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Fantastic web site dedicated to the 17th Airborne Division.

Thank You Very Much For This Tribute To These Paratroopers.

Warmest Regards,

John

Love It!!  My Grandpa, John W. Howden is on here.  Very Interesting!

It is often assumed that the camaraderie, bravery and sacrifices of the front line troops in WWII have faded. Perhaps in the memories of most Americans, but not in the families of those who did the fighting.

My oldest brother, Edwin Bray Booth, was killed in action on the 24th of March 1945.   Yet my daughters, born two and one half decades after his death, grew up with knowledge of and admiration for their uncle, and bray's great nieces and nephews, ages 15 to 4 are similarly imbued with that knowledge,and mark his birthday and the anniversary of his death. amongst their own families.  but such moments of remembrance are not occasions of mourning, but of some pride, and, even among the youngest, gives them a sense of their own inheritance both within our family and within the history of our country and its ideals

I have my dads scrap book and yearbook from the 17th  513th pluss ++++ a lot of photos

He would have loved this stuff! and wanted me to share with you all. He passed away 29 years ago, His grand Children know the storys I remember.

Thank you for making this page! I am the granddaughter of Donald Nestor, 17th Airborne Division, Co E.  He showed me his dog tag you found in the foxhole when you had sent it to him to see.  I sent the link to your page to my family and will be sure he sees what you've done with all the information and artifacts

Hi Richard!

He sure is! :)  ... although he is in the hospital right now with a broken foot and arm infection :(.  He remembers the places and people in the pictures, esp. Melvin Lagoon and Charles Leeper, his friend who was killed next to him in the war.  He had told me about that incident many years ago, so now I am able to put faces to those stories.  He went to the reunions every year while I was growing up, but not so much after my Grandma passed away in 1994.  He has always told me stories about the war, so I recognized them reading through your website.  I have occasionally looked for information on the internet about his division, but unfortunately, rarely found anything.  I had looked them up again a few weeks ago and that's when I found the picture of his dog tag. I remembered it was green and recognized it before I even read what was on it!  I always wondered what became of it after he sent it back to you.  That's how I came across your website.  Lots of great information and pictures on here and they are definitely deserving of such a nice tribute!  Also, it's nice for the families of the soldiers to be able to read about their experiences and to see the different photos that would not have been accessible had you not collected and shared them!  I am trying to get all of his army pictures and anything else he has scanned into the computer so maybe he can identify them while he is still around to do so.  If I am able to accomplish this, I'll send you copies of anything you don't already have. There aren't many of them left, so it's important to preserve as much as possible for future generations.

 ...on another note, I see your website info is en Francais :).   I had 2 years of French in high school and in trying to translate a few unknown words, decided to re-learn the language. Surprisingly, I am finding I do actually remember most of the basics and plan to become fluent at some point .... but this may take a while! Ha ha! :)

Tara

Hi Richard,

I'm afraid I have some bad news to share.  My grandfather, Donald Troutman Nestor, 17th Airborne Division, co.E, passed away today :(.  As mentioned before, when we come across his army belongings and photos, I'll send a copy of anything I can find your way so you can add it to your website.

thanks,

Tara

Looking for anyone who knew my Dad PFC Leo Aragon of Los Angeles, Ca. He served at the Bulged with the 17th Airborne. Thanks

Thank you for your research. I found my father (Lt. Dennis Jones) as well as mentions of Lt. Johnny Knight, who was my father's best friend until he was killed in combat. This research is so critical in saving the details of history.

Good pages:)!!!

Hello,

My two uncle's were with the 17th. Laurence Behringer, 411th QM, and his brother Frank Barringer CO.C, 517th PIR. Frank and their father changed the spelling of their last name right before he entered service. I was wondering if someone from your site could e-mail me a clearer photo attachment of the CO. C, First Battalion that you have on your web site. Frank is the 11th soldier in from the right side 3rd row standing with the letters (KIA) written on his image.

Kind regards,

Shawn Smith

• • TFH

    Dimanche 15 Janvier 2017 à 09:32

    Hi Shawn,

    many thanks for these interesting info. Yes I can but I need your email address. Drop me an email and I'll send you the pic.

    Richard

You've done a great job on this web site it's very informative! My father is in the picture of the 17TH Airborne Division, 466th PFAB titled: March 24 1945. He's the T4 Sgt. DeWitt Housel who is helping Lt. James L. Nammack and Lt. John Stacy with their shoots. My father also served in the 82nd and 101st Airborne. He passed away about 4 years ago and for many years went to reunions with others he served with. He was interviewed on June 6 2003 and can be seen in the National Archives. Thanks to people like you our American hero's of past wars will be remembered forever. THANKS!hoto  

• • TFH

    Dimanche 15 Janvier 2017 à 09:34

    Hi John,

    thanks for the info and comment. It is important to make such a memory job and I like it !

    Thanks also for the info and don't hesitate to send me more info on your father. I'll published a dedicated Tribute.

    Richard

My  Grandfather Fred Asikainen was in the 17th Airborne. His picture is on here somewhere. 

• • TFH

    Dimanche 12 Février 2017 à 18:25

    Hi Steve,

    Yes, your Grandfather Fred W ASIKAINEN (July 27, 1923 - May 18, 2003) was member of the 194th GIR (ASN 37611127). After the VE Day, he was assigned to Company B / 517th PIR / 13th AB.

    Richard

Thank you for honoring our Soldiers with your website. Rock of the Marne.

Toby Knight

• • TFH

    Dimanche 12 Mars 2017 à 09:11

    Many thanks Toby for your comments !

    Richard

I just found this page. As you see my father was with411 airborne quartermaster co.. how do I get his picture added to nam?

• • TFH

    Dimanche 30 Avril 2017 à 17:46

    Hi Carmen,

    nice to read you. You can join me by the "Contact" and I'll complete the pics with your father's name.

    Richard