Hello,
I may have missed including some mail and if so , just send it again. Gets
confusing at times trying to keep everything in order.
Ben
Tom Cross
Ben:
An excellent Mail Call No. 734. Glad you mentioned
the information about the donations. Everyone seems to have received their
Thunderbolt except for Archer and Cross who are still awaiting their
copies.
Regards, Tom Cross
William Wyatt
Hello Ben,
Just a quick note to say hello to you and every one 517th
Parachute Regimental Combat Team.
I was looking through the 517th
prct.org/roster and noticed that the information for my self and my father were
blank.
Can you please for this e-mail to the appropriate individual to
update the 517th prct.org/roster with the information listed
below.
Thanks Ben.
Wyatt, Willard (Change of address) to: 27244
Palomino Dr. Warren MI. 48093 (P) (586) 758-2729
Wyatt, William B. (Son)
(Address) : 27244Palomino dr. Warren MI. 48093 (P) (586)
758-2729
William. Bruce Wyatt
wwyatt7@netzero.net
Howard Hensleigh sent me the following information about the Armed
Forces Retirement Home.-Ben
Armed Forces Retirement Home
3700 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC 2001-8400
June 24, 2004
Dear Reunion Coordinator:
The mission of the Armed Forces Retirement Home is to fulfill our Nation's
commitment to provide care through a comprehensive range of services for
America's Armed Forces Veterans. We support out residents' independence,
dignity, distinction, heritage, and future of continued life-enriching
experiences. Together, the AFRH family of residents and staff create a
place of caring and continual learning. We are committed to providing the
best housing and support services possible and creating a true community of
accomplished, independent residents, who are free to explore their interests,
and follow their dreams.
- Residency fees for AFRH are 35 percent of income and the fees are capped
at each campus. Since the fee is a percentage of income, it is affordable to
all, and the one low fee covers not only living quarters, but also three full
meals per day, including special dietary needs, wonderful recreation
facilities and program, from bowling and ceramics to a 9-hole golf course on
the Washington campus & covered swimming pool on the Gulfport campus, bus
trips to local and regional attractions such as museums, theaters, sporting
events, shopping and sightseeing.
- Dormitories are available for independent living which provides each
resident with a private room with a private bath and shower in Washington and
private room in Gulfport
- There are state-of-the-art health care at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center and the VA Medical Center located in Washington, DC and Kessler AFB
located in Gulfport, MS area.
Residency at the AFRH is open to veterans from the armed services who
active-duty service was at least 50 percent enlisted, warrant officer of
limited-duty officer and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Retirees with 20 or more years of active-duty service who are at least 60
years old
- Veterans who are unable to earn a livelihood due to a service-connected
disability
- Veterans who are unable to earn a livelihood due to a
non-service-connected disability, and who served in a war theater or received
hostile fire pay
- Women who served prior to 1948 in certain components that supported the
military services
As great a benefit as this is, we are finding that many people don't know
about our community. We ask your help in communicating information about
this benefit during your next reunion event.
We will be sending a complete brochure that outlines the benefits and
feature of living in our community. Please call us toll free at (800)
422-9988 or email me at
sheila.abarr@afrh.gov if you have
any questions or need additional copies of the brochure or trifold. We
have a caring, friendly staff just waiting to provide additional information and
assist those who are interested.
Sincerely,
Sheila R. Abarr
Public Affairs
Specialist/Marketing
Karen Henzl Reece
Dear Ben,
In recognition of the 60th Anniversary of Operation
Dragoon, Airborne Heritage Day, and the 64th anniversary of the Army Airborne, I
would like to thank my father and all the members of the 517th PRCT for
answering the call to duty. Your service and sacrifices helped to redirect what
many viewed as the inevitable course of Western civilization. Your physical
strength and stamina, your combat skills, and your undaunted belief in
yourselves contributed greatly to the defeat of a most formidable enemy and the
restoration of peace and freedom in the world. Thank you for all that you have
endured, for the sake of our freedom. You are my
heroes.
Sincerely,
Karen Henzl Reece, daughter of Ed Henzl, HQ Co.,
1st Bat.
John Bramswig
Ben, I hope all is well with you and the other troopers. I just
read one of your emails and found the story - shockingly sad to say the least.
Could you reprint (its Worth a reprint) my pasting of it below and clarify
if this incident was the 517 and what company? Can anyone elaborate on it?
Thank you, John Bramswig son in law of Ed Marconi (deceased & from
Brooklyn NY) Company
************
This incident ( Mail Call No. 735 ) is also on our website
under A short history of 460. The following is extracted
from that history-Ben
The 14-day trip across the Atlantic Ocean and through the Mediterranean Sea
to the port of Naples. Italy. was relatively uneventful, except for one grievous
incident. Staff Sergeant Leo Degrenier. a cadre member and T-4 Franceco Soto had
on-ship assignments that allowed close contact with the ship's crew. This
association led to the drinking of "Torpedo Juice". resulting in their deaths.
The battalion had suffered two previous deaths. One when a recruit died while
running Mount Currahee at Toccoa. GA; another at Camp Mackall. when Thomas
Loggins of Pensacola, FL was killed when a supposedly unarmed bazooka rocket
exploded in a Headquarters Battery barracks. Several others were seriously
injured. including loss of limbs.
Claire Giblin
Hi Ben -
We are green light GO for tomorrow - we leave for Nice around 1pm for a 5pm
flight. Just came home to a message from Leo Dean (HQ) that he'll be at
our house tomorrow morning. So will Dad (Allan Johnson 596), and we'll all
head out.
Those of us who can go this year are going with all of the 517 family in
our hearts.
We will provide updates as computer availability permits, but we're not
bringing a laptop. It might have to wait until our return.
Claire Johnson Giblin