Thank you for your recent e-mail, and especially for the Xerox
that has been sent my way. This Sunday, I went to my Grandmother's home,
and began to examine the voluminous set of documents my Grandfather saved
pertaining to his military service. I am happy to report that I found many
interesting documents that can be added to your association's website. I
believe that many of the documents will help in the important task
of preserving the memory of the 517th, as well as bring greater
understanding of the pivotal role your Combat Team played in the defeat of
fascism in World War II. My initial examination of the
available documents has yielded the following:
- A booklet entitled "Prop Blast", dated
Saturday, December 4th, 1943 from Camp MacKall, NC. This small blue
booklet offers a brief history of the 517th; a description of the "Walsh
Wassail"; a program concerning the evenings festivities, as well as a
roster of the officers from the all sections of the 517th. This
booklet bears numerous notations, especially concerning men in the 3d
Battalion;
- A handwritten letter (two pages, both sides)
from Ltc. Melvin Zais to my Grandfather. The letter is post-marked
"Pinehurst, NC", and bears the date February, 1946. There are a couple of
other letters from Ltc. Zais to my Grandfather, but I have not yet read each
one. There also is a letter from Col. Graves which I still need to
read.
- A booklet pertaining to a memorial service
held on July 9th, 1944 in Italy. This booklet lists the names of the
fourteen men who lost their lives in Italy from the 517th, as well as three
members of the 596th Engineers who also perished;
- A booklet pertaining to a memorial service
held on December 3d, 1944 in France. The booklet lists the names of the
eighty men who lost their lives in France from the 517th, as well as the names
of the eight members of the 460th Field Artillery who also perished, and the
names of eleven more men who died in France while serving with the 596th
Engineers;
- A booklet from Christmas, 1944 in
France. This bears Christmas Greetings from Col. Graves, as well as the
names of all men serving with the 517th Parachute Infantry Combat
Team;
- A copy of my Grandfather's Order to Report for
Pre-Induction Army Physical Examination, dated December 19th,
1941;
- A copy of a letter from Gen. Jacob Devers to
my Grandfather, thanking him for his service, dated January 27th,
1946;
- A copy of a Recommendation for a Bronze
Star, for heroic achievement in action. There is a typed "Description of the
Act", signed by 1Lt. Thomas J. Priest, concerning my Grandfather's actions on
September 18th, 1944, near Col de Braus, France. The "Description of the
Act" is certified by Sgt. Alvin Granger; T/Sgt. Podolak; and Sgt. Robert
Mullinax;
- A faded copy of the Orders pertaining to the
award of the Combat Infantryman's Badge to men of HQ Co., 3d Battalion, dated
October 27th,1943;
- A copy of the Orders, dated June 18th, 1943,
assigning my Grandfather and others to various companies within the 517th.
The document is signed by Robert B. Pearce, 1st Lt., 517th, Adjutant, and is at
the Order of Colonel Walsh;
- A "True and Exact Copy" of General Order No.
10, concerning Battle Honors for the 1st Battalion, 517th, setting forth the
actions against the enemy in December of 1944. This document bears
the name of Dwight D. Eisenhower, as Chief of Staff, and is signed in ink by
Robert A. Van Houten, Major, Infantry;
- A "True and Exact Copy" of General Order No.
24, setting forth the units entitled to wear the French Croix de Guerre as well
as the Belgian Croix de Guerre. The document also bears the name of Dwight
D. Eisenhower, as Chief of Staff, and is signed in ink by Robert A. Van Houten,
Major, Infantry.
There are literally hundreds, possibly
thousands of documents to go through, some noteworthy, like those mentioned
above, some less so, such as a liquor chit, apparently issued in France.
All of the documents are fascinating though. My Grandfather also served in
Alaska and Korea. Many documents pertain to that subsequent service, as
well as his medical treatment and convalescence at Letterman Army Hospital in
San Francisco.
I will continue to examine the collected documents, and will
attempt to glean from those records anything pertaining to the 517th. I
will then endeavor to scan them onto a computer as quickly as
possible. Once the work concerning the documents is achieved, I
will certainly then begin work on a biography concerning my Grandfather
that will be suitable for posting on the 517th website.