Registration due before July 10, 2005!
Dear Col. Wallace: Thank you for clearing up the mystery of Barry Zais’ whereabouts. The
National War College and the Army War College are two distinctly different
institutions at different locations. It is easy for those not familiar with
these facts to get them mixed up. That is apparently what happened. If you can
give us a contact point, we will appreciate it. Mel Zais put his stamp on the
517th and particularly on the 3rd Bn. I was with G Co. a few months at Cp. Mackall and have fond memories of its
men and officers. Unfortunately, I do not have specific memories of your father,
but he served with a fine group of men. We attended the Nashville reunion. I was
in a wheel chair and have not escaped from one yet. So, if you remember shaking
hands with an old guy in a wheel chair, you have me pegged. We congratulate you on your Army and Reserve service and the attainment of
your rank. We also express our appreciation for your service in Iraq. I am now
hearing what I have felt for a long time to be a necessary element of cleaning
up the mess the radical Islamists have made of the world. It is that the
Islamists themselves must clean up their own house. Some in the US and the UK
are now saying this. Their platitudes against terrorism while fueling the fire
of hate preached by their clerics doesn’t cut the mustard. If they must hang a
few clerics and clean up a few mosques, so be it. We may be able to help, but
they must do it. Until they do, the whole lot are in the dog house. We spent the years 1955 to 1968 in Arlington, Va. so are familiar with your
home stomping ground. We appreciate your information. Please keep in touch. Highest regards, Howard Hensleigh
Mail
Call
Ben517@aol.com
Mail Call
Archives
www.517prct.org/archives
Roster www.517prct.org/roster.pdf
Dear Ben: Here is a message from Terry Birder Casey that will
interest
members from I Co. and others from the 3rd Bn. We can do what
we can to
make her trip meaningful. More important, we can let her know
what a fine
man and soldier her brother was. Jim Birder's death at
Bergstein was one
of the war's last tragedies for the 517th.
---
Howard Hensleigh
--- hhensleigh@earthlink.net
> [Original
Message]
> From: terry casey <casey@ties2.net>
> To: howard
hensleigh <hhensleigh@earthlink.net>
> Date: 7/22/2005 11:16:55
PM
> Subject: Reunion
>
> Dear Howard,
> After studying
schedules, maps and coffers and after coming within inches
> of
sending in my registration for the reunion, I find that I am unable to
>
attend the 517th reunion in Savannah. I am really disappointed to have
to
do
> this as I was so anxious to get the opportunity of meeting some
troopers
who
> knew and fought along side my brother, Jim in the drop,
the Bulge, Manhay,
> the Huertgen Forest and Bergstein. I am also
disappointed because I will
be
> unable to seek answers to my many
questions arising from a trip my husband
> and I are planning to take in
Oct. of this year tracing the path of the
> 517th during the final months
of the war. I wanted to find out first hand
> from them what to definitely
not miss in my journey. Time won't allow me
to
> travel to all points,
but I definitely do not want to miss the important
> sites along the way.
I am presently trying to locate a Belgium family who
> adopted Jim's grave
at Margraten. So far no luck. I feel the need to thank
> them personally
as their action brought a good deal of consolation to my
> parents during
those years. I know that the reunion will be a great
success,
> and I
thank you for the invitation to attend.
> Fondly,
> Terry (Birder)
Casey,
> Sister of Capt. Birder, CO-Company I - KIA Bergstein, Germany
2/7/'45.
----- Original Message -----
I saw Mr. Royer's query on
locating Barrie Zais. Interestingly, I just completed the US Army War
College in 2004, coming back from my tour in Iraq (spent a year there)
and met Barrie Zais, he's an instructor there. I'll get a point of
contact for you and Royer if it's needed.
My father, Charles E.
Wallace, was in G. Company, 517th, he passed away in January 2005, I had
to come back from Baghdad on emergency leave for that. One day I'd like
to attend your reunion for the 517th. I did once, took my Dad to the one
in Nashville, I believe I met you there, along with El Harger, Wisenhunt
and others.
Best regards,
Stevenson M. Wallace
Colonel,
USAR
Alexandria, VA
Name: Kathy
Jamieson
Unit:
EMail: katjamieson@ shaw.ca
How I
found the 517th page: From a search engine
Comments: In
Reminisce Extra (August 2005) there is a letter from a Stewart Steele
who was a member of the 517th Airborne Combat Team. He is looking for a
Blue Book magazine article from December 1947 or January 1948 about the
history of that combat team. Can anyone help me find that for him?
Thanks