From: Ben517
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 4:30 AM
Subject: MAIL CALL NO 739--517TH PRCT--AUGUST 19,2004
Hello
 
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
Merle McMorrow
 
Dear Ben:
 
We got home from France last night and was held up for an hour at the Minneapolis airport.  The President was coming in and they closed the airport to all incoming and out going planes until he was out of there.
 
I will give you a report in more detail after I get caught up with my mail and some sleep.
 
Jesse Davis, Lud Gibbons and Marty, Johnson and daughter Claire, Gene Frice and two daughters, Jim Bains, Leo Dean and Mardy and I are the only ones I can think of at the moment..  We had a great time and after all the wine provided I will be joining AA now.
 
                                                    Merle
Florence Mehegan
Hi Ben
If anyone is interested, I am OK and I had to leave my home and go to stay with my son for a few days but thanks be to God I had no bad damage to my hone. Ole Charley sure was a fooler.
Florence Mehegan
A friend of the 517
So.  Daytona Beach Florida
Brian Brhrens
Ben,

I don't know if you remember me but I became affiliated with your 517th
organization last year as a result of my oral history project I was
conducting.  As you may recall I attended the OK City reunion and
interviewed several of the veterans including yourself.  I wanted to let you
know that I am still interested in continuing my project and I plan on
attending the regiment's reunion in Savannah next year to interview more
paratroopers.  I have had a lot changes in my life recently with a new job
with a new company and also the birth of my first child.  Needless to say I
have had other priorities but I still intend to continue my work.  I want to
extend my "job well done" to you and Bob for your work on the website and
mail call.

Regards,

Brian Behrens

Bob Hart
Ben, New roster great, received a call from Claude Rickards, E- Co. He saw my name @ address in roster, same town,3 miles away. We got together at the Shelton, WA . Moose club,  which we both belong to and had a good talk. Turns out ,I have known his son, who is manager of the club, for 6 years and did not know his dad was in 517. He has never attended a reunion, but will come to next Palm Springs. Bob Hart D-Co.
Howard Hensleigh

Dear Ben:

On The Day of Assumption,

the 60th anniversary of the Southern France jump,

the 56th anniversary of our marriage,

the 59th anniversary of the ending of the war with Japan, and

the 109th anniversary of the birth of Jan’s mother,

Jan and I celebrated by packing and disposing of our junk accumulated over a lifetime. This will give us a lightened load for the move to Atlantic Beach. In the downsizing, some went to kids, some was given away, some was sold, some went to the dump. We have found that when we get rid of something we need it the next week. With this precaution in mind, we are taking too much. We have our fingers crossed. Opening the boxes may be like Christmas and bring some surprises. We trust that you and your family, in making your move, will do a better job than we did.

Tom Cross called to help us celebrate the day. Tom commanded a battalion that seemed to be a collecting point for 517th Combat Team members who continued their careers in the Army following The War. It was good to hear about old friends. We are looking forward to joining Tom and Bettye in a couple of days.

Meanwhile, Ben, we trust you can make the move, keep your sanity, and keep Mail Call going, all at the same time. It provides a lot of the cement that holds the Band of Brothers together. Highest regards, Howard Hensleigh


Tom Cross

BEN;
   
    TRIED TO REACH CLARK ARCHER TODAY BUT ELEANOR SAID HE COULD NOT TAKE PHONE CALLS. I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION AND SOMEHOW WE CAN GET THINGS TO PROGRESS WITH ELEANOR'S HELP AND UNDERSTANDING.
    TRIED TO REACH BOB CHRISTIE TODAY BY PHONE BUT LEARNED HE WAS IN SOUTH FLORIDA HELPING THE HURRICANE SURVIVORS. BOB WILL BE GONE FOR A WEEK STARTING THIS FRIDAY. ANYONE WHO HAS NEED TO CONTACT HIM WILL HAVE TO AWAIT HIS RETURN. YOU HAVE TO GIVE BOB FULL CREDIT FOR HIS VOLUNTARY SERVICES.
    HOWARD HENSLEIGH AND WIFE JAN MOVED INTO FLEET LANDING TODAY. THEY ARE NOW CLOSE NEIGHBORS. HOWARD'S NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (904) 270-
8797. IT GREAT TO HAVE HIM HERE.
    REGARDS, TOM


Entry of Aug 13, 2004 at 19:54 [EST]
Name: joepettit
Unit: 92nd ncb, att 4th marine div
EMail:
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: Att: Ben Barrett; Ben, on 6/2 you advised me that you would contact Cecil Doty to see if he knew my late Bro-in-Law, Sgt Bernard Donohoe. Have you any news? Thank you ! Joe Pettit


Entry of Aug 15, 2004 at 23:45 [EST]
Name: Leanne Hostetter Voelkel
Unit:
EMail:
BLBD.Voelkel@juno.com
How I found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: I am looking for military information on my father, Ralph S. Hostetter, who is deceased. His discharge papers are the only source of my information. He was a technician third grade 517th Parachute Combat Team. He arrived in southern France on 11-9-44. The papers listed Northern France, Ardennes and the Rhineland as battles/campaigns he served in. The papers list him as a surgical tech 7861. National Archives in St. Louis has told me that records were destroyed in a fire in 1973. Would anyone know of him and or what he may done while in Europe. Thank you and may God bless all you veterans for you have served us well!
                                                          ***************

Can anyone help Joe and Leanne find the information that they are seeking? - Ben