Recent website additions:

Photos from Europe trip 2009

Myrle Traver, F Co. biography

Michael A. Sura, H Co. biography

St. Cezaire and Les Arcs today

Ben and Bob Barrett,
 
First of all I would like to thank you for the wonderful day we had in the Ardennes. I can hardly express how hard I have enjoyed accompanying you. It was a real honor to me. I hope you have enjoyed your visit to the Ardennes. Should you ever come back to Belgium, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
I translated the chapter about the 517th and Manhay of the book by Eddy Monfort. Obviously, this will be full of grammatical and vocabulary errors, as I am aware of, but I think you will understand. I hope you will enjoy reading it. If I can do anything else, please just ask.

 

http://www.517prct.org/documents/The%20battle%20of%20the%20crossroads%20--%20Dieter%20Laes.pdf

Bob, like I told you in Manhay, I'm performing some research about the battle between the Ourthe and Aisne River (Hotton-Soy-Erezee). The first battalion of the 517th PRCT played an immense role in pushing the Gruppe Bayer of the 116th Windhund division back (23 December). This action was taken by Combat Team A under the command of Colonel Boyle and Combat Team B under the command of Major Fraser. Later, the 25th December, A company was to help the 290th regiment (75th ID) in capturing "Bois de la Roumière". Any information or help concerning my research , if possible, would be appreciated

sincerely yours,
 
Dieter Laes

Most interesting.-Ben

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Submitted by	Comments:
Name: Gretchen E. Petrus From: Brooklyn, NY E-mail: gepetrus@yahoo.com	i had the pleasure and honor of serving as part of your flight attendant crew from Nice, France to New York JFK on August 25th, 2009, as you returned from travelling around belgium and france for commemorations of the 65th anniversary of the liberation. ben barrett, leo dean, and the rest of the group were truly awe-inspiring, filled with vitality, humor, and humility; dignified and so youthful!! gentlemen, i thank you for all you have done in service to our country and others. i will forever cherish the experience of meeting you--and i have my Battling Buzzards pin as proof positive of my wonderful brush with history. yours sincerely, gretchen petrus Added: August 28, 2009
Submitted by	Comments:
Name: Kaitlin Saltzer From: New Jersey E-mail: kpunx89@yahoo.com	I spent three days in Draguignan, France with some of the men from the 517th. I cherished each and every one of our conversations. I was especially touched by Allan Johnson, Leo Dean, Ben Barrett and Hal Beddow. Thank you for sharing your stories with my family. I never had the chance to speak with my Grandfather (of the 45th Division) about his experiences, so hearing your stories was a real honor and pleasure. Love and Respect, Kaitlin Saltzer Added: August 22, 2009
Submitted by	Comments:
Name: Philippe ARAKELIAN From: Draguignan, France E-mail: arakelian.philippe@orange.fr	I've spent very precious moments on that 16th of August, as well in the US cemetery of Draguignan than in Le Muy were I've got the honnor to meet some of these courageous soldiers who choose to risk their lifes for our freedom. I've taken about 240 pictures, if you give me an address, I'll send a CD of them to you, as the file is too heavy for internet. Bless you all. Added: August 20, 2009
Submitted by	Comments:
Name: Rene van Vlerken From: The Netherlands E-mail: renevanvlerken@casema.nl	Last Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure to meet and speak with Mr Merle McMorrow and his wife during the commemoration ceremony of Operation Dragoon in Le Muy, France. Together with my wife and kids I really enjoyed being able to meet him and having to opportunity to briefly speak about his experiences during the battles in Southern France and later during the war. I would like to use this opportunity to express my deepest respect for him and all his fellow troopers and veterans who helped liberating France and the rest of Europe. Lest we never forget! Added: August 18, 2009

Photo submitted by Gilles Guignard

Tom Copsey is standing on the spot where the Germans had a machine gun nest which stopped the advance of the 517th from the valley below until Frank Dallas cheeped around it and killed  the Germans manning it.

An other photo from Gilles