I number and date all "Mail Calls". One or the other is sure to be correct--- I hope.

Any time that you do not wish to receive "Mail Call", just let me know. You can always retrive them by going to www.517prct.org/archives .

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Mail Call Archives www.517prct.org/archives

Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf

Jason Smith

Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 3:25 AM
To: webmaster@517prct.org
Subject:

This might sound strange, but when I was a young man there was an "old man" who marched in the veterans day parade every year through our small town. He always looked proud, his back was straight and he looked you straight in the eye. He never bragged, but he always spoke with confidence.

I watched every year as the old man grew older. Every year he marched in the parade, but as i approached the age of 11, I noticed he was struggling to walk the route. He looked determined to stand proud, he always struggled to keep his back straight, he always forced a smile even though he was in pain.

I asked my uncle why the "old man" didn't just ride in a car, or just watch the parade. My uncles answer summed it all up..."That man was and IS a paratrooper, he will never quit." I didn't really understand my uncles words until I was a little older. Unfortunately for me, the "old man" was no longer marching in the veterans day parade, he was lying in the cemetery overlooking the town.

This man might never know it, but he greatly influenced my life. From that day forward I was determined to be a paratrooper. I entered the US Army at age 19, and served as a paratrooper until I was 27. I was an airborne infantry squad leader, in the 4/325 AIR and the 3/325 AIR of the 82d Airborne Division.

I swore I would make him proud, I hope I lived up to, and continue to live up to the pride he took in himself and in his brothers. I keep my back straight and look people in the eye as I remember what that man did for all of us. I am proud to be part of the Airborne Family, and i promise to never let people forget what those "old men" did for us all.

On his headstone it says 517th Parachute Infantry, that is the extent of my knowledge of the man, this is enough to earn my respect, but I would like to know more about the man who I saw march through town all those years ago.

If I send you his name, is there a way you could research his service history? I feel guilty thanking him on memorial day and veterans day not knowing who he really was. Even though I thank countless thousands each day without knowing them.

Jason Smith...AIRBORNE!

Gerald Davis

Hello All, I have been so upset with loosing my beloved wife ,that I just couldn't find the time to respond on this crazy thing. My good friend from the U.S. has been helping me get through these hard times, everyone should be so lucky to have such good friends that just want to help ,for the sake of helping. I will be loosing this email address today,6-7-04 ,but anyone can send email to me at lctitus@earthlink.net that will my new email address. I am so appreciative of all the info from Ben's email' ,my friend has printed them up for me to read, thank you all for understanding. Gerald Lee Davis

Neal McAfee

Hello Mr. Barrett,

Will you please add me to the Mail Call list, the last one I received was #704.

When will the next reunion be? I'd be honored to attend.

Thank you,

Neal McAfee (nephew of Cleo Browning)

Tom McAvoy

Hey Ben As you know just about every historian either does not give us
credit for the invasion of France 8-15-44 or tries to say that it didn't
happen, ??? I have noticed in mail call the people writing in are
trying to do the same thing???? How about stating that there was two
jumps into France both Invasion jumps one June 6 1944 and the other one
was Aug-15 1944, It was a great effort on every ones part and did
happen?? I'll give you odds that nothing will be said about our jump when
Aug.15 rolls around?? in the news media?? Tom McAvoy

P.S. I am sending you
another picture of this very old man, dancing ( Fox Trot) with a 16 year
old gal that did a history project for a local school 26 students and 26
veterans ,How they got there Purple Heart?? With a party after it was
over with themed to 1945 era?? and music of that era?? with our wives also
invited?? Had a great time, No foolin' I arrived at the school (to start
this thing ) in a wheel-chair about 6-weeks ago or so and the my Dr. set
up a P.T. program, By the time it was over I was dancing a jig??? Tom

Don Hossler

H i , just like to see if i can verify my Father's WWII info.

Lloyd S. Hossler was with the 517th , Company B., Capt. E. R. Haire was the commander.

I would appreciate any info on activities or sources to find out about WW II action.

My father was in the service from July 1942 to September 1945.

thanks don , dehoss@paonline.com

***********Don Ho

Anyone know about Don Hossler or Capt. E.R. Haire?- Ben

Amber Coleman

Hi Ben- My name is Amber Coleman, grand daughter of Randolph Coleman F. Co. 2nd Btln. Please add my name to your mail call . My email is : ambercoleman@montana.edu. Look forward to your mail call. Amber Coleman

Dick Havill

Fred Beyer: {Fritz} Just a few lines to inform you I never heard of
Cleo Browning. On that day, I had G.I.s around me I never met or heard of before. One I remember was named Harmon Shelton. I do not remember Spano either. I was in my foxhole, which wasn't too deep and I just happened to look when the P-38 that had been flying around for quite some time made a small dip, and I saw two brown marbles coming out of the sky, I got down as deep as could, and was trying to shake hands with the Devil when they exploded. Dick Havill Co. I

Dick Havill

Kent Imferfall: Lt. Stott seemed like a fair man to me. I never had much conversation with him. I was more of a loner, I always said there were too many Chiefs and not enough Indians in our outfit. It seems to me if the Lt. had anything to say, it was passed along by the Sergeant. I don't recall how many survived that night, but it seems to me there were no more than ten of us with Sergeant Carpenter. I may be wrong about that number, but that is my recollection of that night. Richard Havill [Dick] Co.I