>>In response to Jim Jennis' post with the
picture of my Dad, Col. L.A. Walsh, Jr., Ike Walton, Paul Lewis, Tom Cross, and
Dick Seitz... I am very familiar with that photo and most recently came
upon it just the other day while going through personal belongings of my
late Sister, Gail W. Tayler. Of interest, it was with a number of other
517th era photos, documents, and newspapers dated ~ 1943. In particular,
it was on the front page of the October 1943 Thunderbolt under the
banner headline..."517 Sets New Army Record". Further in that issue is a
picture of my Dad congratulating Major Seitz as part of a special homecoming
ceremony when he brought the Second Battalion back to Mackall after establishing
all-time high records in jump school. That article was entitled "Second
Bn. First In Life of Seitz".
On the front page of the Toccoa Record , dated 29 April
1943 is an article was about my Dad giving a war time lecture he gave
to 1300 workers in the LeTourneau plant with the message..."Your job
is in the Army of the Production lines"... and the workers were inspired to give
their all to their jobs, buy bonds and support our troops. Much of the
lecture was based on stories from one of his successful operations as
planner and observer of the very successful Los Banos morning raid to free 2,000
+ civilian prisoners of war in the Philippines. Dad was 31 at the time,
and was awarded full Bird status, in part, for the success of that raid.
He was the first in the class of '34 at West Point to achieve this rank...only
to be knocked back down a notch or two some time later for sticking up for
his 517th men fresh off maneuvers to a General who wanted to push an inspection
on them right away. Dad lost the 517th because of this incident, but he
made many lifelong friends that day, some of them still alive and reading this
website...! Some soldiers, including my Mother, pleaded case for Dad to
the Powers That Be to reverse this action, but it was not to happen.
So...like with other things in my Dad's life...he chose to begin the climb all
over again to Full Colonel, eventually retiring as Major General. I've
always wondered what life in the Walsh family would have been like for me and my
Sister had that last 517th incident never happened or if
the punishment had been
reversed...? Would he have retired a three, possibly four star...??
No matter to me, really... For me, Dad was always just "The General",
and the number of stars on his shoulder never mattered.
I have yet to come across much of the 517th memorabilia
my Sister kept, but will let y'all know if I come across any more
gems...TW<<
Trooper Walsh / Managing Director / ZooGenesis,
LLC
Lou Darden
Ben, Do you give lessons or hints on how to clean up
a piled computer desk? I certainly need the help. Once in a while Jesse
decides to straighten up the piles on my desk & then I am in trouble for
a week or more because I can't find anything. Ha Ha. Lou Darden
Chris Lindner
Hi
Ben:
I hope you and Fran and
the rest of the 517th had a wonderful Easter.
I sure did like the
picture of COWBOY TOM!!!!!!!! That goes great with the Cowboy attachment I sent
to you last week.
Chris
Lindner
Hi
Ben:
It’s me again!!! I must
add to everyone’s comment of your picture in the last mail call. It is a
great picture of you and it’s nice to know where all the hard work is done that
you do putting out the Mail Calls!!!! As always you do a fantastic
job.
Chris
Bill
Edwards
Ben: PLEASE PUT THIS MESSAGE
ON YOUR MAIL CALL E-MAIL:
Several
days ago I received an E-Mail from MICHELLE SARVER, who is a niece of Sgt. Andrew
Murphy who was the first killed in action in Italy on June 18, 1944.
She did
not give me her E-Mail, so I cannot answer her question.
She got my
E-Mail from the 517th website.
Bill
Edwards
Regimental Headquarters-517
******************
I sent Bill
the following guestbook entry.-Ben
Entry of Feb 18,
2000 at 23:35 [EST]
Name: Brendan Monaghan
Unit:
EMail:
ubiestvino@aol.com
How I found the 517th
page: Heard from a member of the 517th
Comments: My wife's Uncle,
Andrew "Bud" Murphy was KIA in Italy in 1944 while in the 517th. Several family
members have recently asked "the kids" for help in determining as much as
possible about what happened to Uncle Bud and who knew him. Mr. Barrett hooked
us up and we really appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the 517th.
Any news out there? Thanks! BF Monaghan
Shirley McCarey
Hi Ben --- That is a great picture of you and
computer at your desk ----- but MY desk is never that neat. And a
standout is your framed medals. Looks good.
Shirley McCarey
Friend of the 517th
**************
The medals are my kids' idea. They
denote nothing special on my part except that it shows that among
the four army units I did a hitch with, that I was
fortunate to serve with a regiment of heroes, The 517. -- Ben
Merle McMorrow
Dear Ben:
Great picture of you at the computer, Ben. I wish I could
keep my desk that clean.
I didn't forward the mail from Ft. Collins, CO that I sent to
Lud, Howard H. and Bob Christie. It
was to inform them that Arnold and Irma are coming to the Reunion but Marie has
back problems and won't be able to make it. She thanks everyone for the
invitation.
I need some guidance as to who else should be invited. I
know our number will be determined by the amount of money we receive and how
much the guests will pick up on their own. It would be nice if the Museum
people could come.
What is in the fund now, Howard? I haven't contributed
as yet but will do so when I get back home about April 5th.
Hope you both had a nice Easter. We had brunch at a
beautiful lodge up in Estes Park.
Merle