hundred yards or more. After the barrage that hit us, it seems to me that we ran quite a distance until we hit the edge of the town.
I got Carpenter’s telephone number many years ago. I was able to talk briefly with his wife. Flave had retired from the Army and was playing golf at the time. He had a job with the local chamber of commerce. I remember that he was at Pearl Harbor in ‘41.
These first hand accounts are important. Keep them coming. All of us retain details. It would be unusual if we expressed them the same way.
Howard Hensleigh
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I have CD recording made by six of us from H and I companies who were there. Aside from agreeing about the tremendous artillery barrage and shells falling short and on top of I company , we each have our own version of what transpired nearly sixty years ago. - Ben
Tribute to GIs
During the year of events remembering the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, the newly formed group COBRA (Committee of Organizations "Remember Americans") organized a 2-day bus trip to Alsace and Lorraine, France. The first day's agenda included a visit to the former Concentration Camp of Struthof, France. The agenda of the second, to visit and pay tribute to 3 American soldiers who were killed in action in the Bastogne area during the Battle of the Bulge and who are buried in the Lorraine American Military Cemetery at Saint-Avold, France.
Thus, on April 28, 2004, 35 people of Bastogne were welcomed by Superintendent Thompson, and visited the cemetery and the 3 following graves:
* These of William and Henry Warcken (56th Armored Engineer Battalion / 11th Armored Division), twin brothers who were killed by the same shell on January 13, 1945 in the vicinity of Compogne. Mr. J.C. Cremer, Bastogne Deputy Mayor, and Mr. R. Marquet, COBRA Secretary laid flowers on both graves. Then, one of the attendants pronounced the words of Taps and a moment of silence followed. Since the twin's sister is still alive, the secretary will contact her to let her know about this simple and moving ceremony.
*Afterwards, the 35 people visited the grave of William Kidney (Co. B / 21st Armored Infantry Battalion / 11th Armored Division) who was killed in action at Chenogne on December 31st, 1944. Bill Kidney was killed in action trying to help his wounded comrade, Charles Hocker. Charles never forgot Bill's gesture and he charged his Belgian friend, Roger Marquet, to say some words on his behalf to Bill beyond the grave. Roger did this, and with his wife accompanying him, laid flowers on Bill's grave. Roger proceeded to tell his assembly the story of William Kidney. During the following minute of silence, several women were seen crying. Roger and his wife Monique were especially moved since Bill was KIA in the meadow right in front of their present house, and that Charles Hocker is a good friend of theirs since they met him at the 11th Armored Division's Reunion at Buffalo, NY last August of 2003. They also know a big part of his family including his wife, Gloria; his daughter Joanne and her husband Paul, his grandson Bob, their daughter-in-law Matilde, and their great grandson Robert.
All the Bastogne people were very impressed by this visit. They were especially appreciative towards the purpose of COBRA: to "Remember Americans".
Roger Marquet
