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My uncle ssgt Robert weeks was a soldier in the 513th PIR Hqrts co !st bn. Hew was taken prisoner 4 jan 1945 in the vicinity of flohamont/flamierge. He contracted pneomonia on the way north to his first POW camp and was transferred again to Stalg10. He died in the Sandbostel 23 april 1945 as troops advanced upon his area. Died of broncho pneumonia and was intrerred in haste in a French section of the cemetery in a grave marked uknwn amer soldat. His remains were removed and interred in a temporary area of the Greisham/main mausoleum in Frankfurt Germany and finally positively identified in November 1952 and permantly interred with his fellow countrymen and heroes In the Ardennes American Military Cemetery in Neuville En Condros. I hope to vist him some day as he was named my godfather in absentia by my mom,his sister. I also want to visit the exact area where he spent his last fighting hours on the morning of 4 jan,1945. She waited 7 long years for him to come back probably knowing she would never see him again buit never giving up hope til the final telegram came. As only a kid her crying for days after she got the final news.

I would appreciate any and all minor details that anyone can supply regarding SSgt Weeks. probably noone left that may have know him?

Regards

Joe Stewart

This site is very informative and after spending a few days last summer in Belgium and Normandy it has renewed my interest in the service of my grandfather.  He was a paratropper for the 17th airborne, he didn't talk much about his time in the service and no one really asked.  If you happen in your research come across information for an Azio Rossi, I would be grateful for the information.

Thanks.

My father is Gerald L Corey and a served with the 17th Airborne, 193rd HQ battalion, any photos you can share from then would be appreciated.  He is still alive and well and living Richardson, Texas.  

thank you

This is a very informative site!

Thank you.

My father, PFC Raymond C. Felch (16096228) was in the 513 2 bn Co. C. He was wounded on Jan. 6th, 1945 in Belgium from mortar fire. I am trying to find the exact location - village or such- where he was wounded. I know he was in a farm or other building when wounded, possibly a command post. He was listed as an orderly or runner. Also he was the one who submitted the name for the paper "Thirteener". I have a newspaper article with he being interviewd when his entry was selected and he was awarded a watch for being the successful entry.  I am hoping to find out any more information about his time in Belgium as possible. I was there once and am planning on returning if I can locate more information about his location there.

Respectively,

Charles Felch

My father was Claude L. Edwards and was 17th Airborne, 513th P.I.R. I would appreciate ANY boot camp pictures or any info on my father. He was a POW, and also escaped. He sadly passed away in 2006 at the age of 81, and I miss him every single day. Thank you.

Found 17th airborne  513   photo with father in it like to send it

Thank you so much for your beautiful tributes here. My beloved uncle was 1 Lt. Robert Joseph Gilles,513th PIR, Co. F. He was killed at Flamierge, Belgium on Jan. 8, 1945. I was born in 1955 so unfortunately I didn't get to know him but he has had a profound impact on my life. I now feel a little closer to him as I look through your site. God Bless you for keeping their memories alive !

I would like to post my email address for anyone who would like to communicate with me, especially anyone who has information about my uncle, 1 Lt. Robert J. Gilles. Thank you and here's my email address : mehodgson55@gmail.com

Nov 10, 2014

Thank you so very much for putting this tribute to my Uncle Ludie SMYTH and the 513th on your web site. Also, thank you for information my family wasn't aware of. We were not sure if he flew from England to France and had no idea what plane or type of plane he was on. Just today I was reading old letters that he had written to my grandmother when he was stationed in Fort Mears Alaska in 1941 & 1942 telling her not to believe anything she heard on the radio. He didn't want her to know they were fighting there, as my Dad, Tomas SMYTH, was stationed in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese bombed there.  I also recently found a letter that told Ludie was killed in Buldern, Germany while on a patrol looking for German snipers. A German sniper shot him once in the head and he died instantly.  If you ever hear another story of someone who might have been with him that day please contact me. I pray he was not alone. I did find in researching that another soldier by the name of Harry Green of the 513th was killed on the same day in Buldern as well. If you happen to have any photos of where this might of taken place I would like to see them. I did however learn that the town was almost destroyed during the war.  Also, the group picture you have posted, could you email me a JPEG copy of it.  I can't make any faces out on my computer.  I have a different one that was taken in England but has some bad spots and will not lay flat. I will try to scan it and if you would send me your email I will send it to you.  

Once again, thank you for honoring all these brave men,

Karen SMYTH Hyatt

700 Battlecreek Lane

Leander, Texas  78641

texas57@att.net

God Bless You

My father MSGT Robert Kurisko often told the story of how he was walking down a road next to a fellow soldier who was married, had kids and I thought was a teacher.  A shot rang out from a German sniper and his fellow soldier was hit and died instantly. He often wondered why his fellow soldier died and he did not. I have been to only 2 reunions of the 17th - it was in the war room I first heard this story.

Thank you for that tribute! It is very informative. He also spoke of his first jump. He was to be the next to  last to jump. The soldier who was last in line had a bad feeling and asked my Dad to switch with him. My Dad agreed. That soldier died on the way down. Again, he asked why he survived and so many died. He was also trained in some type of "recoil" ?? gun capable of destroying or damaging German tanks. Received one of his awards for doing so. I was also told all of the war correspondents died on the first jump. Hence very few pictures of the 17th.

Superbe travail. Je ne connaissais pas et viens de découvrir le site. Bravo

Gunter G. Gillot Jr

European Center of Military History

Honorary Member 17th A/B Division

Francorchamps Belgium

I`ve adopted several years ago the grave of paratrooper, Harry Green at the American Cemetery at Margraten.
Harry Green served in the 17th AB / 513th PIR and took part in operation Varsity. On the way to Munster, Harry died of wounds on the 3rd of April 1945 by capturing the small german town called Buldern.
Does anyone have some information about Harry Green or information about the capturing of Buldern?

GRTXS Herman