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Static Line - Three Winds of Death

January 1991
New Year's greetings to all you troopers and the families of the 503rd PRCT and all members of the Airborne and their families everywhere in the world. And as I put this column together for the beginning of the New Year, I have no idea whatsoever what is going to take place in the next two months (since this is being written in November to meet the deadline for the January issue of the Static Line). There is one matter, however, concerning which I can make a definite statement. I want to thank Bennett Guthrie for permitting me to use the title of his book Three Winds of Death for the title of this column. Each of the three winds, of course, represents one of the three parts, i.e., the infantry, the artillery, and the engineers, which combined to form the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team. Thanks, again, Ben!

In last month's column, I reported a list of 24 first-timers who had attended the reunion in Washington. There were 25 and we had failed to report the name of Pryce Russell (and his wife, Hilda), who came from Cairns, Australia. This information was contained in the recent issue of the 503rd Newsletter, now being put together by "Sleepy" Linton and his wife, Margee. And what a tremendous effort they put forth in the first issue. They did just a simply outstanding job!

Many of the letters sent into the Static Line from the various Airborne organizations request information as to the whereabouts of some lost buddy. There is a fairly simple way an investigation can be initiated. The only requirement is that you remember the hometown of the person with whom you are trying to make contact. Simply call the telephone operator for information regarding that town, give the person's name and ask for their telephone number. I put the system to work only two months ago. I knew that a buddy of mine with home I went to jump school and with whom I had gone overseas to the 503rd had originally come from Fall River, Massachusetts. I called information, got the Fall River information operator, gave her the person's name, and almost immediately got the number. The person turned out to be a cousin by the same name, but he gave me the phone number of my buddy's brother, and from the brother, I found out my friend was now living in St. Petersburg, Florida. So, I called him and was he shocked to hear from me after 45 years His name is Robert Kitchen, and he was with "C " Company in the 503rd. Another buddy of mine lives in Tampa and the two have already gotten together.

Now, of course, this little procedure doesn't always turn out the way you would want it to. About two years ago I attempted the same thing with a buddy from Laredo, Texas (because we were holding the reunion in San Antonio). Again, I got a cousin who unfortunately told me the person I was seeking had died about 14 months previously. His name was Chester DeSpain. Most people who were in "D" Co. on Negros will remember him.

Anyhow, the point I am trying to make and to pass on to you is that just maybe that contact you have been wondering about all these years is just a couple of phone calls away. If you can remember where that buddy came from pick up the phone and dial "0" for information. Do it now — tomorrow may be too late.

The list of those of our comrades for whom TAPS is being played is growing longer and longer. I was amazed at the TAPS list printed in the November 1990 issue of the Static Line. Of the 45 names listed 25 of them had served in the 503rd.

And another 50th convention memory addressed to Mr. Charles Rambo and his Family,

"Thanks to you dear folks our trip to D.C. will always be a very memorable and thankful time – for all the nice things you did for us we will always be grateful. Thanks to your dear son for taking us to and from the banquet on Saturday. We appreciate your wife’s kindness too and a very “special thanks” for letting our son and his wife attend the banquet. Everything was “SUPER-GREAT.” Thanks again and God bless you ALL. Lloyd and Erin McCullough (Test Platoon).”

Note: For those of you who did not attend the 50th reunion the individual members of the Test Platoon attended the individual banquets held by the different Airborne organizations on Saturday night. The 503rd was honored with the presence of Test Platoon member Lloyd McCullough and his family. This sort of participation expresses the 50 years of an Airborne family relationship. That family relationship and remembrance will continue for the 503rd with the Corregidor dinners scheduled in February and March.

The Deep South Chapter will be holding their Corregidor Dinner on 13-16 February in Columbus, GA. For information call Kermitt Jackson, the Chapter President, at (205) 579-7950 after 7 p.m. Information on scheduled affairs will be printed in this column if you get it to me six weeks before the month in which the affair is scheduled.

John D. Reynolds
718 Towne Center Dr.
Joppa, MD 21085
Static Line - Three Winds of Death

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