A couple of months ago I was researching WWII events in the region of Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands during the last months of 1944. I was born in this area in the city of Maastricht. The first major city of the Netherlands being liberated by the allied forces. I noticed that the 117th played a major role in pushing back the Germans. Although I'm too young ( I'm 64 now) to have been there myself I heard many stories from my parents and grandparents. Nowadays I live not too far from the cemetery in Henry-Capelle in Belgium. I got the idea of showing my respect and gratitude to the young men who are buried there and who gave their life so that we can live in freedom. First I started looking for members from the 117th because of their role in the fighting in this area. After I found a few I looked if there was one who didn't have a sentinel. That's how I came across Floyd Mistler. Floyd was only 25 when he died in December '44 leaving behind his young wife and 2 sons. I can't even imaging what that must have been like; to hear that your husband has died eight months after he left his family, many thousands of miles from home. So I decided to become a sentinel for Floyd and visit him every now and then.