Latest information on reunions. NEW
John M. Davis
Trooper's of the 517th: Jan 20, 05 at 10.00 pm. My father-in-law Olen A.
Hughes fought his last battle, lung cancer. I just didn't have the heart to
write about him till now. He was 84, an original Toccoa trooper I Co. 3rd
battalion. He was a demolitionist. I remember him saying he went out the plane
door in southern France with 60 lbs. of composition C on one leg and 60 lbs. of
detonators and primer cord on the other. He saw combat in Rome-Arno, southern
France Rhineland, central Europe, Ardennes, awarded 6 bronze stars for the above
mentioned campaigns , good conduct medal & purple heart. He cared nothing
about medals -- I found this out from his discharge papers. What he did care about
was the 517th . He said on more than one occasion with voice cracking and tear
filled eyes: There would (NEVER EVER) be a combat unit as good as the 517th
because of their training !
I know after being
his eyes & ears on the web site , he was right. I can't convey how great it
was to find the 517th on the web. To be able to bring him info on people places
and things that he had not known for 60 years, emails books etc. Every
Sunday afternoon for about 7 years I got to know a trooper of the 517th , He
was humble, honest, a man of his word. I loved and respected him deeply.
To all
the members of the 517th Battling Buzzards, I would like to say THANK YOU for
the Freedom that you and your comrades provided me with
today.
Always,
John M. Davis
Elbert of Rubin Duran
Ben, several weeks ago I sent you information about our Special Forces
chapter being named after a 517 man--Col Frank J. Dallas. I also asked for
contact info. on my old friend Gene Frice. I never received a reply, and somehow
my daughter Lynda Estrella showed uo as the sender of my e-mail. Would you
please add my personal e-mail address to the mail call ? azyaquijre@aol.com.
Thank You
*********
Hi
You have to clear this up for me. I have an address for your father and
daughter. I think that you had me change your address from lynzott@aol.com to
Azyaquijre@aol.com
which I now use.
Ben
Gene Frice
Ben,
In reference to Ray Estrella's note to you
(mailcall 861) saying that his note "somehow" ended up being reflected from his
daughter (Lynda). It's not your fault (Ben) because Lynda who is Zoot
Suit's granddaughter, is the only address in the mail call record-that turkey
Ray just (as usual) did not finish his job by giving someone his own
address.
Actually, Ray was one of my fearless Special
Forces, green beanie, snake eating members. An outstanding soldier, only problem
was that over ten or so years of service, I was never able to get my com
padre to speak English.
Hey Ray, you can retaliate by contacting me at my
address (in the roster) no demolitions please, or email
genesir@aol.com.
I expect (dats an order) to see you and the entire Estrella family
(+) at 517th, Palm Springs, on or about, 10 April 05.
A story out of
school:. Ray and I served together for years in SF.
One night, many years ago, we ran into each other in the bar, Palm Springs
517th. We each questioned each other, "What in the hell are you doing here?" His
response, Zoot Suit Duran. Now I see the connection, which I did not know in all
those years we were together. Small world !
Gene Frice, F Co
*********
Bill Boyle
Lou Holzworth
Dick Havill
Sgt. Mattice from Schenectady New York
and I were in the Maritime
Alps on the French
and Italian border watching a small town in Italy when a
forward
observer for the Artillery came up, looked
through his binoculars, and said
into the town, I told him we hadn't seen any Krauts in town, and he informed us he
saw some moving with his binoculars. He
proceeded to give coordinates to his
Battery, and when we heard on the way, we got down in prone, Sgt Mattice was
lying beside me. When he heard the shell, he
looked out to see where the would
come down and it landed close enough that a piece of shrapnel hit his windpipe
severing it. When I looked at him. he was on
his knees and his face turned gray.
I called out for our Medic but it was too late. Our medic {Dewey} was angry.
He
claimed if he was closer he could have saved
his life by opening his windpipe
with his fountain pen. The for ward observer took off.
Dick Havill Co I
John Davis
Ben you should take great pride in your efforts with mail call, &
everything else you and your son do. You have made more people happy than you
will know.
Thank
You.
J Davis