Hello,
We received mail within hours in response to Merles' inquirey about our
French friends in last Mail Call. This would not be possible without the
Internet. Just think what we will be able to do for the 517th Association
when we have a couple hundred members.
Two new members: Elbert Duran--------lynzoot@aol.com
                                       John Krumm------jkrumm@quest.net
Just received message from Merle about our foreign friends and therfore will
send this mail out now.
Ben
______________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Our French friends!
Date: 4/10/2001 3:50:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: JNTURCO
To: Ben517

Hi Ben,
We want to let you know at the time of the reunion in Columbus we were asked
by Carl Kiefer if we would be willing to help bring our European friends over
to join us. We would like to donate toward helping bring Michel, Lizy, Eric
and Lidy to Bismarck. We mailed a check to Carl and if anyone would want us
to do the same to bring them here again, we would be happy to. We need to
know who would handle this as we would send a check.
We also would like to say that we were very disappointed that the 596th has
their own hospitality room. At the Columbus reunion we did not get to see
many of our 596th friends even though we were invited in their room. With our
losing so many members each year it is too bad we have to become segregated
at our National Reunion of the 517th.
Enjoy your letters, Ben
Best wishes, Leo
___________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Mail Call NO. 86
Date: 4/10/2001 3:54:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:    artann3447@juno.com (Tom mcavoy)
To:    Ben517@aol.com

I ask Bill lewis pointedly as to if anyone helped the Lemuy people  with
there finances  for the trip to Columbus and he told me that a group from
A company had taken up a collection  for them???  So maybe ask someone
from there.  Tom McAvoy
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Mail Call NO. 86
Date: 4/10/2001 5:39:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Tomx517
To: Ben517

Ben:
   Agree with the thought of helping our friends from Europe.

Regards, Tom
_________________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Mail Call NO. 86
Date: 4/10/2001 6:11:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:    carlosdavis22@hotmail.com (Carlos Davis)
To:    Ben517@aol.com

Hey !! Ben, It is great thing our friends from the Museum have done. I
believe we should be glad to have them over here on a visit, again. I would
like to help in some small way to help
. It isn't much but I could help with a gift of $25.00 for their expenses.
I'll send a check tell me we where.!!
Carlos    
?P.S. maybe I should make a reservation my self for the reunion, forgot when
and where! I know the info is around here somewhere ?

Subj: Re: French
and Belgium Friends
Date: 4/10/2001 7:41:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Genedie77
To: Ben517

I would be glad to help with travel finances for the French and Belgium
friends mentioned in the last mail call. I have seen first hand what these
friends have done for and in honor of the 517th and other airborne troops.
Our young friends in France have established and are maintaining a very nice
and informative museum in Le Muy. Jean Michel, Lizy, Eric and Lidy are doing
a great job with the museum and go beyond the call of duty to welcome the
American Airborne. The U.S. AIRBORNE RECEPTION COMMITTEE In the Trois Ponts
area which is run primarily by, Maria Gaspar committee President, Arnold
Targnion Secretary and Irma Targnion, who does much of everything in the
process of presenting a great welcome to all Airborne vets, and their
families, to the Ardennes area. They conduct tours for our people, host
ceremonies at the several memorials and much, much, more. They must rush back
to Trois Ponts after our reunion to welcome a group of vets and their
families on May 28 and there after. The number of such "hosted" affairs is
large.
I would be glad to donate a substantial sum if other members would donate as
much as they consider reasonable. I also recommend that the association
provide as much as the members might feel is reasonable. Lets find a way to
do it now because time is running out on all of us.

Gene Brissey____

Subj: (no subject)
Date: 4/11/2001 10:39:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Dotyrommel@cs.com
To: Ben517

Good Morning--Sorry you missed my initial message that John Terrill had a
stroke.  I did however, let some of the other buddies from F Co know. 
I talked to Virginia this morning and he will be coming home on Saturday  He
is confined to a wheel chair and a hospital bed.  Progress is slow and he has
a long way to go. 
See you in Bismarck----------Walt Rommel

Subj: (no subject)
Date: 4/11/2001 12:51:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: LYNZOOT
To: Ben517
Hi Ben,
My name is Lynda Estrella, I am Elbert Duran's granddaughter.  I wanted to
put him on the mailing list.  Also, could you let me know what the website
address is.  My Grandpa was in "A" company.
Thanks,
Lynda Estrella
____________________________________________________
Subj: Fw: 517 Reunion
Date: 4/11/2001 1:11:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:    acdoty@southwind.net (Cecil H. Doty)
To:    Ben517@aol.com (Ben Barrett)


Hi Ben;
I'll try again.
Cecil
----- Original Message ----- From: Cecil H. Doty
To: Ben Barrett
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 3:18 PM
Subject: 517 Reunion

Hi Ben;
Would you believe Arlene and I was just talking about  the Reunion just
before I turned the computer  on and received your e mail.      Arlene is
concerned about my heart condition, I'm not.  In Feb. I was in the hospital
for another heart catheterization, my 6th one.   Good news this time, the
blockage the Doctors could get open two years ago, they found new veins
growing around the blockage.   I feel good for 83 years old, walking a mile 
a day again.
 
Sorry to hear about Charley Pugh, Our prayers are with the family.  I'm on
baycol also, I better check with my Doctor about this medicine. I take it for
triglyceride.
 
Do you how many have registered for the reunion and are the other actives
organized?
 
Hope to see you and Fran at the Reunion.     Cecil and Arlene Doty
 ____________________________________________________----
Subj: Our email address for the mail call
Date: 4/11/2001 5:30:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:    jkrumm@qwest.net (John Krumm)
To:    ben517@aol.com




Ben,
 
We are sending you our email address in an attempt to get signed up for the
mail call.  Hopefully it will get to you.
 
    jkrumm@qwest.net
 
Thanks.
_______________________________________________________

Subj: (no subject)
Date: 4/11/2001 8:33:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: MMcmor8391
To: Ben517



Ben:

Please let members on your e-mail listing know that we are soliciting funds
for our foreign visitors to the reunion.  We would like to make their visit
as financially painless as possible.  Any monies over and above from
registration fees will be included in this fund.  Also the complimentary
rooms provided can be made available for their use.

I will include a note in the Thunderbolt which hopefully I will get out this
month; maybe in the next two weeks.

Leo Turco is designated as the "arm twister" at the reunion for those who do
not receive the notice by e-mail or overlooked the note in the Thunderbolt.

The Contributions should be sent to me at 1209 Prospect Place and designated
on the check as "Visitors' Fund."

I think we owe these people a great deal for their time and effort in
insuring our Unit's history is not lost to time.

                                                                   Merle