Hello,
Gene Brissey mentions "Recollections" in his mail below. I would like to
have everyone send us at least one episode that they would like to preserve on
our website.
Ben
Howard Hensleigh
Dear Ben:
This is an official message of the Association to Ben Barrett and Bob
Christie for publication in Mail Call and the Thunderbolt. It regards the offer
of the Hervais family to start the ball rolling on the erection of a monument in
Southern France. It is my understanding that it will honor the part the
517th played in the airborne invasion and liberation of Southern
France. Yvon Hervais was the French Army liaison with the 3rd Bn.
Yvon is in declining health and has lost some of the eyesight; so his daughter,
Catherine, is assisting him in this project. They are handling the details in
France.
What they need from us is a list of names of our troopers who will contribute
$10.00 toward the erection of the monument. The June 6th invasion of
Normandy overshadows the August 15th invasion in which our blood was
shed. The idea of this monument has had such appeal that a number of troopers
have already requested information on where to send the money. Donations should
be sent to Bob Christie, our treasurer. He will keep a separate account for the
monument. Tom Reber who keeps our roster up to date will keep a list of names we
can send to Catherine as soon as it reaches 250. You can keep in touch with Bob
and Tom by email or snail mail. Bob’s address is: 390 301 Blvd W. #10C,
Bradenton, Florida 34205.
About 100 of our troopers fell in Southern France after the Memorial service
we held there the outfit printed a list of them. If names are to be associated
with the monument, I believe these names should be included. If you wish to
assist in having those names associated with the project, you may include an
additional donation on behalf of your comrades who gave their lives in the
liberation of Southern France.
Howard E. Hensleigh President
Blane Dolges
I would like to thank you and all of the 517th for
your courage and
inspiration to all Americans. There
is a story about my search for my cousin
Jimmy. When I
was a child I saw his wedding picture in our farm home
in
Pa., that would be in our grandmothers attic. When
I asked about him no one
in the family would talk
about it, I think it was a stage of denial that
never
ended. I looked for years with no luck and then on
last fathers day
I tried again typing his name again
on a Cleveland website and I was so happy
to find his
mother and Jimmy on it. It said he was with the 517,
KIA and
he is buried in Arlington. I then found your
site that is about the best I
have seen. I don't know
what happened to Jimmy and that not really
that
important. The fact that he served like all you guys
in one of the
most elite units in military history is
important. That inspires all of us.
In fact it gives
us courage that gets passed down and in my case
its
nothing like you guys had to go through, but after
9-11 I have been
protecting some of the most important
treasures in the nation. A lot of times
its very
tactical and our units have got some of those who
struck on
that sad day. I can't tell how it feels to
look over you right shoulder at
night and see the
Liberty Bell and in front of you is Independence
Hall.
You know I thought what all took place there about
Jimmy and the
Airborne Unit's. I don't think Jimmy
every got a medal. I got one for him by
his
inspiration. I was requested to go to Washington D.C.
on Sept 4, to
receive the highest award from the
Secretary of The Interior the medal of
Valor. At the
end of the list was one guy his name Richard
J. Guadagno. He
also received the medal posthumously.
He was one of the fighters on flight #
93. May you
have a great 4th of July and we will never forget
what
you men have done , Blane
**************
Blane is the cousin of Staff Sergeant Jimmy A, Dipko E Co. who was KIA June
24, 1944. Can anyone in the 2nd Bn. give Blane any information about Jimmy Dipko,
one of the early casualties of the 517.-Ben
Gene Brissey
I can relate to Howard's observations
(mail Call 719) concerning Boom Boom Alicki's story about the first bullet proof
GW and my account of the crossing of the Var. Yes, Howard a Higher Power must
have been involved. From the first day of combat in Italy through the last days
of combat around Bergstein, I have credited a Higher Power for helping me
through. The fact that I was blasted during the last few minutes of combat for
the 517th, within a few yards of the aid station, may have been saying don't you
forget the extra help provided. Speaking of Howard, I have noted his 25 or more
observations stored away in our Recollections section. I have printed the 80
pages as of June 30th. There is so much good information in there when any of us
want to recollect. Not just Howard's, of course. I see one in there from me,
dated Mar. 19, 2002, where I write, in part, "I have enjoyed reading recent
mails as well as others. Howard provides great items. Wish I had known that
man." Well, I had the pleasure of meeting that man at our last reunion. Since
then I have come to know him to some extent through Mail Call. His contributions
have been very informative. So glad that we have this medium to help us continue
to learn about the 517th, the men who served and their extended families. There
is a family member whose E-mail address I would like to obtain. She is, Pat
Seitz, daughter of Dick Seitz, of course. She also commented on my contributions
and there are few things that I would like to say to her and her
husband.
Gene Brissey
Entry of Jul 03, 2004 at 07:54 [EST]
Name: BRUCE BROUDY
Unit: EMail: bbrou@lexclin.com How I found the
517th page: From a search engine
Comments: Is anyone going to be
in Le Muy on Aug. 15th for the celebration of the liberation? My dad was in 1st
battalion, company A; Joseph (Joe) Broudy.