517th Parachute Infantry Regt "Short Snorter"

[siege1863]

Fantastic "short snorter" signed by 44 members of HQ Company of the 1st Battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment. As part of the 517th PRCT, the unit saw fighting in Italy, parachuted into Southern France ("Operation Dragoon"), and was part of the force rushed to stop the German breakthrough in the Ardennes ("Battle of the Bulge"). Much info on the men and their service can be found on the "517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team" website.

 

Enjoy.

 

 

"Jack J. Larson"--Jack J. Larson

"Don Rufener"--Donald K. Rufener

"Carl Larsen"--Carl G. Larsen

"Danny Fisher"--Daniel A. Fisher (KIA-15 AUG 44)

"Lloyd R. H."--Lloyd R. Hilsabeck

"William Sanford"--William J. Sanford

"Dale E. Booth"--Dale E. Booth

"Ray Johnson"--Raymond ? Johnson

"Joe Sumpter"--Joseph Sumpter

"Joseph C. Morton"--Joseph C. Morton

"Pat Petrulo"--Patsy M. Petrulo

"R. M. Jones"--Robert M. Jones

"A. F. Beam (Barney)"--Alvin F. Beam

"Orville Downey"--Orville E. Downey

"John Forrest"--John W. Forrest

"Ed Jolly"--Edward M. Jolly

"H. L. Curtis"--Harland L. Curtis

"Ed Easterly"--Edward Y. Easterly

"Bob Tillery"--Robert L. Tillery

"Bob Lynch"--Robert ? Lynch

"Frank Steggert"--Francis X. Steggert

"Ramon Mendoza Jr."--Ramon Mendoza Jr.

[siege1863]

 

 

"Walter Duzinski"--Walter S. Duzinski

"Marvin D. Tetrick"--Marvin D. Tetrick

"R. K. Clink"--Ralph K. Clink

"‘Spike' Alspaugh"--Clarence E. Alspaugh

"John Russell"--John D./J. Russell

"Ray Woods"--Raymond H. Woods

"Bill Beckstrom"--Wilbur R. Beckstrom

"L. Dombos"--Lowell Dombos

"Richard M. Hellon"--Richard M. Hellon

"Bob Webber"--Robert B. Webber

"L.A. Holly"--Lawrence A. Holly

"Bob Fidler"--Bobby Fidler (KIA-23 DEC 44)

"Joe Sliakis"--Joseph P. Sliakis

"Ted Pierce"--Teddy P. Pierce

"Gordon Lippman"--"Gordon L.ippman

"John Kallen"--John Kallen

"J. A. ‘Wahoo Reno' Vesco"--James A. Vesco

"Tamerlano"--William P. Tamerlano

"K. S. Glore"--Kenneth S. Glore

"Clifford Williams"--Clifford L. Williams

"Pvt John T. Marsinko"--John T. Marsinko

"Sgt D. C. J. Coleman"--Daniel C. J. Coleman

[Baker502]

Nice find, still want to find a 101st one like this, the closest thing I have is a 1st ID one on and invasion Lira for Sicily...Great piece of history..Paul

[rissajaneen]

Hello,

Back in 2011 you posted a scan of a short snorter bill signed by members of the 517th.  Do you still have this, and would you ever consider selling it? 

 

My grandfather was John Marsinko who signed the back of the bill.  He was the radio operator for Colonel Boyle throughout the war. He died in 2015 at the age of 91.

 

Another name on the bill include Danny Fisher, who was killed in action early in the war.  Danny is partially responsible for how my grandparents got together.  There were two pretty girls who worked at the Western Union. Danny wanted to go out with one of them and wanted my grandpa to go out with the other.  She wasn't sure she wanted to go out with him though because she didn't like his mustache.  The story goes that Danny shaved off part of Grandpa's mustache while he was asleep, so then he had to shave the other half and the pretty girl ended up going out with him.  The double date ended up as a double wedding before the 517th got sent overseas.  My grandpa and Kathleen, the girl from the Western Union, were married over 50 years.

 

Another name on the bill that I know was Dale Booth.  The story goes that he was responsible for saving Grandpa when he got shot.  My cousin's middle name is Dale as a remembrance of that.

 

Bob Lynch is another familiar name.  He and my grandpa were close friends their entire lives.

 

It would mean a lot to me to get this bill, sort of a piece of our family's past.  I can imagine all these guys at a bar somewhere in Italy passing the bill around.  Grandpa was always proud of his service and talked about his experiences often.   I realize that short snorters are valuable items, and I'm happy to pay for it if you are willing to part with it.

[otter42]

Rissajaneen, if you send him a personal message he may respond more then posting it here. Since his post is 14 years old he may not see your post here. Good luck, neat stories behind the names.

[rissajaneen]

Thanks Otter42, I did send him a personal message too.  He seems to still be active on this forum, so there is always a chance!

 

If anyone is interested in the 517th, there is a documentary on youtube that is pretty neat.  There is a part of this documentary that talks about the first time the 517th encountered the Germans, and it talks about how Colonel Boyle was leading the march (which he shouldn't have been doing) when the Germans ambushed them.  He and Grandpa got trapped and some other guys had to get them out of it.  It was funny to hear the version in the documentary versus the version that my grandpa used to tell!: