These pictures were taken when I was in Sospel
with some of my children (over 50 years of age) in 2002.
Jean (John) Pierre Domrego my wife and I first met,
when we stayed in his hotel in 1983. Again with two
other C Company troopers and their wives we stayed in his hotel
in
1984. Again, I was with a 517th tour
group in 1989 when the
group, and he as Mayor of Sospel, dedicated a
monument to the 517th. Also, Jean Pierre has attended a
few of our 517th National Reunions.
His father Michael Domrego was Mayor of
Sospel in 1944 during the siege and occupation (liberation) by the 517th PRCT.
Michael Domergo wrote an account about the siege and liberation of Sospel. LTC
Charles LaChaussee translated it into
English.
In 2002, Jean Pierre gave
me a Paperback Pictorial Book of Sospel, Moulinet and Castillon which he had assembled and had published.
The other two pictures are of Roland Orengo,
Patricia Pavia,
and myself in Roand's jeep in Sospel.
Patricia and Roland will be at our Reunion in Savannah. They are now Roland and
Paricia Pavia-Orengo.
Nolan L. Powell
Ben,
The young French couple Roland & Patricia Pavia-Orengo
with whom I'm coming to the Reunion , I met in Sospel in 2002.
They are very much into honoring the troops who liberated their city
of Sospel and their country France. . They are part of a group in
Southern France who have American World War 11 uniforms & equipment
which they use in parades and celebrations in villages & cities in
Southern France. Roland's pride is an American jeep that he found in the
Maritime Alps, and he has restored. Their clothing and jeep all have
emblems and identification that show they represent the airborne
and in particular the 517th which
liberated their city in 1944.
They already have their trip planned and arrangements made as
to where they're going. Arrive in
Washington, D.C. where they will spend a few days. By train they
will visit Philadelphia, where they
will stay with my son and his wife. Then by train to New York City
for a few days, where they have
planned what they will do, On August 9, we will meet them at the
Rochester airport. The next five days
they will be our guests in Ontario, NY, and our Lodge in the
Adirondack Mountains. August 15, we have
tickets from Rochester, NY to Savannah, GA. All arrangements
have been made for them to enjoy
5 days at our reunion. On Saturday, August 20 they have a flight
from Savannah back to France.
I question what the 517th should do for all our friends in Europe.
Or is it the responsibility of the individuals
who have enjoyed the hospitality to return the hospitality
which they have received. There are many
people who I have met over there on my five trips, and I would
like to give them all the same warm hospitality in the US as I
received from them.
There are some who deserve special recognition & possible help
in order to attend our reunion. How
& who decides that I do not know the answer.
I do know that in 1985, I went to five five dedication
ceremonies where many U.S. active duty personnel were doing the
dedications, such as an 82nd Airborne General, the 82nd Airborne Color
Guard, plus the US Army Band of Europe, and several
dignitaries.
I, also attended a sixth dedication in a small village where
Jules Hurbediese , the townspeople in Logbierme, and six of us sixty year
old veterans from the 517th dedicated a monument to five of our fellow
517th troopers who died liberating their village. Again in 1989, I was
with two buses with a 517th tour group on the buses who visited
Logbierme. Ask anyone on that tour about the hospitality of that very small
village, and about the ceremony and reception they had for us. It was
awesome.
I am sure there are many 517th people on their trips to
Europe, who have had similar experiences with many different
people and villages.
WHO SHOULD WE INVITE& WHAT SHOULD WE DO FOR THEM?
Nolan
Gene FriceBen,
That 517th stuff the guy
(gal) is selling is a rip off. Almost everything is available to anyone of our
Association if they want it. I think we have enough inventory within our group
to provide (or reproduce). Folks save your $200.00, or give it to Bob Christie
and we will find you the objects-free. Some of it will be available at
Savannah.
Gene Frice, F
Co.
**********
Gene is correct. Most of the stuff is already on the
website.-Ben
