That makes perfect sence. TKS

My dad, WWII. USS Oklahoma City CL-91. You see the white shoulder strip, that is a WWII top and how you can tell the time period of Navy blouses.



http://i42.tinypic.com/ac8l14.jpg

Priceless!

What was priceless about this guy was, I could not have asked for a better step-dad. My father, on the other hand, served with the 9th Inf Regt, 2nd Inf Div, WWII, I was 8 months old when they divorced, the sailorman raised me and I was going in the Navy myself until I learned I was a "landlubber".

I also have a family member, howard johnson. That was my moms uncle. But he also had gthe same rank on his sleeve and yes he was a cook in the navy. He traveled all over the pacific during WWII.

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I'm sure he would be proud~!!

That particular family member (Howard Johnson) still has a daughter still alive. I recently found a film negative of him in front of the USS New York and an early style aircraft carrier, USS Ranger. I printed out a copy and framed it and gave it to her. She was kinda glad to see someone in the family take a little interest in all that history of the family.

She informed me that while his tours through the pacific during WWII he kept a diary of where he was at what time. She had to dig it up out of the closet and some of the other things she had of his. I have been waiting for work to kinda slow down and give me a minute actually in my home town so I can go spend a day with her and pick her brain and try and make a copy of the diary or something. Im curious about whats in it.

I was too late for my father. Died of lung cancer for smoking camels all his life. He died still smoking and coughing!

USS New York Clock Question??
 

Heres a picture of Howard in front of the USS New York and off to the side the USS Ranger. I have always been curious about the clock on the tower. I have downloaded pictures of the USS New York off the internet and all the pics I have seen, the clock seems to read 12:00.

I'm curious if there was a reason behind this. Was all ships done this way back then, or was the clock just broke.

I did find a later picture of it after some modifications were added to the ship and I noticed the clock was gone. So, I wonder if they just never got it working.

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Excellent photos of our old blue water navy. Love the group shot and how they wore the uniform back then and the wings in the hat and they still used the Donald duck hat back them too. Notice the leggings also for a duty detail. Shore Patrol detail wore white leggings. No more bell bottoms, hat wings or Donald Duck hats, to me, are things of tradition that should never have dis-appeared.

I'm not going to comment how the army has totally screwed up their uniforms over these years, trying to upgrade at the same time forgetting about tradition....................:banghead:

They were a Ship's Clock and was the main timepiece of any ship back then, many could not afford a wrist watch and pocket watches usually got busted. Another reason was the constant time zone changes. That clock, everyone went by and also, of course, the bells!!!!!!

Have big were those 4 large guns?

14 inch and later the Iowa Class battleships were built with 16inch.

If this were really a ship's clock, why is it always shown at 12 o'clock in various photos?

Were clocks placed like this a common practice?

Made in Japan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

What sort of side arms did the navy issue?

The same as the corps, army; etc etc. but were US Navy marked,
1903's, M1 rifles and carbines, BARs, 45 autos and 38 revolvers.

If you're into movies, a good movie made some years ago and the best Steve McQueen movie made was "The Sand Pebbles", based on a US Navy river gunboat in China on duty patrolling the Yanghes River before WWII.

Excellent movie and the detail for that period is spot-on.

Both Favorites!
 

We miss him!

Sand Pebbles was better...IMO. I might just get it and add to my collection.

Amazonn has the 2 disk dvd for $12.00 plus shipping!

Here's a weapon issue fiasco. When I went into the Army (Mar65), I qualified with an M-14, my first assignment was in Italy and my rifle was an M-1, re-qualification time, when I went to Nam, Mar 68, my first issue was the old rust collector, M3 (greasegun) the unit had not upgraded it's TO&E since 1956, Re-qualification time. Transfered to the 4th ID, I was issued my first M-16, re-qualification time and then a bit later a CAR-15. Carried my own 45, a Llama 45. What a trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cheers:

What was the preferred over there?

More old School Navy Pics
 

I was at a flea market here in town one day and I saw an old photo album with alot of old WWII era pics. What caught my eye was the easter sunday 1944 invitation on board the USS New York. So I asked the fellow about it. He didnt exactly know where it came from or who. So I offered I think 5 bucks for the pic album. He also gave me a group Navy pic from 1945 that went with the album. That was a bonus in my opinion. Just look how young all the new recruits look.

Also was an article about one of the Jap subs that was rammed by a US Destroyer. Cool pic of the sub after the retrieved it.

I dont have a clue who these folks are in these pics, but I figured they were worth saving. Who knows where they would have ended up. Probably in the trash somewhere. Someone not being interested in how history I would think.

Enjoy!!

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More pics from photo album
 

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M-16 when it replaced the M-14. The M-14 wasn't really a good jungle rifle, too long, the prefered before the M-16 was captured AK-47s.

There is nothing like a CAR15, (XM177E1 or E2) for coolness factor.

Years Ago I Found This In A Yard Sale!
 

Since then I've been unable to find out who they are?

I'm far from being an expert, but the picture above seems to be from the 50s.

I did notice there were pine trees behind them! I can't make out the weapons!

Third guy, front row from left is holding an M3 "Greasegun" ****, Lock and Load!!!!

Probably the same piece of slow firing crapball that was issued to me.

The rest have M1 carbines.......................

Early to late 50s as Doug said is my guess too.

Maybe??????????????????????????

http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/...105thOpDet.htm

Georgia has ALOT of pine trees..............................so much I got sick of seeing them and any pine tree today!!!!

Thats some fine research!!! I'll swap tourists for pines!

I'll swap the Mississippi River for tourist. I can keep tourist off my property, not possible with the Mighty Mississip!!!!

We have an epidemic half the year! "We don't do it like that up north!!" How do you stand the heat! AC!!! Driving slow in the passing lane. Lousy tippers! Seperate checks. Bogus handicap stickers from who knows where! Etc Etc!!!!!!!!!

No thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hurricanes, tornados, flooding, wildfires and tourist is not my thing.

The first piece is the US Lewis Gun used in the production of "The Sand Pebbles". The second is a somewhat earlier speed gun.

No question the 1950's. If the posted research had not confirmed this, the telltale bayonet lugs on the M1 Carbines were the clincher.

The real star of the Sandpebbles movie is still the 1918 (assume Winchester) BAR Steve used up on the compound wall.

It was also one of famous Japanese actor Mako's first Western movie appearances and who can forget a stunning Candace Bergen?

The Operation (last half) is brighted out, can you read this and post what Operation it was?

I was stationed in Italy when I saw the Sand Pebbles (in Italian) and she still looked hot.

Also saw The Good, The Bad and The Ugly in Italian but there, Clint's voice was dubbed over. The music was still the best though, even in Italian. :thumbsup: :rockon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xiv8qMmxlw