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News
From The

508

MAY 2007

  
   New Association: I have learned that many of our 508th veterans are not aware of the Family and Friends of the W8tk Parachute Infantry Regiment (WWII) Association. The Association is having a reunion August 8-11 in Birmingham, Alabama. RICHARD J. O'DONNELL is the Interim Chairman. If you have questions, call Chairman O'DONNELL at (321) 727-1170 or e-mail at jumpmaster@508pir.org. His postal mailing address is 760 Conestee Drive, West Melbourne, FL 32904-1812, USA.
   TOM BENO and the Veterans Administration: TOM BENO has had a stroke, leaving him paralyzed on one side and unable to talk. The VA refuses to accept TOM for treatment because he cannot prove to their satisfaction that he qualifies. TOM's wife MONICA has submitted endless paperwork, but they still don't believe the testimony of his fellow G Company paratroopers ANGEL ROMERO and RALPH CAMPAGNA. Her local Service Representative is now encouraging her, who furnished her an address to get TOM's Service records. She feels she just has a few [more hurdles to jump before she can get help for TOM.
   TOM BENO deserves better treatment from our country. He parachuted into the enemy fire in air and on the ground on the night of June 5, 1944, before the ground troops hit the beaches on D-Day. TOM BENO who was with the G Company contingent that drove the Germans off Devil's Hill in Holland, and held out for five days surrounded by the enemy and repulsed wave after wave of enemy counterattacks, deserves better. TOM BENO, who during the Battle of the Bulge, was with Captain WILDE and Sergeant SIROVICA, the point group for G Company leading the attach that drove the Germans from Their du Mont, charging on in deep snow, with the eighty-eights firing point bank like rifles, so fierce that it ripped off the head of one trooper and a leg off Lieutenant JAMES FOWLER. TOM deserves respect and honor. at else need the BENO family need to do before the VA is willing to help this poor helpless sick man? Tonight I am writing Senator LINDSEY GRAHAM. I hope by the time you read this in the STATIC LINE, TOM will have been receiving medical help.
   TAPS: GORDON WILLIAM WAHTO, C Co and HQ 1st, died January 31, 2007, GORDON WAHTO was born in Douglas, Alaska. His Alaskan work career included, gold mining, commercial fishing and working for Standard Oil Company. He served in the 508th from 1942-45 and participated in all of the regiment's
campaigns. He received numerous awards, and was among the 508tn enlisted men to receive Battlefield Commissions. WAHTO s buried with full military honors at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.
  
Condolences may be sent to GORDON'S wife, Mrs DORIS IWAHTO at Box 24064, Douglas, AK 99824  (Reported by MARY McCALL, widow of JOHN McCALL, HQHQ Co)

March in the Footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Division

   EMILE Lacroix reported that almost 1000 marchers were present this past February. I know of four who represented the 1508th this year: GRAHAM LAWSON of Nottingham, England, DAVE PIKE formerly of Nottingham, now residing in Ste Mere Eglise, Normandy, ELLEN PETERS of Texas, USA, now teaching in

Digne, France.
   The marchers agreed that it was a beautiful warm sunny day and nice for hiking, however, a cold snowy day would have more nearly replicated our march in the winter of 1944-45.
   The National D-Day Memorial: JAMES WYNNE, HQ 1 St Co of the 508th, brought me informational material about the D-Day Memorial, located near Bedford, Virginia. JIM WYNNE told me that the location was chosen because the community of Bedford lost more soldiers killed on June 6, 1944 (D-Day) per capita than any other community in the USA. Bedford's population in 1944 was about 3,200; nineteen of their sons were killed on D-Day. WYNNE'S Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Raised $6,000.00 for the National D-Day Memorial Foundation.
   I quote the Foundation literature about the Monument: "The National D-Day Memorial is located at the interchange of Route 460 and 122 in the City of Bedford, between Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia. Access from route 460 to both Interstate 81 and Route 29 is within 25 miles of the Memorial."
   The Memorial is open daily between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, except Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years Day and inclement weather. During winter, visitors should call (800) 351-3329 to determine if the Memorial is open.  
Send news for column to
ZIG BOROUGHS, Interim 508th STATIC LINE Columnist
P.O. Box 1131
Pickens. SC 29671
PH: (864) 878-9523
e-mail: ralph.boroughs@att.net

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