From: Ben517
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 3:18 AM
Subject: MAIL CALL NO. 998 517TH PRCT-OCTOBER 24, 2005
70 Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025 *781 383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett  Ben517@aol.com
 
Hello,
 
After mail is returned three times  for any reason, I remove name from Mail Call roster. I don't like to get  "Returned mail: Service undeliverable."
 
Ben
Website                                   www.517prct.org  
Mail Call                                  517th Mail Call
Mail Call Archives                  www.517prct.org/archives
Roster                                     www.517prct.org/roster.pdf

January 22-25, 2006
Bradenton, FL

 Copies of Paratroopers' Odyssey can be purchased for $22.50 from Bob Christie.  390 301 Blvd. W. Unit 10C, Bradenton, Fl. 34205
El Harger
 
Hi Ben :
            Before you start looking for my where'bouts and health since Savannah,
here is the latest . 18 Oct., my 80th., I I arranged and journeyed to Pulasky, WI   
Location of the Green Bay Skydivers (old friends) and made two sky dives from 10,000 ft. each. Three different jumpers on each lift. simple formations in freefall.
            Following jumps they cut a bd cake , served wine and gave me a nice T-shirt, " It should be illegal to have so much fun !" Jumps were nos.  1440 & 1441.
                                                     Blue Skies
                                                              El (Harger)
Ray Hess
 
Good morning Ben: Another rainy morning in the Northeast, but I'll take it 
over waiting for another Hurricane (Wilma) to hit. Ben, I recognize the
picture in your "MAIL CALL" of John Mounce. I recall him as being a quite
fellow in  the 3rd Platoon, Giuchici's Platoon.  I would also like to add to
  Merle Traver's account of Bergstein.  I remember the fluorescent strips
handed out to "F" Co. men. also the orders handed down that if any man fell
into one of those tank traps, the man behind him was not to stop and help
him, but to continue on, so as not to disrupt the column. Who the soldier
was  that fell in in the hole or the who . soldier was  that helped him, I
do not know to this day. But it makes me wonder now if "F" CO. could have
fought its way back to friendly lines or not or if the rest of the battalion
or combat team would come to the rescue or not is a big question. Bergstein
has been a big question or "what if" in my thoughts all these years. I also
wonder if rained any harder in all of the 517th history that what it did
that first night in BERGSTEIN  BEST REGARDS TO ALL  Ray R. HESS
Andrew Hill
 
Ben-
 
I used to be on the mailing list, but must have been removed.  My grandpa was Harry A. Hill of Company B.
 
Thank you,
Andrew Hill

82nd Airborne Poster

We have had many requests for copies and info about this WWII poster.  It was apparently used as a recruiting poster during the 1970's.

High-quality reproductions are available at: http://www.netheaven.com/~wilson/soldier/art.html

Or you can print a nearly full-size copy from this:  82nd_poster.pdf or 82nd_poster.gif

Or this smaller version will fit on an 8 1/2 x 11 page:   82nd_poster_50pct.gif (right-click, then "Print Target")

The text reads:

Dec. 23, 1944 - "Battle of the Bulge" - An entire U.S. armored division was retreating from the Germans in the Ardennes forest when a sergeant in a tank destroyer spotted an American digging a foxhole. The GI, PFC Martin, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, looked up and asked, "Are you looking for a safe place?" "Yeah" answered the tanker. "Well, buddy," he drawled, "just pull your vehicle behind me...

I'm the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the bastards are going."

"The poster is a photograph of a dirty, scrappy, tough paratrooper, PFC Vernon Haught, of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, marching in the dead of that cold, snowy winter with a rucksack on his back. Going to reinforce the retreating American forces in Belgium. His expression leaves no doubt about his determination. He is moving out to go toe-to-toe with the enemy in Belgium. As you look at the poster, it strikes you that nowhere in this photograph do you see a parachute. And you and I both know there doesn't have to be one -- you simply know from the look: he's Airborne.

Under the photo is a quote from PFC Martin, also of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, who during the battle asked a retreating tank destroyer commander, "Are you looking for a safe place?" When the tank commander answered yes, PFC Martin replied, "Well buddy just pull that vehicle behind me -- I am the 82d Airborne and this is as far as the bastards are going." Imagine, an Airborne PFC telling a guy in a tank to follow him."

--General Henry H. Shelton
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Remarks at the 60th Anniversary of the Airborne
Fort Benning, Georgia, April 13, 2000

Full speech