Ben:

I am Dan Mars, Gene Mars’ son. This is in reply to Trenton Yenokida’s message (he’s my nephew) and Darrell Egner’s kind words. My father is very much alive and is still in good health. He reads all the mail that comes to his house and he listens to all the messages on his answering machine but it is true that he will not write or return any calls. I print each one of these Mail Calls and mail them to him every week or so.

Just for the record, the bicycle shop that my dad had was in San Jose, not Ohio. It was called Gene’s Bicycle Barn and was really operated out of a converted barn! It is Trenton’s father, my brother-in-law Gordon that is the physician.

Our dear mother and Gene’s wife, Jane, passed away in June of 2002 on Flag Day two days after her 74^th birthday. They had discovered a rather large tumor on her sacrum that had spread from one of her lungs. By the time she was diagnosed it was too late and she died peacefully after a few weeks in the hospital.

Since then Dad has not attended any 517^th reunions (or any family functions, for that matter). He still continues to do yard work and is a member of a bowling league. As I say, he does not return mail or phone calls and he doesn’t answer the door either, but please don’t take it personally. He loved all of you guys and was proud to be associated with every one of you. When I was growing up he always had stories to tell about his experiences with the 517^th and his trooper buddies.

Best regards,

Dan Mars