Ben:
       I finally found Bette's Mulligan Guard Card after turning my office upside down as a result of Bob;s Message.
       I am mailing the card to you tomorrow. You can return it to me at the Florida Mini Reunion. It would be difficult to send it by e-mail as you will note when you read it. I will however try to describe the card as best I can. Here goes:
       The Mulligan Guard Membership Cards were not issued to the membership until 1953. Bette's card was signed by John Joseph James Lissner as Chief Guardsman on January 18, 1953. Her Card is Numbered Number 26. The top of the Card indicates John's assignment at the time the card was issued was with the 3rd Battalion, 503rd
Airborne Infantry Regiment. I believe it was commanded at that time by our own then Colonel Lou Walsh. The card reads- " This Is To Certify That Guardsman Mrs. Bette Cross #26 is a Loyal and Tested Member of the Airborne Mulligan Guards. Date of Warrant/ 18 Jan 53. Signed John Joseph James Lissner.".
       The following comment was written on the reverse side of the Membership Card: " Includes spouse if an original Guards Man.". It was initialed JJJL. The reason for this comment was twofold. First, I had lost my card and he wanted to make it clear that I was beholding to Bette for membership perks. Secondly, the Chief Guardsman had ordained that Members who did not have a card in their possession at the time of a social engagement could be challenged and if they did not have their card or some special dispensation such as being officially authorized, as in Bette's case, to have an endorsement initialed by John then that
Guardsman had to stand payment for all drinks consumed by fellow Guardsmen then present. It was his way of making certain I was fined if Bette was not present.
This cost me a lot of jump pay because wives were not encouraged to visit their husbands during the work week while we were at Camp Toccoa. Lou Walsh did permit the married officers, which were few in number, to go home to their wives in the Town of Toccoa on Saturday night and Sunday nights but come Monday, AM had to be present for the early morning run. I guess this does it for now.
Regards, Tom

Guys:
       I have done it again. Here is Correction # 2A. Had to get out of the sack for this one. Was almost asleep when I realized that Lou Walsh was not commanding the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment at the time period I stated in my message. In fact he was on his way to becoming an Army Aviator and a Major General. If you are going to place this in a e-mail message for Mail Call would appreciate your doing some editing of my original message on this subject.
       Have finally traced all of these errors to a problem with the operating nut directly in rear of the key board. This is a new computer and was OK until the operating nut behind the keyboard began a series of malfunctions.
       Hope you understand my problem. Now back to the sack.
Tom

I was looking at the WWII photos on the web site, and saw Carmen Gauthier standing with the Regimental Flag of the 517^th PRCT at Fort Benning GA. Where is that flag today? Who maintains it? Is it maintained at Fort Benning? Where can someone see the flag?

Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1^st Bn___________________________________________________________________________

Lory Curtis

Thanks for that information. I forgot to ask you where at Fort Benning is it displayed? When my father and I visited there in September the 507^th Bn HQ had many flags from WWII in it’s foyer. Is it there? You know CPT Terry of C Company is having a dedicatory display case put up in his company to the 517^th. Do you think they would put the flag there?

Lory

Bob Christie

Ben, I would like to get the music that goes along with the Mulligan Guards. Maybe we can go to a music store in Sarasota. They seem to have everything that has been written or can get it.It would great to play and sing it at the reunion. Boy!! will we have a time. Maybe we can get the Para Bear Napper to say a few Words.And don't forget the surprise act direct from Broadway.It would be great if Pat Seitz could come.Man OH Man what a time that will be., "Broadway Bob", my nickname during my thespian days. Bob

Dorothy Mackenzie

Hi Ben........Was so happy to get the words of The Mulligan Guards sent in by Edward Harringtona dnd David Braham. One of the only times I heard it sung was in Raleigh at a convention there. John Lissner, Tommy Thompson, my Jim and I were on our way to the hotel when John decided to take a short cut. We ended up in a railroad yard, windows open and the men singing at the top of their lungs. I really couldn't hear the melody...just lusty singing. Wondeer if there is a recording ot the song that I could obtain..Brings back lots of good memories. I plan to ask Tom Cross to sing it for us at the "mini". Dorothy

Dorothy Mackenzie

Hi Ben.......Thanks a lot for the music for the Mulligan Guards. I'll ask our daughter to play it for me on the piano, and perhaps, just perhaps I can join Tom Cross singing it a t the "Mini." You have become such a good friend. What would we do without you!!!!!!! Dorothy

Floyd Polk

http://www.hiswordoftruth.com/freedom_does_not_come_free%20Page%2012.htm