Ben
This is in reply to Trenton Yenokida, Grandson of Chop
Chop. Your Grand Father was (is) a wonderful man and probably one of the
best know troopers in the active rooster of the 517. He and I arrived in
Toccoa about the same time and served together until the end of the war. I
went to Berlin and I didn't see him again until our Reunion in Albany, NY in
1986 when I found the 517.
As I remember he had a Bicycle repair shop some place
in Ohio. I never knew he moved to California until we met up in NY.
After the war my first job out of college was with FMC Corp. in San Jose where
he lived at that time. Of course I didn't know he was there when I
was.
After 1986 both of us attended all of the Reunions but
I missed one. I am pretty sure he didn't miss any until Jane passed
away. Several of us tried to call him after Jane passed on but he was not
taking any phone call nor did he answer any mail. June Huffman talked to
his daughter (may be your Mother) who I believe was a Doctor. She conveyed
the messages to him but still no word from Chop Chop. He said many times
through the years that 517 troopers were his family and brothers in
America. He was loved by all of us.
In January 1998 I received a letter from Carl Kiefer
stating that Gene and Jane would celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on
March 28, 1998. He was making up a scrap book to present to the two of
them at their party and requested we write memories and something about
them. In my warped way I roasted them in my reply. I even told him I
wasn't sure I even liked him which was a big procrastination as I loved both of
them.
I should like him as he patched me up when I got a
Purple Heart but the bad part is he didn't get me out of the hell that we called
the Battle of the Bulge.
Trenton you can be very proud of your Grandfather, he
was a good man and always had a smile for everyone. I am a bit confused
about your mail as you used the past tense "was." I hesitate to ask but
has he joined Jane in heaven? If you would like a copy of Carl's letter
and my reply I would be happy to snail mail it to you if you will give me your
address.
Darrell Egner
Hq, 2nd Bn.
**********
Dan ( Eugene's son ) can you help us? Everyone would
like to hear about our friend "Chop Chop". - Ben
Roger Ervine
Hi my name is Roger
Ervine, I got a chance to
talk with my grandfather over the holidays and I told him that I was receiving
mail call. He is Wayne Ervine if any of you guys served with him.
Boom Boom Alicki told me to ask him about the mule stories so I did. He
told me that they were tasked with taking them up a very large mountain pass
that was about like a goat trail to help bring in ammo food etc. The one
run that stood out for him was they had a mule loaded with a .50cal machine gun
and at some point the mule lost its footing and rolled end over end down the
mountain for about 150 yards or so. The mule managed to break its back and
several other bones, so having been raised on a farm and knowing the only choice
he borrowed a pistol and shot the mule dead. He told me that he caught a
regular chewing from the officer in charge when they returned about having done
this. If anyone knows this story etc please fill in the details as his
hearing is not quite what it used to be so I hope he understood my
questions.
Sincerely,
Roger Ervine
Juliana
Stonis
Hi Ben,
My email server was
down for quite a while. Can you add me to the email
list again?
Thank
you,
Juliana Stonis
daughter of John Stonis
juliana@island-fever.com
Entry of Jan 06, 2005 at
23:41 [EST]
Name: Andrew M. Carrillo
Unit:
EMail:
drewcarrillo@hotmail.com
How I found the 517th page: Heard from a member of the 517th
Comments: My Great Grandfather was in the 517 PRCT/H
comp.
Entry of Jan 07, 2005 at
23:57 [EST]
Name: janice desso
Unit: company H
EMail: janbridge1@aol.com
How I found the 517th page: Link from another web page
Comments: Thank you for the Thunderbolt fall issue, which i have read
while visiting my mother Cass Desso -- great articles, and allows for thoughts
and memories of my Dad, Paul Desso Thanks
