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WE WISH ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013
Monday, the 24th of September 2012 will be forever remembered as the day of loosing our beloved friend, mentor and a wonderful man Sidney "Sid" Laufer (513th P.I.R.), Company F. We will miss you buddy and we will never forget you !
R.I.P.
Wednesday, the 29th of August 2012
The past weekend, we went to the Air show in Pilsen-Line. A big number of interesting aircrafts could be seen there, their interesting show in the air also. We have represented the 17th Airborne Division not only in the military camp, but also in the simulated battle, which was very welcomed by the visitors. All the weekend we had a beautifull weather, so the event was in all ways a succes. Some pictures again on our Facebook page.
Wednesday, the 29th of August 2012
The first weekend of august, our group went to a planned Training Camp in a well known area. All members, command included, were forced to pass the physical tests, tactical exercises and teoretical preparation during all weekend. Everybody did just well and the commanding officers were very pleased with the results and the efforts. We would like to continue in this way and try to improve the skills and knowledge of our members in the future. Some pictures can be seen on our Facebook page.
Tuesday, the 15th of May 2012
During the first weekend of May, we attended the Freedom Celebrations in the town of Pilsen again, as we did last year. The atmosphere was just great, people were excited and we spend a very good time together with our re-enactor friends. And the name of the 17th Airborne Division was reminded again, as our group was in the front of the liberating convoy.
Airborne, all the way !
Pictures in the gallery.
Monday, the 14th of May 2012
From the 10th of March until the 27th of March 2012, we were visiting the United states of America again. Our journey brought us to places like Camp Mackall, Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, Special Ops and Airborne Museum in Fayetteville and the Gen. Lee Museum. We really enjoyed these places a lot but the main focus was on the 17th Airborne Division reunion held in Lancaster, PA. We have met our friends again, spend a wonderfull time together and for the new guys it was like Christmas. We appreciate the efforts of Michele Smith, Isaac, Rose and all the others, so we all could have this wonderfull time together.
Pictures can be seen in the gallery.
Saturday, the 4th of February 2012
Last weekend, our group went thru an amazing event once again. The bitter cold weather and the strenght of the enemy was verry hard to overcome, but we all managed both of these conditions and forced the enemy to give up at the end. We would like to thank everybody involved on both sides.
The gallery can be seen HERE
Wednesday, the 1st of February 2012
Thanks to Judy´s Imre letter from the 14th of January 2012, we received the sad news about the passing away of Robert C. Hultman. He was with the F Company, 513th PIR, 17th Airborne Division. We were honored to meet him in person and we would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and his friends.
May he rest in peace.
Thursday, the 10th of November 2011
Tomorrow, on the 11th of November 2011, all veterans worldvide are celebrating their day, the Veterans day. We would like to thank all of them, no matter which unit, conflict or nationality, for their efforts and sacrifice for the good of all of us.
Thank you all, we will never forget !
Friday, the 28th of October 2011
  
On the 24.10.2011 our dear friend and a veteran of the 17th Airborne Division, 513th PIR, Company D Curtis Gadd was celebrating his 90th Birthday.
We would like to wish him all the best, a good health and many great moments for the upcoming years.
Tuesday, the 30th of august 2011
Unfortunately, we received very sad news in the past couple of days. Our dear friends and veterans of the 17th Airborne Division Thomas E. Connolly (513th PIR Company F) and James S. Lauria (681st GFAB Battery A) passed away on the 22nd and 23rd of august 2011.
We would like to express our deepest sympathy to their families and friends. We will never forget !
   
Thomas E. Connolly - 513th PIR Company F James S. Lauria - 681st GFAB Battery A
Monday, the 29th of august 2011
PILSEN KIT + Air Show in Líně
In the days 26-28.8.2011 our group was attending the traditional event Pilsen KIT and on sunday we moved to the Airfield in Pilsen-Líně, where we did participate on an imaginary battle for the spectators. There was also a lot of airplanes to see, pictures can be seen HERE.
Tuesday, the 16th of august 2011
Margraten + Ursel 2011
This year we were attending the Ursel (Belgium) "Wings & Wheels" event again. The first weekend of August, 7 men from our unit were attending this very popular and attractive event. You could find a lot of vehicles, camps, demonstrations from WWI until the modern era of all army outfits and of course a large amount of selling stands in Ursel. The weather was not always the best, but all of us enjoyed this trip again very much.
On our way back, we made a stop in Margraten (Holand) to honor the fallen troopers of the 17th Airborne Division again. We´ve visited the graves of Jack Cook, Chin Tom and of course the adopted grave of Gerald C. Reed. The moments on the cemetary are always very strong and they keep you thinking about what all this men have suffered for us all. We will never forget them ! Some pictures can be seen over HERE.
Tuesday, the 16th of August 2011
"Dirty five"
Our unit went three weeks ago to a planned Training camp to military ground near the town of Pilsen. Thanks to the surprise of the enemy activity in the area, the heavy rain we had all the weekend and the cold, was this traing camp one of the hardest tests for our unit. Pictures can be seen HERE.
Monday, the 18th of July 2011
Airborne, all the way !
To this motto, we tried to get closer again on the 9th of July 2011. Eight of our members were trained near the town of Pilsen on an Airfield, where they also made their first jump on the next day, on an Army parachute from the altitude of 600 m (cca 2000 ft.). All of them survived and you can really soon find some pictures HERE and the complete story over HERE.
 
Wednesday, the 18th of May 2011
On the 19th of May, our dear friend and a WWII veteran Howard R. Huebner, will celebrate his 88th birthday. He was a member of the 507th PIR. We would like to wish him all the best for the upcoming years and a happy birthday !
 
Wednesday, the 11th of May 2011
To celebrate the end of the war in Europe, we were attending the celebrations in the town of Pilsen, together with our friends from the re-enacting group of the 2nd ID Pilsen. The event took place from the 6th of May until the 8th of May 2011. It was a successfull event in our mind and there was a lot of positive feedback from the audience also. The pictures can be seen in our gallery.
Monday, the 25th of April 2011
During our visit at the Lancaster reunion of the 17th Airborne Division veterans, we were honored with the Honorary membership in the 17th Airborne Division. This was not only a great honor for all of our members, but also a sign for us, that the work we are trying to do has made some impression at the veterans and the relatives and families as well. We will of course continue in our efforts to keep the memory of the 17th Airborne Division alive.
Saturday, the 23rd of April 2011
Our re-enacting group was organizing a public event which was named Assault - April 1945 and was held on the 16th of April 2011. The main event was focused on the allied advance at the end of the war and there were two demonstrations during Saturday, with a german assault on an allied convoy.
The presence of audience was very high and the feedback from all participants was also very good. Again, the name of the 17th Airborne Division was brought to the daylight even more. You can find some pictures in our gallery.
Sunday, the 3rd of April 2011
We had the chance to meet not only our known friends at the reunion, but also some new veterans, we only knew from emails, letters or phone calls until this day. We would like to mention John J. Schumacher (194th GIR, Co D) and Jack Ariola (194th GIR, Co B). They both were helping us a lot even before we have met them, with informations, stories, documents or pictures for our website. On the first picture from left are John J. Schumacher and John W. Leather (194th GIR, Co F). On the second picture is Jack Ariola.
 
Saturday, the 2nd of April 2011
We have just arrived from another 17th Airborne Division which was held again in Lancaster, PA in the days between the 20. - 25. March 2011. There was about 28 veterans attending the reunion from all regiments of the division, many family members and relatives or friends. The reunion was also covered by the local newspaper and a local TV channel (video). A new organisation was founded, on behalf of John Kormann´s wish, with the name "The Charter of the Order of the Scions of the 17th Airborne". All members of this charter should continue in perpetuating of the memory of the 17th Airborne Division and all soldiers of this division. The main focus is to take care of the living veterans, organizing of meetings and contacting all possible family members and veterans, who can no longer attend the meetings or are not aware of them.
 
Tuesday, the 18th of January 2011
With a heavy heart, we received the sad news from his family and Veronica Smith, that our dear friend and a veteran of the 17th Airborne Division, Raymond P. Leuthy (139th Engineer Batallion) passed away in the early hours this morning. Ray would be celebrating his 88th birthday on February 11th. We would like to express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. We will never forget you Ray, rest in peace.
Sunday, the 3rd of January 2011
A story and informations about our dear friend Col. John G. Kormann you can find after cklicking HERE or in the section 17th AB Men Stories.
Sunday, the 31st of October 2010
  
Elwood Wesley
Born January 11, 1925 in Hogue , Kentucky . Died June 16, 2009 in Columbus, Indiana . He was inducted into the US Army on April 7, 1943 and served until January 7, 1946.
He was a qualified paratrooper and a mortar gunner with Company C of the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. He served his country courageously during the Ardennes ( Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland and Central European campaigns. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action as well as the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.
He was wounded on March 25, 1945 in Wesel, Germany near the Issel canal during Operation Varsity. He was initially treated by a German doctor who lived near the canal. He was then taken to an aid station. There was some delay in removing the bullet from his leg and so infection set in. They could not remove the bullet until the infection was under control. Because of this delay, the war was over when he was finally able to rejoin his unit in Berlin .
Thanks to Tim Wesley for photos and information about his father.
Monday, the 18th of October 2010
Ludie L. Smyth, 513th P.I.R. Co H, was born on the 1. April of 1919 in Titus County in the eastern Texas.
He joined the Army in 1940. He was transfered to Fort Mears, Alaska in 1941. He joined the fights of the Islands in 1942 after attacking by Japan.
He was then transfered to Fort Benning and assigned to the 513th PIR, Company H.
He was attending in the Operation Varsity during March 1945.
Ludie L. Smyth was KIA on the 3.April 1945 in the Town of Wesel, only two days after his 26. birthday.
We appreciate the support of Karen Hyatt, thanks for the picture and infos of her uncle.
Wednesday, the 15th of September 2010
We are glad to present a great effort of our dear friend Jos Bex from Holland. His E.T.O. tours should be attractive for each one of you. The link follows in the graphic, just click on it.
Tuesday, the 6th of July 2010
Thanks to Mrs. Roy Carroll, we can present you another short story of a former 513th PIR trooper Veto C. Fuller (513th PIR, Company I). The article can be found HERE
Sunday, the 30th of May 2010
Pamela Steadman, daughter of Howard Huebner (507th PIR) asked us for the presentation of the new movie, which will have the world premiere in Normandy, during the June D-Day celebrations. Howard as we are told, will not be able to be there unfortunately. We are happy to help with the presentation and all of you can see the movie-poster here.
Monday, the 24th of May 2010
Col. John Kormann (517th SG) is always ready to answer our questions and he is writing to us very often. The last time he was telling us some very important words which we would like to share :
"Dear Cenda & Pavel,
Your activities provide such a useful service in reminding everyone of what took place in those fateful years from 1939-1945. The world would be a different place today, if many had not given their lives to assure that the rest of us could live in peace and freedom.
My wife, Elsa, and I are well and busy. We often tell our friends about your reenacting and are proud to have you representing and perpetuating the memory the 17th Airborne Division. Stay healthy and keep up the good work !"
John
Wednesday, the 19th of May 2010
Today, our dear friend and veteran of the 507th P.I.R., 17th Airborne Division, Howard R. Huebner is celebrating his 87th birthday. We wish him a happy birthday, all the best and the best of health for the upcoming years.
Tuesday, the 23rd of March 2010
We have been attending (07. March - 12. March) at the Bill Smith´s Mini Reunion in Lancaster, PA. It was a very beautiful event with many great people and we did enjoy every minute. Special thanks to Bill and Michelle Smith, Rose Friday, Isaac Epps and Peter Schleck. Pictures are located in the gallery HERE, the report is located HERE.
Wednesday, the 27th of January 2010
With a heavy heart and big sorrow, we have received a message from Bill Tom :
"Our beloved Colonel Del Townsend, President of the 17th Airborne Association, passed away today at 4:58 PM Eastern Time, 26 January 2010. He was in his 89th year.
Peter Schleck and Rose Friday were present at his departure, Colonel Kormann and Isaac Epps were enroute to the hospital.
Del was recouperating in peace at the hospital, and he shall now remain at peace for all his Eternity.
Dear God, We, the 17th Airborne society, grieves for our great loss."
Our prayers are with his family, we will never forget you Del !
Del´s Bio : here
 
 
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