From: Ben517
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 7:42 AM
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 838 517TH PRCT--JANUARY 29, 2005
Hello,
 
I made a mistake in last Mail Call about the search site  It should have been such: The other important link which is on the Contents page of the website is Search this site. Just print a name or place and you can find any information that we ever had about that person or place on Mail Call or the website.
 
My new address is 70 Pleasant St, Cohasset, Ma, 02025. Phone # 781 383 0215
 
I have received information from Bill Christian about the West Coast Reunion. We will soon have it on the website. The dates are April 10th thru April 15th. Start planning on attending. I hope to be there.
 


Reunions
Save the Dates!

Annual West Coast Party 2005
April 10-16, 2005
Palm Spring, CA
2005 Biannual Reunion
August 15-19, 2005
Savannah, GA

Website                         www.517prct.org
 Mail Call                        Ben517@aol.com
              Mail Call Archives       www.517prct.org/archives
                Roster                           www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
 
Claire Giblin
 
Ben -
 
We had SUCH  a great time at the Kissimmee reunion!  As always, Bob and Mildred Christie did a fantastic job.  Special thanks to Miss Mildred, who cooked and chopped and prepared for us only days after getting out of the hospital herself.  She is such a sweetie and we are glad she's doing so well.
 
People really came in in dribs and drabs due to the awful weather in the Northeast, but it seemed like just about everyone who was scheduled to come made it eventually.  We especially missed Phil McSpadden, who we so enjoyed at the banquet last year. 
 
Looking forward to Savannah and meeting many more troopers, friends and family.  Savannah is going to be an important gathering, and I implore all troopers and their families to make every effort to attend.  Please, gentlemen:  tell your stories for the website, send in your pictures for Ben to scan (and return to you!), and come together to toast old friends.  Make the calls, tell the story, find the pictures, call the family....do something today to work toward coming to Savannah in August and preserving the history of the 517.
 
Claire Giblin
daughter Allan Johnson 596 
Tom Reber
 
Hi Ben,
 
I thought of all of the gang often this past week.  I wish things had worked out for me.  I plan on a better outcome for Savannah.
 
JB is a character, isn't he?  I owe him quite a few Mail Calls (I print them and deliver them periodically).  I enjoy keeping him in touch and visiting with him.
 
It sure is wonderful to see all of the 517th children coming full circle and re-discovering their father's experiences and history.  Better late than never.  I remember being amazed at the number of books written about the outfit after finding the website, then seeing my Dad's name in one of them.  Reed Terrell's daughter is getting the same feeling right now.  I am guessing she found out about all of these things after having contacted you from the website.  You must feel a great deal of satisfaction for making these things happen.
 
Reed Terrell was a very good buddy of my dad and they kept in very close contact after the war.  I know my Dad missed him a great deal after his untimely passing.  I will be sending photos of Reed Terrell to his daughter, this weekend.  
 
I am happy the reunion was so successful and I am glad your trip was safe.
 
Best regards,

Tom
Entry of Jan 26, 2005 at 13:13 [EST]
Name: William Turley
Unit:
EMail: wturley@siu.edu
How I found the 517th page: Other
Comments: This is an inquiry on behalf of the Musée de la Libération de la Provence, which I visited a couple of weeks ago in Lançon, France. The Museum is still under development, and its focus is on the recovery and restoration of military objects from WWII. Alfred Degioanni, the curator, is very keen on obtaining the cooperation of veterans of all armies that sought in southern France. The 517th Parachute Infantry is one of two U.S. units (the other is the 509th) that M. Degioanni so far has been unable to document. He would like very much to contact veterans who fought in his locale. Can anyone on this list help?
Bob Christie
 
Ben, Someone took the centerpieces on the tables at the banquet. They cost $7.50/each. Total cost was $37.50. Nice people. Bob P.S. Maybe they can make a contribution to the Association to cover the cost.
Jeff Barrett
 
Dad,
 
Put Olin and me on the mail call.  Olin's address is  olin.c.smith@worldnet.att.net.
Gene Frice
 
I'm sure some of you have seen this before - just in case you haven't - it's pretty funny - but still offers some good advise.
 
Military words of wisdom

"AIM TOWARDS THE  ENEMY."
Instruction printed on US Army Rocket Launcher

"WHEN THE  PIN IS PULLED, MR. GRENADE IS NO LONGER OUR FRIEND." -
US Marine Corps Journal

"CLUSTER BOMBING FROM B-52s IS VERY, VERY ACCURATE. THE BOMBS  ARE
GUARANTEED TO ALWAYS HIT THE GROUND." - USAF Ammo Troop

"IF  THE ENEMY IS IN RANGE, SO ARE YOU." - US Army Infantry Journal

"A  SLIPPING GEAR COULD LET YOUR M203 GRENADE LAUNCHER FIRE WHEN YOU LEAST
EXPECT  IT. THAT WOULD MAKE YOU QUITE UNPOPULAR IN WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR
UNIT." - US  Army's Magazine of Preventive Maintenance

"IT IS GENERALLY  INADVISABLE TO EJECT DIRECTLY OVER THE AREA YOU'VE JUST
BOMBED." - US Air Force  manual

"TRY TO LOOK UNIMPORTANT; THE ENEMY MAY BE LOW ON AMMO." - US  Army
Infantry Journal

"TRACERS WORK BOTH WAYS." - US Army  Ordnance manual

"FIVE-SECOND FUSES ONLY LAST THREE SECONDS." - US  Army Infantry Journal

"BRAVERY IS BEING THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS YOU'RE  AFRAID."
- David Hackworth

"IF YOUR ATTACK IS GOING TOO WELL,  YOU'RE WALKING INTO AN AMBUSH."
 - US Army Infantry Journal

"NO  COMBAT-READY UNIT HAS EVER PASSED INSPECTION." - Joe Gay

"ANY SHIP  CAN BE A MINESWEEPER . . ONCE" - Anon

"NEVER TELL THE  PLATOON SERGEANT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO."
- Unknown Marine Recruit

"DON'T DRAW FIRE; IT IRRITATES THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU."
 US Army Infantry Journal

"IF YOU SEE A BOMB TECHNICIAN RUNNING,  TRY TO KEEP UP WITH HIM."
- USAF Ammo Troop
Adrianna Polk
 
Ben,
Glad to hear you made it back home 0.K.  We arrived home around one thirty and all was well at the Polk Farm!!
Am sure everyone attending the mini reunion had a wonderful time and if they didn't, that was their problem.
 
No, I wasn't the person that gave you the recipe for the snack food that was delicious!!!
Great to see you again and in the best of health!!!  Nice meeting your son, Jeff.
 
We are keeping our fingers cross [not that it would do much] to be in Savannah.  It all depends on if Floyd can drive or not.  It would be our first reunion missed since Colorado Springs.
 
Adrianna