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. 34205-7904
John Alicki
Ben....In rummaging through some old
records I came across the original certificate from The Parachute School
certifying that I satisfactorily completed the prescribed course in Parachute
Packing, Ground Training, and Jumping from a plane in flight, and therefore,
entitled to be rated from this date, January 16, l943, as a qualified
Parachutist. It is signed by Brigadier General, Howell,
Commandant.
I'm sending you a copy via U.S. Mail.
Don Gentry
Hello Ben, Just saw the monument with question marks in Mail Call
No. 1016. It is on the walkway from the visitors parking lot to the
Airborne Museum in Fayetteville, NC. I took a similar picture in June of 2002.
This was about the only thing I saw that gave recognition to the 517th. I'm
not sure what they have added on the inside since that
time.
Note that the 460th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
(460th PFAB) and the 596th Parachute Combat Engineer Company (596th PCEC) are
not recognized as members of this PRCT. They may have their own monuments along
the walkway. Perhaps one of your members could pay a visit for a headcount.
Maybe their logos could be added to the area next to the
517th. That may be why there is so much space available. Wonder
what it would cost?
Don Gentry
Jim Royer
Ben, I had a wonderful visit from Eddie Montfort. He was visiting
D.C.
and the 106th reunion. He then stayed the weekend with John Schaffner,
a
member of the 106th. I was not well, suffering from two weeks
of
diarrhea and losing 13 pounds, (they are still searching for the
cause)
. So John brought Eddie to see me on Sunday afternoon. June and
I were
to go to John's for dinner. What a wonderful young man is
Eddie
Montfort. It was indeed a great pleasure to meet him. We had a
great
visit. He presented me with a small figure of an American soldier,
made
by a friend of his. I gave him my money clip from our Savannah
reunion.
We are so proud to have such wonderful friends from Belgium, such
young
friends who were not even born when we fought for their freedeom,
and
who take such a great interest in us. I shall always cherish the
memory
of Eddie's visit.
Jim Royer, Hq 3rd.
