Hello again, Mr. Hensleigh,
The past few days have been laden with great excitement over the
phenomenal revelation that we have been treated with...the knowledge that there
are other men who knew (and remember) our Dad, Grandfather, Uncle, and friend,
Joe Largan... It is especially wonderful for me, one of his children, to
communicate with people who knew my Dad when I myself did not. I will be
happy to relate to you my memories of him, based upon what he actually told me
(would never give details of skirmishes or battles... always said that war was
literally "hell") as well as information on how he spent the rest of his
life.
As far as I know, after he returned from WWll he was still in service: my
Mom told me she traveled around with him to Alaska, Georgia. I know he was a
member of the 82nd Airborne.. and went to Korea...in March 1952, he was point man
(he insisted, my Mom says) on a vehicle he called a "mule" crossing an
unexplored mine field. A land mine was tripped and exploded, taking his left
knee with it...thus began a very long stint in Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco.. (always remember Mom saying it was three years he was there) Many
surgeries followed, much pain and rehabilitation...but, I can honestly tell you,
Mr. Hensleigh, I NEVER heard my father complain about his disability. He always
said there were men a lot worse off than he (typical Dad statement). Anyway, he
limped horribly for the rest of his life, the leg was an incredible source of
pain for him, but he took it all as it came. Dad officially retired from the US
Army in 1957, and drove with my Mom and four oldest sisters to New
York... lived on the second floor of a two family house in Queens, NY. I was born
in 1958, another sister in 1961, and, finally, his only son, John in 1963. As
you can imagine, that 2nd floor apartment was quite crowded with 6 girls and 1
boy, so my parents bought their very first home in Floral Park, NY (my Mom is
still there) in 1964. My Dad worked in Manhattan, Forest Hills, and Garden City
(all in NY) for different insurance companies. With his disability he had to
take a desk job...again, never complained about the pain we all knew he suffered
with every day (in silence). Dad was always the pillar of strength and always
seemed to me to have a lot on his mind. We were never, as children, to touch
his foot locker or explore its contents, and I have always respected my father's
privacy and wishes regarding his belongings. Things weren't always so serious,
though. He loved the New York Mets, and especially loved the Football New York
Giants! (heaven help you if you made a sound while Dad watched his Sunday
football game!).. Much more to follow, sir. I am sure you will receive many
points of view from my sisters and brother as well as my nephew, Joe (guess who
he was named after?) Bisch. I do hope I have not rambled on too much. Suffice
to say, that in life as well as long after his death, my Dad, Joe Largan, is
still touching people's lives.
Hoping you and your family are well, Mr. Hensleigh,
Will stay in touch...Sincerely, Anne Largan Balzac
Donald Spears
DEAR BEN,
I GET MY E-MAILS FROM YOU OK. I GET THE THUNDER BOLT
OK. HOWEVER MY E-MAIL ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE ARE LISTED WRONG IN THE 2004
ROSTER. MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS DGSNAKE@COMCAST.NET. MY ZIP CODE IS
46804.
AIRBORNE REGARDS'
DONALD G. "GEORGE". SPEARS
Tom McAvoy
I just heard from Morris McDowell (I think a cousin of Pippen H-
company
KIA ) He was able to get in touch with Fred Harman, a new
telephone
number 803-754-0239, Don't know why the telephone number
change??? Tom
McAvoy
Virgina Jorgen
Joe: I read your message on Mail Call and you mentioned that
your
father, Joe Largan, was at Letterman Hospital in San
Francisco. I am
interested because
my husband, 1st Lt. Andy
Jorgen, was there at the hospital. He was
there for about a year
and a half, after being wounded on his way to the
Battle of the
Bulge. Was your father there around that time?
Andy
was in E-Company from the beginning of the 517th.
Virginia
Jorgen
Sent: 10/16/2004 12:40:57 AM
Subject: Re: Joe Largan
Dear Mr. Hensleigh,
Thank you, sir, for responding to my e-mail. I was
more than happy to add some details about my father for you. My mother
would probably be happy to receive a letter from you regarding any memories or
information shared with other members...it is funny, but my Mom is a very busy
woman; it seems you must make an appointment with her to grab her for an
occasion or a luncheon!! She is very excited about all of this
attention, and so many of your members who remember my Dad. My mother
became quite emotional when I mentioned that you had made contact with me and
with my nephew, Joe Bisch. They were married for 54 years before
he passed away in Feb. 2001. Thank you for your comments regarding my
Dad having lived such an exemplary life under such dire circumstances...any of
you who survived the Depression as well as went to WWII are to be commended
and admired for your unfailing strengths. We are hard pressed to even
measure up to all of you, sir. I don't know if you knew this, but my father
grew up in an orphanage in New Jersey, and was actually in a seminary when he
met my mother on a visit home. (I guess she changed his mind about the
priesthood!)
As it happens, just this evening I met my brother, John,
coming home on the train...he said he has a ton of photographs that you would
probably enjoy immensely. If you would like to post my letter on your website,
please do so, sir. I will try to answer any inquiries about my Dad that
arise. These communications with you have stirred some very happy
memories for me, and have made me even more proud of my Dad (he never failed
to seize an opportunity to say he was proud of me!) God be with you and
your family, Mr. Hensleigh.
Anne Largan Balzac