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News
From The
508
AUGUST 2007 |
MEMORIAL DAY 2007: From JAN BOS of The
Netherlands: A quote from BOS' Memorial Day e-mail: "I visited many
graves of the 82nd and 101st and Troops Carrier personnel who are buried
in the Margraten Cemetery: They were flight nurses killed when their
C-47, or nurses [who] were killed when their hospitals were strafed or
fired on by artillery. ...I also asked for adoption of several graves."
On the same day, BOS visited Neuville en
Condroz Cemetery south of Liege in Belgium.
From EMILE LACROIX of Belgium: In EMILE's e-mail he
wrote: "Today a delegation of the 82nd Airborne, Belgium Chapter C-47
Club, as each year, participated in the ceremonies at both US cemeteries
on Belgium soil." The 2 cemeteries are Neuville en Cordroz and Henri
Chapelle. They presented floral wreaths at each cemetery. The delegation
visited 39 graves of 82nd Airborne in the two cemeteries.
Adopted graves: Citizens of France, Belgium
and Holland adopt graves of US soldiers buried in their countries. Many
who adopt US graves in Europe want to learn about the soldiers whose
graves they have adopted. They hope to get in touch with surviving
family members of the deceased. When they are successful, it gives them
a personal connection to the graves and it is a comfort to the soldier's
loved-ones.
TAPS: FRANK STAPLES of D Company passed away May 23,
2007 at age 90 in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Frank's daughter, KRISTINE,
wrote that her father died peacefully after a short illness, which is
what he would have chosen.
FRANK joined the regular army in 1940 and
was stationed at Jefferson Barracks in St Louis from 1940-1943. In 1943
he volunteered for the paratroopers and served his country with the
508th Parachute Infantry until discharged in 1945.
LOIS HUMPHREY, a neighbor of the STAPLES family and
a friend of FRANK'S sister wanted to do her patriotic duty and write to
a serviceman. She chose FRANK as her soldier pen pal. FRANK and LOIS
became sweethearts by correspondence and married November 9, 1943 just
before the 508 shipped out for overseas duty.
FRANK made combat jumps into Normandy and
Holland and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. On July 4, during the
Normandy campaign, FRANK received a minor shrapnel wound on Hill 95 and
earned a Purple Heart. He suffered with frozen feet toward the final
days in the Bulge and was evacuated to England.
On returning home to Grand Marais, Minnesota
at the northeastern tip of the state on Lake Superior, he worked for the
Cook County Highway Department. He was a home loving husband and father,
and avid hunter and fisherman who loved poetry and woodcarving.
FRANK STAPLES is survived by his loving wife LOIS of 64 years, two
sons and two daughters, several grandchildren and one great grandson.
Memorial services were held for FRANK May 26,2007 at the First Baptist
Church of Grand Marais, where FRANK was an active member. Send memorials
to First Baptist Church, Grand Marais, MN 55604. Send condolences to Mrs
FRANK (LOIS) STAPLES, P. 0. Box 326, Grand Marais, MN 55603-0326.
(Reported by FRANK'S daughter KRISTINE NYMOEN).
News from HQ 1st from WARREN BROWN passed on
by JOE BRESSLER: WARREN BROWN'S sight is failing so write to him double
spaced large print at 123 Garden Dr, Springfield, MA 01119, or
phone(413) 782-9327. WARREN talks to GEORGE STOECKERT often but can no
longer take a drink with GEORGE. GEORGE'S prohibition is due to poor
circulation in his legs.
JIMMY WYNNE is going to England and
Normandy again this year. Phone: (757) 233-7735.
JOHN and ISABELL MARSHALL have gone back to
Iowa. ISABELL is recovering from a fall. Phone (515) 223-7735.
Keep praying for LAURA PALMER (TROY PALMER,
1206 Riverland, Evans, GA 30809.)
BILL FRIKEL lost his leg to diabetes: 802
8th Ave, S. Laurel, MT 59044.
MARION CUDDEBACK is well and still makes
homemade ice cream for visitors. (Get her phone number from WARREN
BROWN.)
DICK O’DONNELL, Webmaster and Chairman of
Family and Friends of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association,
has agreed to be the Interim Editor of the 508 STATIC LINE column
beginning with the September 2007 Issue. I have talked to our President
ROCK MERRITT about my problems and he supports me in my decision to turn
over the Interim Editor's duties to DICK O'DONNELL. I appealed to DICK
and he has graciously accepted this additional responsibility. DICK is
the O.B. HILL of the new Association, a prime mover of getting the
Association started. He is the logical person to edit the 508th STATIC
LINE Column.
I appreciate the confidence and support of
all of our readers and ask you to give the same support to DICK: Please
send information for the 508th STATIC LINE Column to: RICHARD J.
O'DONNELL, 760 Conestee Dr, W Melbourne, FL 32904-1812 USA; Phone (321)
759-6174;
E-mail <jumpmaster@508pir.org>.
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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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