We are also grateful for those of this Band who are still with us. We slight no one in mentioning the survival of our leaders. Recent stories about the courage and compassion of Bill Boyle and Don Fraser of the First Battalion have warmed our hearts. A guy leading a battalion, who thought enough of his men to give up his gloves in the cold of the Ardennes, is leadership exemplary of the 517th Parachute Combat Team. We are happy that this last year his long time Army comrades saw fit to honor Dick Seitz, the leader of the Second Battalion. Bob Dalrymple leader of the 596th is alive, well, and active in the Association. We would like to hear more from Ray Cato, who provided the rapid fire artillery support of the 460th, but we are not sure of his health. The Third Battalion usually broke the mold. Our men were selected in a hurry up fashion as compared to the First and Second. Mel Zais, Bob McMahon and Forest Paxton all have hit the final drop zone. We have Tom Cross as an active member. He fought the war with the Second Bn., but brought the Third Battalion home and was ready to take it to Tokyo. (When Tokyo Rose heard the Combat Team was coming, she told the Emperor it was time to throw in the towel.) This type of leadership did not stop with the brass. It went right down through the noncommissioned ranks and to the men who responded to it.
If anything could have killed our spirit, Bergstein would have done it. We survived that and have a high spirited Association still thriving sixty years later.
This Memorial Day our hats are off to our comrades who fell heroically in the
heat of the "great crusade", those who have hit the final drop zone since then
and the remaining diehard survivors. Howard Hensleigh
Tom Reber
Name: Josh Brooks
Unit:
EMail: joshbrooks01@comcast.net
How I
found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: I am the
grandson of Riley Graham Watts, better known as "Breezer" by his buddies, who
served in the 517th, service company. My only account of his war experience has
been through the wonderful scrapbook he left behind. A handful of the men in
the Christmas roster from 1944 are in this scrapbook including, Tony Scaggs, one
of his best buddies. This book also contains a publication by the 517th that
gives the history of their campaign throughout Europe. In the back are the
signatures and notes from many of the men he served with. I am sure that others
have this same publication because it is also signed by his sergeant to the whole
crew. I am trying to find out more about his company and friends during the war.
Our discussions of the war were about the men he served with. I know that he
considered these men his brothers. I am very proud that he served with the many
fine men that make up the 517th. If you have any information about Graham Watts
or any interesting history on the 517th please respond. God Bless, Joshua
Brooks
____________________________________________________________-
John Pastalenic
Dear Ben,
I'm interested in securing some 517 shoulder patches and Cecil
Doty
suggested that I contact you. I'd appreciate any information
or
suggestions that you may have.
Thank you and your son for your unending
task of keeping us all in
touch. It's appreciated more that you can
know.
Thank you,
John Pastalenic "H. Co"