Ben:
I talked to Helen Beddow today regarding the
number of Registrations for the Savannah Reunion she has received as
of this date (July 2). The number is 200. She is expecting more before the
deadline date but what she has of this report is significant has far as actual
Reunion attendance is concerned .I believe it will be short of 250 persons
attending and I hope I am wrong by a wide margin.
It must be remembered that the actual
Registrations, as of July 2, includes the following categories: Association
Members, Family Members and Friends of the 517.PRCT. I do not believe the
definition of Auxiliary Members, in my mind, has been clearly spelled out for
the record, but I believe it pertains to "Family Member" only. Knowing President
Howard Hensleigh this will be clearly stated before we engage in any discussions
involving the distinction between "Family Members" and "Friends of the 517
PRCT".
Helen Beddow will breakout the various categories
of Registrations in sufficient time to be used for decision making purposes at
the Business Meeting on August 18. This is very important for it will
give us an idea of the representation of the various attendance
categories at this and future 517 PRCT scheduled
events. It is also significant in that we have reached a time wherein
there is a significantly small majority of the Association Members present to
make major decisions that are critical to the future longevity of the 517
PRCT . It is an awesome responsibility but we will all act in the best
interests of the 517 and not succumb to personal aims and
vanity. There is no other way.
Regards, Tom
Helen Beddow
Hello everyone!
I have been receiving phone calls regarding the
Reunion and have had wonderful conversations with the 517th people. Keep
sending in your Registrations! With today's mail and the Registrations I
received, we have gone over the 200 mark. I just received a phone call
from a gentleman by the name of Calvin Johns that had lost track of one of his
buddies by the name of Allen Jeffcoat. They lost track of each other 60
years ago, but both will be at the Reunion. This is what this Reunion is
all about!! Both of these gentlemen were in D Company.
I will have
a new list of those registered at the DeSoto Hilton and a list of those
that have sent in their Registrations in the Mail Call Monday or
Tuesday.
A few reminders:
For those that will be in the hotel Sunday evening, please come to the
Hospitality Room around 7:00 for interviews with one of our local TV
stations.
The Registration
table will be open from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. on Sunday
evening.
There is a shuttle service
from the Savannah Airport to the hotel operated by Gray Line Tours. It
runs until 11:00 p.m. daily.
Pictures of everyone and
their families will be taken in the Hospitality Room Wednesday evening after we
return from the Dinner Cruise. A group picture of the 517th guys will be
taken, then one of everyone and their families, and then the different Companies
will have their pictures taken. I have a photographer coming for this, and
orders for any pictures will be taken at this
time.
For those that are driving,
people run red lights here, so please be careful. Also, we have people
that drive with a phone in their ear and the road belongs to them.
Hal and I can't wait to see our old friends and to meet the new people
coming to Savannah. The deadline for the Registrations is July 10.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (912)
925-2766.
Howard Hensleigh
Dear Ben:
Mail Call keeps us going.
Note to Jean Loup. Address: hhensleigh@earthlink.net. St. Cezaire: Your
question about this attack deserves a worthwhile answer. It may take a few days,
but I want to put it in context and give it the answer it deserves.
Note to Kent Immerfall.
The Paratroopers’ Odyssey may be purchased by sending Bob Christie a check
for $22.50. His address is 390 301 Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34205. This is the
prepublication price ,which we still honor, and includes packing and
shipping.
Who is Elsworth Harger? El was a stalwart member of the 3rd
Platoon of G Company. He rose from private to sergeant because of his ability
and could always be counted on to accomplish what he was asked to do. As an
example, he, Scruggs and other members of G Co. scouted out the enemy positions
on our patrol the night before our dawn attack to take the territory between
Ridge X and Mt. Scandeous, near Col de Braus, France. They led the attack the
next morning, hitting elaborate German bunkers with white phosphorous grenades
before the enemy recovered from the artillery and bazooka barrages. Their action
resulted in the capture or elimination of the entire company that had killed
Capt. McGeever and private Woodcock a day or two before. After the War, El
attended Michigan State and became one of the protectors of the upstate
woodlands of Michigan. He and his wife had several sons. The Harger father and
son team won marathons for many years. Yes, El is still jumping. At Niagara
Falls, it was too windy for his jump into the reunion hotel area. When I told
him it was a shame he didn’t get to jump, he told me he bailed out over the
airport. We never trusted landing in those airplanes.
Howard Hensleigh
2005 Biennial
Reunion