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News
From The
508
MARCH 2009 |
HENRY
LEFEBVRE, reports his wife MARY ALICE, “is very much still with us. As
has been said by my more famous people, the reports of his death are
greatly exaggerated.” The family has been besieged with expressions of
condolence which are, thankfully, not required. MARY ALICE contacted us
by both phone and mail to request that we let everyone know that
although “HANK” spent the better part of December through February in a
rehabilitation facility he “can still make his ideas known.” That is
great news and we all wish this iconic 508th member well.
GOURBESVILLE
MEMORIAL UNVEILING – Two men of I Company will be memorialized on June
4th in Gourbesville, France. The village lies about 5 miles NNW of Ste.
Mere Eglise. JAMES R. HATTRICK and R. B. LEWELLEN were best friends and
jumped one behind the other on D-Day. They were members of the stick led
by Col. Mendez. HATTRICK apparently landed near the village square and
was soon in a firefight with Germans. He did not survive. Meanwhile,
LEWELLEN dropped into a small field less than 100 meters distant. He too
soon encountered the enemy, exchanged fire and was severely wounded in
one hand. While attempting to evade the troops he was hit in the thigh
and captured. Brought to an enemy aid station in the town, his mangled
hand was amputated by a German doctor. R. B. spent the rest of the war
as a POW and now lives in Texas. It was many years before he learned of
his best friend’s fate.
RANDY
LEWELLEN will represent his father at the unveiling ceremony. RICHARD
O’DONNELL, who contributed to researching JAMES HATTRICK and located
HATTRICK’s final resting place, will represent the Family and Friends of
the 508th PIR Association.
TAPS – COLONEL PAUL W,
HAMBLIN was interred with full military honors in Arlington National
Cemetery on February 11, 2009. His casket was brought to the grave site
by a horse drawn caisson followed by a rider-less horse complete with
saddle, saber, and reversed boots, accompanied by a marching band and a
platoon of soldiers. A group of mourners comprised of Paul's former
military associates, friends and neighbors witnessed ceremonies that
included a 21 gun salute, and an outstanding bugler.
MARGARET SCHALASKY (widow of GEORGE, B Co.) died
November 3, 2008 according to a note received from, her daughter, MARY
ANNE DAVIS.
RESEARCHING - LTC
Elizabeth Coble, military historian and friend of the 508th holds two
masters degrees. Specializing in US Military History, she wrote her
thesis on LTG James Gavin. Liz is currently a student at the U.S. Army
War College where she is now preparing her Strategy Research Paper
(thesis equivalent) on Operation MARKET GARDEN, specifically the 82d's
AO. She was also approved to do an Elective on 82d Veterans' Oral
History of MARKET GARDEN.
“It
is my goal in these two projects,” she writes, “to help capture more of
the 82d's history, especially from veterans who have not yet told their
stories. I am seeking men who participated in MARKET GARDEN and would be
willing to talk with me about it. I am also interested in any
unpublished accounts of MARKET GARDEN that I could use. This could
include audio or video tapes, handwritten notes or letters, or typed
documents.”
Phone
LTC Coble at 703-344-4016 or send e-mail to elizabeth.coble@us.army.mil
(alternate email abnatw@gmail.com)
SEARCHING – RON ALLEGA, is
trying to piece together facts regarding the WW-II service of his
grandfather, MELIO ALLEGA. He has few known details and would welcome
input from anyone who knew MELIO who was a member of C Company and now
resides in Beaver County, PA.
TV
DOCUMENTARY BEING MADE AT WOLLATON PARK - the Archaeology Department,
Nottingham University has been provided with all of the information
GRAHAM LAWSON has on the 508th including, letters, stories, photographs
etc. LAWSON has met with JULIAN RICHARDS, an archeologist and British TV
personality to provide other insights. The documentary planning is now
85% complete and filming is planned for completion while the STATIC LINE
tour group visits Wollaton in June. In addition, the Elizabethan water
fountain at Wollaton Park is being considered as the site for the 508th
PIR Memorial, as the water will represent the flow of life. |
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SEND NEWS FOR THE COLUMN
TO:
Dick O’Donnell
760 Conestee Drive
Melbourne, FL 32904
PH: (321) 759-6174
e-mail:
Jumpmaster@508PIR.org
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