Sent: 11/4/2004 9:31:17 AMSubject: (no subject)Dear Mr. Hensleigh: I can't believe that a year has gone by since you sent me details of the death of my boyhood friend, Willis Woodcock. I thought you might like to know that I have been invited to speak at the Niagara Falls High School on 9 November. Rest assured the name of Willis Woodcock and the other friends that I lost in WW II will be honored. You might also be interested in the fact that I have continued to maintain the grave of Willis and a couple of other boyhood friends. As a survivor of three wars I hope to inspire these young people to thank their forbearers for the rights they have in a free country. My best regards to you and your family.Denny ComptonLTC, USA (Ret.)
Dear Lt. Col. Compton:
You have the thanks of the entire 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team for the care and devotion you have displayed in transforming the grave of one of our fallen heroes, Willis Woodcock, from the overgrown patch you found a few years ago to one of respect. Willis, your boyhood friend, will always be remembered by the Combat Team partly because of the men who fell with him, Joe McGeever and Reed Terrell. We also remember the attack a few days later where we captured the entire German company that inflicted those wounds. The most vivid memories are the ones who were out there with Reed’s platoon of I Company.
We respect your service in three wars. We commend your continued inspiration of young Americans. The young people of Niagara Falls High School will have the opportunity to hear from a veteran who has been there. We are delighted that they will hear the name of Willis Woodcock who is not forgotten by you or us. That is what Memorial Day is all about.
Thank you for keeping us informed. Howard Hensleigh
Don and Jan Saunders
Jan and I plan on both Kissimmee and Savannah for the reunions. We
leave Elmira, NY. on the 12th, flying instead of driving to our home in Florida.
We lucked on hurricane Jeanne with little damage to our home.
Don and Jan
Saunders, 596th Eng.
Dad,
I found this
question posted on a WWII web page, looking for a certain picture containing his
father who was with the 517th. I don't know what picture he is referring
to ("The Perfect Jump")