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

Dorothy MacKenzie

Hi Ben...I'm back home and the electricity is on, so back to reading all my EMails. I was very fortunate here in Fort Myers... had a friend in Naples that took me and daughter Julie in and took care of us 'till we could return home. Now, everything is ok and I'll be able to get all the news from the 517. By the way, Jim and I would have celebrated our 48th anniversary on August 15th..Couldn't send my best wishes to the Hensley's, but belated ones are truly meant! Dorothy

Joe and Marie Louise Spencer

Hi, Ben!
To say Thank You for all the e-mails is to say little, but
know that you are truly appreciated.
We are writing this evening to find out if any one knows
where the Floyd Polks are.
We talked to them the day of the hurricane, on the 13th.
They didn't have electricity and they had trees falling on
their property. We called yesterday, sent e-mails but no answer.
We are anxious to know that they are OK.
Joe and Marie-Louise Spencer

Leroy Johnson

charlie got some roof parts nothing major am checking on two members in edgewater fl.& dave lang in new smyrna beach

Sheryl Shaw ( Daughter of Richard Karr 517. Obit. was in Mail Call #730 )

a poem i wrote for my dad, a WWII paratrooper; he passed away in July 2004;

sheryl shaw

An old man died in his chair today

While a little boy on TV cried, "Don't go, Shane"

His thin hair was silver and his eyes faded gray,

And a paratrooper's blanket kept the chill at bay.

We see snapshots on the table of his family dear

And black and white photos of his childhood here.

Lots of letters and a poem and some stories there

That he wrote about brave soldiers in a forest full of fear.

But what we cannot see is his spirit; he is gone!

He arose alive in triumph when the final bugle called.

And although his tired old body has given up the fight

A handsome young soul roams the Earth tonight.

And while his family mourns the loss of granddad, father, friend,

He stands nearby, smiling, knowing death is not the end.

And when the Angel whispered, "It's time to leave the Earth behind"

He said, "Not yet, kind sir, I've got something on my mind.

Just give me one more night on this planet please

I want to run in the sand beside the salty sea

I want to do a back flip in the grass, cool and green

Then climb an old oak, close my eyes and feel the breeze.

And all the other old soldiers who today are heaven bound

Let them join me in the morning at the airborne training ground

The youngsters will not see us, but we'll be with them in the air

Boots shiny, pants just so, a patch on our shoulders and a chute to go!"

And so the Angel granted and old airborne soldiers dream

Because he too knows the thrill of gliding free on silky wings.

So when our troopers step out into darkness far from home

You can smile and be assured that they do not jump alone.

Cecil Doty

Ben about Sgt. Bernard J. Donohue, I don't remember him. I couldn't find him on the 1944 Christmas Roster in H Co. or any other Co in the 517th. However there a Bernard J. Donohue in our present Roster. His address is 320 E 58th St New York , NY.

The Only other H Co. member that might remember him would be Fred Harmon.

His Address is 812 Monticello Rd. Columbia, SC 29203 I don't believe Fred is on our mail call.

Sorry I couldn't help. Cecil Doty

Pat Seitz

Dear Ben:

Where can I find the dates for the mini-reunion in Florida in January 2005? If we are not in trial, Alan and I would like to attend. Also, Dad said two weeks ago that he is thinking of attending.

Thank you again for being "communications central" for everyone.

Sincerely,

Pat Seitz, Dick Seitz's eldest daughter

Sheryl Shaw

My fathers name is Richard C. Karr; He remembers being in the 517th and was injured at battle of the bulge, got a purple heart, three bronze stars and expert rifleman's badge. He said the hardest badge for him to get was the Good Conduct medal!!

After he was injured he was transferred to another unit. I cant seem to find his name anyplace, but Im getting a copy of his discharge papers etc. so I can know more;

He had a beautiful military funeral without the DD214 because he had written down his VA file number and the American Legion in his area (south Texas) and the local VFW made some calls and got verification that way I guess.

His records were destroyed in that fire, and when he got some duplicate papers years ago he found out there were 4 other Richard C Karrs in the military

Thanks for reading my poem; One of his cousins, Leon or Carl Karr was also in the 517th I believe I heard them talking about it years ago.

Thanks again, Sheryl Shaw

Jeanne Davis

This information was forwared to me by Jeanne Davis. --Ben

Dear Fellow Patriotic Americans,

REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of PanAm Flight 103,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Marine Barracks in Lebanon,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the military Barracks in Saudi Arabia,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the American Embassies in Africa,
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the USS COLE.
REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11/01.
REMEMBER all the AMERICAN lives that were lost in those vicious MUSLIM attacks.

Now the United States Postal Service REMEMBERS and HONORS the EID MUSLIM holiday season with a commemorative first class holiday postage stamp.

I strongly urge you to REMEMBER to adamantly and vocally BOYCOTT this stamp when purchasing your holiday stamps at the post office. To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors. I also strongly urge you to pass this along to every Patriotic AMERICAN you know, whether by email or otherwise.