From: Ben517
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 3:09 AM
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 932 517TH PRCT--JULY 3, 2005
Hello,
2005 Biennial Reunion
August 15-19, 2005
Savannah, GA

Registration due before July 10, 2005!


website                                  www.517prct.org
Mail Call                                  Ben517@aol.com
Mail Call Archives                 www.517prct.org/archives
Roster                                    
www.517prct.org/roster.pdf


Susan Clark
 
Thought this was very beautiful, hopefully you can get it on your computer.  It takes a minute for the music but it is worth it.  Hope all of us reflect on the sacrifices of the members of our military both current and past.
Susan Clark,  daughter of Roger Scherer
 
 
 
 
Jim Jennis
 
Hi Ben,

Thanks for all the wonderful information in Mail Call, I look forward to
receiving every one! Just wanted to inquire as to how I can subscribe to
"The Thunderbolt". See you all in Savannah....

Regards,

Jim Jennis

Tom Cross
 
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