Hello,

I try to answer all guestbook entries but do not add names to email roster unless requested to do so. Also after three failed attempts to deliver mail for whatever reason, I remove name from email roster. I will add or delete name when asked.

Ben

Website                        www.517prct.org
Mail Call                       Ben517@aol.com
Mail Call Archives     www.517prct.org/archives
Roster                          www.517prct.org/roster.pdf

Howard Hensleigh

Dear Ben:

Jack Castiglione is fighting for his life after his esophagus operation. It was a tricky operation where the doctors were not sure what they would find until they had a look. They are fighting infection with antibiotics. Jack’s two daughters and their son live within a few minutes of each other and the Wilmington VA hospital. They are a supportive family. Betty, Jack’s wife of over fifty years, reports that the VA doctors are doing a fine job in Jack’s care and also in keeping her fully informed on Jack’s condition and prognosis.

Your prayers through this Christmas season for Jack and his family will be appreciated.

Howard Hensleigh

Joe Calder

Back in early 1943, Moon and I were the sole officers of one of the
receiving companies down in the Frying Pan. I ranked Moon by about a
week, so I was the CO even though Moon had been in the Army longer than
I. It worked out good. Moon liked to party at night. I would take the
Company from wake up until noon. Then go up to the Officers Club and
spend the afternoon at the pool. One of our mission was to get as many of
them to quit before going on to A Stage. I would work their ass off
until noon. Then Moon would take over till they went to bed. We had
about 400 on the Company roster. Half of them were over the hill. We
would run them around Lawson Field, give them 100 or 200 push up for no
reason at all. Then ask them ,if they wanted to quit. If they quit they
went to the battalion mess until they were reassigned, or went over the
hill. Very few who lived through the Receiving Battalion ever quit when
they went on to school. I do not think that the Army would let men be
treated that way now. But these were the men who made up the 82nd
and101st Divisions and all to the rest to the Separate Airborne units.
They were the cream of the crop and proved them self when push came to
shove Years have stolen my beauty and most of my recall. But it seems
that Moon and I went to Atlanta one week end and ended up married as I
recall, neither one of was overly thrilled. But that is another story

**************

I was in the Frying Pan area about that time and Moon was Lt. Moon Mullins who about a year later was my Company Commander at the Parachute School in Room, Italy where American volunteers and the FFI were in training to become qualified paratroopers.-Ben

Bob Barrett

I ran across another story about a 517th vet in the Univ. of Texas Latino archives, about PFC Fred Davalos.

I added it to the web site, under both Soldier Stories and photos.

Bob

PFC Fred Davalos

1944

Howard Hensleigh

Dear Ben:

Several months ago some of our members received word from the Yvon Hervais family (principally Catherine, Yvon’s daughter) that the French Government was considering the erection of a monument in Southern France honoring those who participated in the airborne invasion and its liberation . What they expected from us were donations of at least $2,500 and 250 names of men who participated. Even before we had details on the location and other specifics, we decided to see if we could raise this amount to give the project the go ahead.

Bob Christie reports that we are nearing the $2,500 mark. Many of our members have made contributions to cover named individuals who gave their lives in the liberation of Southern France. Some have made multiple donations to cover the men listed in the 1944 Southern France Memorial program. All of the KIA 596^th Engineers are named, for example.

Although I wrote Yvon and Catherine earlier, my computer lost their email address in the move to Florida.

Can you or the recipients of Mail Call help me get in touch with Catherine or Yvon with this message? If this reaches them, I will appreciate information on the location of the Monument and any other details so we can inform our members and prepare to send the money to the right place.

Thanks for your assistance. We trust you are enjoying a holiday vacation.

Howard Hensleigh