AFTER READING OPERATION
DRAGOON BY TOM CROSS, I THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT ADD A FEW FACTS ABOUT
THE PROBLEMS OF THE 517TH PATHFINDER TEAM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE OF INTEREST TO
SOME. TOM'S VERSION IS ON THE MONEY.
SHORTLY AFTER THE TEAM ASSEMBLED, THEY WERE
ATTACKED AND WERE GREATLY OUT NUMBERED. FORCED TO WITHDRAW INTO A WOODED AREA,
IT TOOK THE TEAM MOST OF THE MORNING TO BREAK AWAY. TWO WOUNDED, ONE
KIA.
WHILE ON THEIR WAY TO THE ASSIGNED DZ, THEY
ENCOUNTERED A 5 MAN GERMAN PATROL WHICH THEY DEFEATED BUT LOST ANOTHER MAN.* BY
MID AFTERNOON THEY HAD REACHED THEIR OBJECTIVE AND HAD THEIR EQUIPMENT IN
PLACE.
FOUR TEAM MEMBERS WERE: 1ST/LT JOHN
WEDDLE, RALPH DEGILIO, BUEL PUTNAM, AND BURTON STADLER. ALL FROM
2/BN
THE ABOVE INFO. CAME FROM A BRONZE STAR
CITATION, CONVERSATION WITH POP, AND 2/BN MORNING REPORTS FURNISHED TO ME
BY CLARK ARCHER.
*I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE ABOUT THIS
CASUALTY.
TOM STADLER
**********
We would like to know if anyone has
information about these pathfinders.-Ben
Teresa Cobble
Hi Mr. Barrett,
I understand you were
calling to see if anyone knew Vanessa Armand's Email address, so here it
is....homemaderubyshoes@hotmail.com I am Bob Vaught's daughter, Teresa,
and my nephew, Andrew Norman, had exchanged addresses with Vanessa. They
are the same age. Also, my mother wanted me
to mention we received
news that Lauren Johnson passed away on September 4, 2005, after a battle with
cancer. He was in "I" Company and lived in Wichita, Kansas. As
always, he will be sadly missed as those gone before him. Our prayers go
out to his wife and many children, grandchildren, and great
grandchildren. Hope you all are well. The reunion was
great!!!
Look forward to seeing everyone again soon.
Teresa Cobble
Irene Krumm
Ben, Good Evening! I wanted to let you know that John B. Krumm has a
new email address
jb_krumm@yahoo.com
John loves to read the 517 emails and all your wonderful news. Could you
please put John on the mailing list. Thank You!!! We
would also want to thank you for all your hard work on the
517! Your friend, Irene Krumm
Lou Holzworth
Hi Ben Just had a write a short note that I
concur with every thing Oscar said... As this character was really
just what Knerr said he was. He rode in a club car (40&8
that is... when we left southern France for Joiney... my spelling is still
bad... Once I get the hang will try and send some photo's over to
you. the old sarge Holzworth
Bob Dalrymple
Dear Ben, I was greatly pleased to receive the
lineup of the new auxiliary from Lou Darden . She certainly seems like
the logical gal to "move it out". Congratulations to all who worked
so diligently to make the aux a reality . I still remember when Carl Keefer
proposed this at a board meeting. I believe it was at Reno , and got a negative
response from the board . So it never came before the membership 'till now.
Great work from our Prexxy . Thanks Howard. Bob