From: Ben517
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 6:33 AM
Subject: MAIL CALL NO 736 517TH PRCT--AUGUST 12, 2004
 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 

 
Website                      www.517prct.org
Mail Call                     Ben517@aol.com
Mail Call Archives     www.517prct.org/archives
Roster                        www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
Florida Mini-Reunion 2005
January 23-27, 2005
Kissimmee, FL

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