January 22-25, 2006
Bradenton, FL

Recent website additions:
E Company at Toccoa 1943
C.B. Jones and E Co at Toccoa
Airborne Invasion of Southern France

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Gene Brissey,

Ben, I have spent the last hour or more reading and viewing material which can be extracted from Mail Call 985. The pictures and text submitted by Lee Lacey and many others are fantastic. Starting with Lee's material about C.B. Jones got me back into the world of the 517th and I must admit it was too much for one viewing. C.B. Jones was one of my best friends and Lee has brought him back to the forefront of my memories. C.B.s letters which included bouts with the M1, it's cleaning problems and all the rest was interesting reading which took me back to my first meeting with Company E troops. C.B. was the first young man who came into my CO. E life. He latched on to me probably because he knew that I was new to the outfit and that I knew nothing about the M1. He proceeded to show me how to take the rifle apart and put it back together. He did a great job and I soon learned to do it myself. Many years later Lee Lacy came into my life and I have since met part of C.B.'s family. The pictures submitted by Lee were very interesting. The picture with C.B. and an unnamed friend pointing their rifles at a banner containing a swastika was a good on. I think the unnamed trooper was Max Kersey who lost his life during the battle for Sospel. Again I must say that the letter with all those notes and pictures submitted by troopers or family members should be read and viewed. The items submitted by family members is another indication of how important family members are to the 517th. Just go to, www.517prct.org/photos/photos.htm and click through the items.
Gene Brissey

Just click on Training and WWII Photos to get photos and letters that Gene mentioned. - Ben

 Hi Ben,