hey all!
i was having coffee in town this morning and noticed a man with an
"11th Airborne Div." hat on, i went to thank him for his service and he was more than happy to speak with me.
We talked about his training in Louisianna and then New Guinea.
He then talked about the time he "was put off" on Leyte beach, he said it was beautiful weather, it was winter, but he did not want to go into specifics as he lost many friends there. I did not press the issue, but quickly turned the conversation around, and asked when he and his wife met, she was delighted to be included in the conversation, and took off telling me about how great life was in those times. Of all the things we discussed, besides missing his friends from the war, they both expressed how much they miss the way life was lived back then. A simpler time.
Any way his name was Vince Colletti or Calletti, i don't know. If anybody has any further info on this guy i would love to be able to print something off and show it to him. He is 85 years young, and does not own a computer! So i would like to get something to him, he said he would seriously doubt if anything on his division was out there. I already found the following:
The 11th Airborne Division During WW II - Overview#
but i would like to see something on him specifically, if not that's ok, just wanted to share this with you all!
thanks!
tlkd with 11th AB Vince C. this morn
