President Gene Frice
Ben and Bob,
Have not
had a whole lot of time (or computer time) during my 3 day visit (that extended
to a week). Next week will be in DC and time will not get any better. Home the
2nd week of Sept.
The attached intended as a ?Pres?
message or informational whatever is rather long-so with your expertise cut and
past as necessary. PS Do not have Tom Cross email
address
Had a great week with you
all
Gene
Reunion 2005
Greetings to the 517th, from Fort Bragg, and Camp McCall, NC. It certainly
appears that all enjoyed the Savanna 2005 reunion as one of the
best.
The months of work on the part of Harold
and Helen Beddow produced an outstanding gathering in all aspects. Helen told me
she was a ?detail? person and that is what it takes to put one of these programs
together.
Most of us do
not really appreciate the amount of ?detail? planning it takes to put together
any such program-any failure in the course of the planning becomes a cumulative
rolling stone that affects the entire program, and there were
no failures.
I
could mention many of the planning details one must do-but, just give thought to
notifications prior to the event,
documenting reservations with money, busses, scheduled events, dinners,
speakers, and being the always available knowledgeable cheery and jovial
host.
Historians have said ?no plan will withstand the
test of battle.? If the 2005 reunion had been a ?battle? those historians are
wrong. We can ?sleep well tonight? with Harold and Helen as our battle planners.
Good job-well done.
President Howard
Hensleigh
Our departing President, Howard
Hensleigh, over the last two years contributed strong leadership and council to
the continuing success of the 517th. We owe our appreciation and thanks to his
untiring efforts. Your incoming President has big boots to
fill.
The
517th Auxiliary
Most of
my following comments relate to noteworthy occurrences during our
meetings.
After years of discussions, the
Auxiliary was finally formed and a slate of officers has been identified. The
officers and additional data will be published in the
Thunderbolt.
The Auxiliary sought answers to a
number of organizational administrative items. Their questions were not answered
at the time. It appears that considerable work needs to be accomplished in the
near future. You will be able to follow the progress in the Thunderbolt-good
luck our fellow auxiliary members.
The
Auxiliary proposed a program seeking means of gathering, identifying and
recording the location of 517th data to be recorded on CD?s for later
research.
Project 517th Unit
History
In respect to the above, I was contacted
by Vice President Tom Cross, suggesting an additional historian be appointed to
assist Clark Archer, our ?official? unit historian, . Clark has served honorably
in that position for years and has produced hundreds of historical documents
relating to the units history. Tom recommended that our past President, Howard
Hensleigh would be the ideal individual to coordinate the
project.
Visit
to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum
In view
of this additional program while at Fort Bragg, I visited the Airborne and
Special Operations Museum located in Fayetteville. I met with representatives of
the museum and possibly we can help each other with this project-more about this
at a later date.
I visited the current exhibits.
The museum is an outstanding $12.5 million dollar tribute to the history of it?s
namesake, ?Airborne and Special Operations,? supported and funded jointly by the
US Army and the city of Fayetteville.
There are
sections devoted to each major conflict since the inception of the airborne. The
517th is recognized in Operation Dragoon (not in the Bulge or Germany) along
with our counterparts participating in the operation. The 517th is depicted on
large individual marble blocks, as well as on a number of other unit designation
means. Melvin Biddle is identified as the 517th recipient of the Medal of Honor
along with all airborne recipients of the award. I photographed the exhibits
relating to the 517th, and will endeavor to put a CD together. A beautiful site
and well worth visiting (and to contribute to). The museum however, is in
conflict the the 82nd and the SF museums f.
I
discussed with the museum representative how we might assist each other. He
stated he has a vast amount of material relating to the 517th on file. The
resources have been various military historical sites as well as donations from
our unit members and their families. He was quite emphatic that he does not need
additional individual personal information or items. He does desire history relating to unit organization, tactics, and
similar data.
In my travels I found Fayetteville
to be larger, but not necessarily meeting travel book requirements as a
destination community (except for incoming military). The Fort Bragg post (the
largest in the US) is to likely increase in population. The previous downtown
disaster area previously known as the ?Market Place? is under reconstruction
with 15? brick sidewalks (with sidewalk dining) and about a 100? roadway will
become a beautiful downtown area-thank god. I still was not able to obtain a
decent meal in town.
Reunion 2006
Our reunion
committee recommended Portland, Oregon, as our 2006 reunion site. In view of the
school schedule for students and teachers, the middle of July was selected as
the most suitable time period.
Meeting
concerning other additional sites. I will report additional information on
Portland, 2006, as it is available.
I hope
everyone enjoyed our recent gathering and their trip home was uneventful. I have
another three weeks of travel to face and will return home the first week of
September.
Be advised, they had an earthquake in
eastern NC and GA yesterday-and hurricane whats-her-face is approaching the coast.
I'm leaving.
God Bless
all
Gene Frice
President
Bob Dalrymple
Ben : Thanks . Are we to get a more complete rundown in the
next T-BOLT ? I think Tom Reber forgot AZ? Bob PS: Many of us out here don't
know how the money clip or T Shirts were presented. Were they in your
packets ?
Ben: For Claire. Claire: The 596th often vied
for the top number of troopers attending our national reunion . It was
often a contest with A Company or John Lisner's F Company . I can't recall
the exact numbers , but I think we had 38 at one. Bob Dalrymple
*********
The money clips were in packets presented to the men. The
women got a clock. T-shirts were given to all at registration.-Ben
Heather Riley
Hi Ben,
It was great to meet you in person. I
have forwarded this conversation between Lance and I. I knew he had taped
Gen. Seitz's speech. I forwarded the whole Mailcall to him. I am
sure he will sign up for it now. Maybe someone can answer his question of
the introducing speaker. We had a wonderful time and please tell Bob I
will have my son Justin photograph the infamous Blue Book magazine articles of
Graves articles as soon as possible. I know that many would like to
read it.
Savannah was wonderful and hats off to the many
people who worked so hard to pull it together. (We know Hal and Helen were
at the helm. but I'm sure she had many helpers. ) The music, fellowship and
excursions were great.
I would like to suggest that the Auxiliary or
whom ever is collecting the artifacts and special belongings of the 517th
consider donating them to the Toccoa Museum. Even if the particular
trooper did not train at Toccoa, the 517th has a viable history there.
This town is going above and beyond to honor our WWII greats. They are
dedicating a new building and moving a current large display. I believe
the dedication is during their reunion on Oct. 7. It's just a suggestion,
but it would be a public display and would be revered and well taken care
of.
Hope to see many of you in Toccoa.
Heather Cowan Riley
Daughter of Ian Cowan