2005 Biannual Reunion
August 15-19,
2005
Savannah, Ga.
There is
no comfort in the final salute to a
comrade, except to know that Walt now
stands at the right hand of God
ready and willing to give to him that which
he always gave to his family
and country, himself. Our thoughts and prayers
are with Walt 's family
during their period of deep sorrow. Dick
Seitz.
To the Rommel
family,
My father, Bud Curtis, HQ, 1st Battalion and I his son send
our deepest sympathies to you and your family. From your email message I can see Walter
was a real fighter and never gave up.
As I grow in knowing more about the men of the 517th I can see
they all have that same fighting spirit. I cannot help but think that these men who were this close in life, will be even closer in the
eternities. I know some day we will
all be together on the outside.
What a great 517th reunion that will
be.
May God Bless your
family,
Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis
Gene Frice
Ben,
I
am so sorry to hear of Walt Rommel's passing. My regrets for Marie. I remember so
many times with my Margaret, Marie and Walt-their waiting at the airport for my
red bird to appear and to be taken to their home for a visit(s). I also remember
Marie insisting I must eat more and with heaping bowls of her blueberries. The
good times. I hope Margaret meets with him up there. We were all such good
friends.
Gene Frice, F Co.
Howard Hensleigh
Dear Ben:
Mail Call has done it again! We 3rd Bn guys have been looking for Joe Largan for several years. I was Joe’s assistant platoon leader (MG platoon) on the jump recorded by the document found in Joe’s foot locker. Let Joe Bisch know that I will write more soon. We want to know more about Joe from him and his mother.
Howard Hensleigh
Boom Boom Alicki
http://www.suite101.com/files/mysites/AskAlice/Clock.htm
Howard Hensleigh
I knew your grandfather, Joe Largan. After several months in G Co. Capt. Joe McGeever requested my transfer to Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. where I served as your grandfather’s assistant machine gun/bazooka platoon leader. We trained together at Camp Mackall, NC and fought through the Italian campaign in that platoon. In Rome McGeever, Tommy Priest, communications officer, your grandfather and I had our pictures taken at a photo gallery. I think you will find those pictures in that WWII foot locker. I have a xerox of the page in my album that I can send you if you let me know your address. Joe McGeever was killed and Dan Brogdan was taken prisoner near Col de Braus in the fall of 1945. Tommy lives in GA. He served a longer period with your grandfather, possibly from the inception of Hq. Co. He and I have been trying to locate Joe for many years. Needless to say, your entry in Mail Call was a welcomed sight.
A day or so after the jump into Southern France, I inherited the S-2 slot for the Bn. but Joe and I were in the same company through the end of the war in Europe and on the trip home. He was a fine officer, respected throughout the Bn.
I am sure you will be able to find out a lot about the 517th from Ben’s website. If you or any of your family would like a personal account of our remembrances of your grandfather, Tommy and I can accommodate that interest.
Ben,
My name is Margaret Bales LaVelle.
My father fought in WWII and was a member of the 517th. His
nick name from what I am told was “Benny”. He retired as Cpt. Thomas O.
Bales, Sr. in the 60’s from the Army in the reserves. He has since passed,
Feb. 2, 2003. He was a teenager during the War, as I am sure a lot of the
solders were. I would love to hear from anyone that may have known my dad during
his time of service to his country.
Love, Margaret Bales