According to an old description in the Thunderbolt, this 517 Parachute Combat Team booklet was "forgotten by many, unknown to others". This highly valued account was authored by Colonel Rupert D. Graves himself. This copy was provided by Ed Flannery.  Additional Autograph pages were sent in by Mike Kane (Company D), and James E. Mortensen (460th PFAB)

Here is a complete copy in pdf format, provided by Steve Markle, son of Eugene C. Markle, 596 PEC

However, I am still trying to track down the full story of this booklet. So far, I have heard of 3 different versions, and they might all be real:

1. It was written at the war's end, while the 517 was stationed "somewhere in France" (Joigny?), around March of 1945. It was distributed to all soldiers in a one-piece booklet. This account appears to be true, as the dedication (page 2) from Colonel Graves refers to "new men coming into the regiment". Also note that the Inside Front page is labeled "Passed by Censors for Mailing Home". James Mortensen's autographed copy also verifies this.

2. It was also reprinted in the 517th Thunderbolt newspaper several years ago.

3. Some people have referred to this as the "Blue Book". Supposedly, this story of the 517 Parachute Combat Team also appeared as a three-part serial that ran in the popular Blue Book Magazine* on December 1947, January 1948, and February 1948. If true, this would be the first account of the 517 to appear in a nationwide publication. I have not been able to verify for sure whether this was actually serialized in Blue Book Magazine (copies of that are rare), but if not, where did the "Blue Book" name originate?  If you know for sure, please let me know. -- Bob Barrett.  (See update below)

Here is a complete copy in pdf format, provided by Steve Markle, son of Eugene C. Markle, 596 PEC

August 2005:  Now we know. Heather Cowan Riley, daughter of Ian Cowan of B Co., showed up at the Savannah reunion with a set of all three Blue Book magazines, as listed in #3 above.  We hope to be able to scan in these articles soon -- and see if they are the exact same stories. If so, then all three versions of the story are correct. -- BB

December 2006:  Heather Riley has photographed and sent us the pages of the Blue Book Magazine articles.  They are not repeats of the 517 PRCT booklet, but are unique stories, written for the magazine.