Comments on: Operation Varsity: 17th Airborne Division Member Frank J. O’Rourke Recalls the Assault http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:31:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Stan henning http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-146837 Stan henning Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:35:31 +0000 #comment-146837 I have recently aquired a print from a painting called "The Drop Zone" depicting events of Operation Varsity. The original painting was by Pfc Robert. M. Baldwin Co.H, 507 P.I.R. 17AB. Can anyone tell me anything about the painter and where the original is now. Thanks, It really is true when they say that "a picture tells a thousand words!" I have recently aquired a print from a painting called “The Drop Zone” depicting events of Operation Varsity. The original painting was by Pfc Robert. M. Baldwin Co.H, 507 P.I.R. 17AB. Can anyone tell me anything about the painter and where the original is now. Thanks, It really is true when they say that “a picture tells a thousand words!”

]]> By: Mike Vowell http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-126518 Mike Vowell Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:40:07 +0000 #comment-126518 Seeking Information regarding Lt. Clair. J. Vowell, C Company, 139th AB, Engineer Battalion, 117th AB Interested in unit history, dad didn't talk much about his experience and has since passed away. Talked a bit about funny things but something really bothered him, mentioned Sgt. being sent to a stockade and killed trying to escape. He blamed another officer, said it was uncalled for. I was told he and others had been captured during the Bulge but were able to kill the guards and escape into the woods and rejoin the AB unit. He had no use for the British after Market Garden, said their command caused many deaths of AB, Brit and American He was trained in Tank Destroyers but got into trouble and was "voluneered" for the AB Mentioned losing a soilder to locals during war games in Texas, and running off a another soldier's parachute afer falling on it during a decent. Landed in a tobacco field and the locals stopped yelling about stripping his gear before the military arrived. Also said they did less then 500 ft jumps, no reserve, one swing then he was down. Gave one leg a reserve full of sawdust after he kept poping his reserve in training. Used a Thompson in towns and a M-1 in the field. Kept his bars under the collar, chewed out by Patton for not having a helmet on. Traded a farm house with the Germans during the Bulge, each side would booby trap the house finally they lost the house and blew the stove. Took all the ammo from the replacements arriving after war, one had put a boozka rd into the local cat house. Caused the veterans to be very upset, the girls had gone on strike until compensated. Sent into the German Alps after the SS, buried many in the caves they were hiding in. Came back to the states on the Queen Mary, parade through New York while the MPs stripped all the war souveniors out of the units baggage. Lost a SS belt buckle pistol to them. He was very upset to learn the "kids" they captured and sent to the rear were starved and ill treated by the rear echelon units. Told me the Germans were using wood bullets near the end of the war. CID tried to buy gasoline, took them to the provost. Made them walk infront of a jeep covered by a 30 cal. I guess he told me more then I thought, but would sure like to find out what caused him to turn away from that experience. Never joined the VFW etc. Seeking Information regarding Lt. Clair. J. Vowell, C Company, 139th AB, Engineer Battalion, 117th AB

Interested in unit history, dad didn’t talk much about his experience and has since passed away. Talked a bit about funny things but something really bothered him, mentioned Sgt. being sent to a stockade and killed trying to escape. He blamed another officer, said it was uncalled for.

I was told he and others had been captured during the Bulge but were able to kill the guards and escape into the woods and rejoin the AB unit.

He had no use for the British after Market Garden, said their command caused many deaths of AB, Brit and American

He was trained in Tank Destroyers but got into trouble and was “voluneered” for the AB

Mentioned losing a soilder to locals during war games in Texas, and running off a another soldier’s parachute afer falling on it during a decent. Landed in a tobacco field and the locals stopped yelling about stripping his gear before the military arrived.

Also said they did less then 500 ft jumps, no reserve, one swing then he was down. Gave one leg a reserve full of sawdust after he kept poping his reserve in training. Used a Thompson in towns and a M-1 in the field. Kept his bars under the collar, chewed out by Patton for not having a helmet on.

Traded a farm house with the Germans during the Bulge, each side would booby trap the house finally they lost the house and blew the stove.

Took all the ammo from the replacements arriving after war, one had put a boozka rd into the local cat house. Caused the veterans to be very upset, the girls had gone on strike until compensated.

Sent into the German Alps after the SS, buried many in the caves they were hiding in. Came back to the states on the Queen Mary, parade through New York while the MPs stripped all the war souveniors out of the units baggage. Lost a SS belt buckle pistol to them.

He was very upset to learn the “kids” they captured and sent to the rear were starved and ill treated by the rear echelon units. Told me the Germans were using wood bullets near the end of the war.

CID tried to buy gasoline, took them to the provost. Made them walk infront of a jeep covered by a 30 cal.

I guess he told me more then I thought, but would sure like to find out what caused him to turn away from that experience. Never joined the VFW etc.

]]> By: Bergmann Pavel http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-91783 Bergmann Pavel Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:39:24 +0000 #comment-91783 I forgot we have pages about 17th AB have look a www.17th-airborne.eu I forgot we have pages about 17th AB have look a http://www.17th-airborne.eu

]]> By: Bergmann Pavel http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-91782 Bergmann Pavel Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:37:10 +0000 #comment-91782 If someone want pamphlet (history) of 139th AEB I have a copy of them. Send me your mail address and I send you a copy in Word format. My email is bergmann.pavel@stc.cz If someone want pamphlet (history) of 139th AEB I have a copy of them. Send me your mail address and I send you a copy in Word format. My email is bergmann.pavel@stc.cz

]]> By: joseph lyons http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-81869 joseph lyons Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:21:17 +0000 #comment-81869 i was wondering if any men of the 17thab 139th aeb have known my cousin carl j. frigone whos was killed feb. 8th 1945 in belgium. he was from a small town in penna called giradeville.im looking for a company photo. thank you i was wondering if any men of the 17thab 139th aeb have known my cousin carl j. frigone whos was killed feb. 8th 1945 in belgium. he was from a small town in penna called giradeville.im looking for a company photo. thank you

]]> By: Scott Sherman http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-78610 Scott Sherman Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:15:39 +0000 #comment-78610 My uncle, 2nd Lt. Hugh McNeill, of H Co., 507th P.I.R. died on 3/24/45 during Operation Varsity. If anyone has any recollections of him and his service, I'd be grateful to hear from you. Thanks, Scott Sherman ssherman1@comcast.net My uncle, 2nd Lt. Hugh McNeill, of H Co., 507th P.I.R. died on 3/24/45 during Operation Varsity. If anyone has any recollections of him and his service, I’d be grateful to hear from you.

Thanks,

Scott Sherman
ssherman1@comcast.net

]]> By: Michael Wise http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-66718 Michael Wise Thu, 28 May 2009 16:20:42 +0000 #comment-66718 I am Michael Wise, the grandson of Richard "Rich" Wise. I am so proud of him and of all the selfless and valiant men of the airborne. Your deeds will always be cherished and you will always be real heroes in my heart and mind! Thank you so much for what you did to keep us free, you will never be forgottten no matter how many years pass! I am Michael Wise, the grandson of Richard “Rich” Wise. I am so proud of him and of all the selfless and valiant men of the airborne.

Your deeds will always be cherished and you will always be real heroes in my heart and mind!

Thank you so much for what you did to keep us free, you will never be forgottten no matter how many years pass!

]]> By: Karen Jackson http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-65311 Karen Jackson Mon, 25 May 2009 02:44:28 +0000 #comment-65311 I looking for information on my mother's cousin, Harold Lotze, who was in the 17th Airborn and died March 31, 1945 in the Netherlands. I looking for information on my mother’s cousin, Harold Lotze, who was in the 17th Airborn and died March 31, 1945 in the Netherlands.

]]> By: Jenine Patty-Anderson http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-50529 Jenine Patty-Anderson Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:44:55 +0000 #comment-50529 I am the niece of the First Platoon Sergeant Morris Patty, named in the article above. My father, Ralph Patty, 84, still speaks proudly of his older brother Morris, and continues to miss him. Several family members, mostly Uncle Morris' nieces and nephews, have over the years visited his grave in Margraten. While he was not here to be a part of our lives, his family has kept his memory very much alive. If anyone does have anything to share about my uncle, it would be greatly appreciated by many. Sincerely, Jenine Patty-Anderson j9patty@yahoo.com I am the niece of the First Platoon Sergeant Morris Patty, named in the article above. My father, Ralph Patty, 84, still speaks proudly of his older brother Morris, and continues to miss him.

Several family members, mostly Uncle Morris’ nieces and nephews, have over the years visited his grave in Margraten.

While he was not here to be a part of our lives, his family has kept his memory very much alive.

If anyone does have anything to share about my uncle, it would be greatly appreciated by many.

Sincerely,
Jenine Patty-Anderson
j9patty@yahoo.com

]]> By: Paul R. Billings http://www.historynet.com/operation-varsity-17th-airborne-division-member-frank-j-orourke-recalls-the-assault.htm/comment-page-1#comment-35747 Paul R. Billings Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:46:43 +0000 #comment-35747 I was a crew member on a B-24, dropping supplies...Took many pictures of gliders on the ground. (389th Bomb Group) I was a crew member on a B-24, dropping supplies…Took many pictures of gliders on the ground. (389th Bomb Group)

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