Neat Pic

[nukem556]

I'm guessing this pic may have been seen here in the past, but it's cool enough to repost

[pitsword]

Thanks, great photo. The tall gent with the black hat sort of looks like that famous pic of William Bonney (Billy the Kid).
pitsword

[MFC]

Originally Posted by pitsword

Thanks, great photo. The tall gent with the black hat sort of looks like that famous pic of William Bonney (Billy the Kid).
pitsword

I thought so too, but Billy the Kid was short.

[WG dog]

A link and story to go with the photo....

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CB4Q9QEwAA

[pitsword]

Great article.

In 1957 0r 58, in 7th or 8th grade in rural Maine, I organized a school show and tell. Ever since a mutt I had loved military history and WW2. I didn't have any war trophys at home, but a couple of my buddies did. I suggested to the principal that we have a show and tell of WW2 souveniers. On the appointed day, on the school buses, my mates arrived with a treasure of goodies. There were 3 Arisakas, 2 with bayonets.
A couple of Mauser rifles, the first Nambu rig I ever saw, a couple Samurai swords and my buddy Terry (RIP) brought, what in my memory, was a beautiful, perfect Luger and holster. There were helmuts, gas masks and all sorts of other stuff. We had a ball. The teachers loved it and no one got into a sword fight. I wonder if todays children even have a clue about what they are missing or perhaps they do not care.
Best to all,
pitsword

[MikeP]

I did the same thing as a high school project in 1963.
As a bonus. the Ag teacher sold me his souvenier P38.

My buddy and me had a live 08 Maxim we carried around in a 59 olds.

Nobody cared back then as long as you didn't get stupid.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by MikeP

My buddy and me had a live 08 Maxim we carried around in a 59 olds.

My dad was born in 1904; too young for WW I but he enlisted anyway...Anyhow, he told me a story once about carrying two Spandau machine guns around in the back floor of his old Ford...That would have been around the mid '20's...

According to him, the gov't gave away surplus tanks (minus the turrets & armament) to any farmer who applied for them...This, I think, was in the late 40's...

Here's an old picture-postcard of his unit...he's the one with the 'salty' cover...

[pitsword]

Is that your Dad right behind the guide on carrier. Looks like the only "salty" hat I could find at 400%. Looks like 03 springers. Great pic.

[alanint]

I guessed the same man as well. He looks like he's been around.

In boot camp, especially the Marine Corps, acquiring a set of salty fatigues is a godsend. They make you almost invisible to DIs who walk around looking for guys in brand new uniforms to put to work...

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by pitsword

Is that your Dad right behind the guide on carrier?

Uh, no...He's the one directly above the officer on the right (with drawn sword)...Round glasses and rolled brim on sides of cover [hat to you landlubbers]...

174th New York Infantry (pretty sure it's a National Guard unit), I believe based at Fort Drum (but I may be wrong; there were other camps back then)...This is an actual postcard (it says so on the back! ) and I'm guessing this is the 'graduation' formation...I can't make out the date (or maybe it's the unit designation)...

The postcard/pic has faded over the years, it's brown rather than black, and it used to be pretty sharply defined...