±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 608
Total: 608
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Home
04: Home
05: Photo Gallery
06: Community Forums
07: Member Screenshots
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Community Forums
14: Home
15: Home
16: Member Screenshots
17: Photo Gallery
18: Community Forums
19: Home
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Your Account
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Community Forums
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Statistics
32: Downloads
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Home
39: Community Forums
40: Community Forums
41: Photo Gallery
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Home
50: Home
51: Downloads
52: Downloads
53: Community Forums
54: Photo Gallery
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Home
58: Community Forums
59: Downloads
60: Photo Gallery
61: Home
62: Home
63: Community Forums
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Community Forums
67: Photo Gallery
68: Community Forums
69: Home
70: Community Forums
71: Photo Gallery
72: Community Forums
73: Downloads
74: Community Forums
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Home
79: Community Forums
80: Home
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Home
85: Photo Gallery
86: Home
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Downloads
90: Community Forums
91: Home
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Photo Gallery
95: Home
96: Home
97: Photo Gallery
98: Photo Gallery
99: Member Screenshots
100: Photo Gallery
101: Photo Gallery
102: Community Forums
103: Your Account
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: Downloads
107: Photo Gallery
108: CPGlang
109: CPGlang
110: Member Screenshots
111: Community Forums
112: Home
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: Downloads
119: Community Forums
120: Photo Gallery
121: Community Forums
122: Home
123: Community Forums
124: Photo Gallery
125: Community Forums
126: Community Forums
127: Member Screenshots
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Home
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Downloads
135: Community Forums
136: Home
137: Community Forums
138: Community Forums
139: Photo Gallery
140: Community Forums
141: Downloads
142: Home
143: Downloads
144: Photo Gallery
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Photo Gallery
155: Downloads
156: Photo Gallery
157: Photo Gallery
158: News
159: Community Forums
160: Photo Gallery
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: Community Forums
173: Your Account
174: Photo Gallery
175: Member Screenshots
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: CPGlang
181: CPGlang
182: Community Forums
183: Downloads
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Downloads
189: Photo Gallery
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Photo Gallery
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Photo Gallery
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Photo Gallery
207: Community Forums
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Home
212: Photo Gallery
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Downloads
217: Community Forums
218: Home
219: Community Forums
220: Home
221: Community Forums
222: Home
223: Community Forums
224: Photo Gallery
225: Community Forums
226: Community Forums
227: Photo Gallery
228: Photo Gallery
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Downloads
233: Community Forums
234: Photo Gallery
235: Community Forums
236: Community Forums
237: Photo Gallery
238: Community Forums
239: Home
240: Photo Gallery
241: Home
242: Community Forums
243: Photo Gallery
244: Community Forums
245: Home
246: Community Forums
247: Home
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Home
251: Community Forums
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Photo Gallery
257: Community Forums
258: Member Screenshots
259: Home
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Community Forums
265: Community Forums
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Home
269: Your Account
270: Downloads
271: Community Forums
272: Photo Gallery
273: Community Forums
274: Community Forums
275: Home
276: News
277: Community Forums
278: Photo Gallery
279: Community Forums
280: Photo Gallery
281: Your Account
282: News Archive
283: Community Forums
284: Photo Gallery
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Photo Gallery
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Photo Gallery
294: Community Forums
295: CPGlang
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Community Forums
305: Community Forums
306: Member Screenshots
307: Home
308: Photo Gallery
309: Home
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Your Account
316: Photo Gallery
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Home
322: Photo Gallery
323: CPGlang
324: Photo Gallery
325: Photo Gallery
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Home
329: Member Screenshots
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: Community Forums
333: Photo Gallery
334: Community Forums
335: Community Forums
336: Your Account
337: Photo Gallery
338: Community Forums
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Home
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Downloads
347: Downloads
348: Community Forums
349: Downloads
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Home
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Downloads
361: Photo Gallery
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Your Account
367: Home
368: Community Forums
369: Your Account
370: Statistics
371: Photo Gallery
372: Community Forums
373: News Archive
374: Community Forums
375: Photo Gallery
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Community Forums
379: Community Forums
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Downloads
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: CPGlang
388: Community Forums
389: CPGlang
390: CPGlang
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Photo Gallery
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Community Forums
399: Community Forums
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Your Account
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Photo Gallery
407: Community Forums
408: Home
409: Community Forums
410: Home
411: Photo Gallery
412: CPGlang
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Your Account
417: Home
418: Photo Gallery
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Downloads
424: Home
425: Photo Gallery
426: Member Screenshots
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Community Forums
431: Community Forums
432: Your Account
433: Home
434: Community Forums
435: Community Forums
436: Home
437: Photo Gallery
438: Community Forums
439: Photo Gallery
440: Home
441: Downloads
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Community Forums
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Photo Gallery
448: Community Forums
449: CPGlang
450: Photo Gallery
451: Community Forums
452: Community Forums
453: Downloads
454: Downloads
455: Downloads
456: Community Forums
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Photo Gallery
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Community Forums
467: Home
468: Community Forums
469: Photo Gallery
470: Community Forums
471: Statistics
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Home
475: Community Forums
476: Community Forums
477: Community Forums
478: Photo Gallery
479: Community Forums
480: Photo Gallery
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Community Forums
486: Community Forums
487: Your Account
488: Community Forums
489: Downloads
490: Photo Gallery
491: Community Forums
492: Photo Gallery
493: Community Forums
494: Community Forums
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Your Account
498: Home
499: Community Forums
500: Community Forums
501: Downloads
502: Community Forums
503: Community Forums
504: Community Forums
505: Home
506: Community Forums
507: Downloads
508: Community Forums
509: Community Forums
510: Photo Gallery
511: Downloads
512: Community Forums
513: Community Forums
514: Community Forums
515: Photo Gallery
516: Community Forums
517: Photo Gallery
518: Home
519: News
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Community Forums
524: Photo Gallery
525: Photo Gallery
526: Community Forums
527: Home
528: Community Forums
529: Photo Gallery
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Photo Gallery
533: Community Forums
534: Downloads
535: Photo Gallery
536: Home
537: Community Forums
538: Community Forums
539: Home
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Community Forums
544: Community Forums
545: Photo Gallery
546: Community Forums
547: Community Forums
548: Community Forums
549: Community Forums
550: Photo Gallery
551: Community Forums
552: Downloads
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Photo Gallery
556: Community Forums
557: Photo Gallery
558: Home
559: Home
560: Community Forums
561: Photo Gallery
562: Community Forums
563: Downloads
564: Community Forums
565: Community Forums
566: Photo Gallery
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Home
570: Home
571: Community Forums
572: Community Forums
573: Photo Gallery
574: Community Forums
575: Home
576: Community Forums
577: Home
578: Community Forums
579: Community Forums
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Home
583: Home
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Community Forums
587: Community Forums
588: Community Forums
589: Community Forums
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Community Forums
594: Community Forums
595: Community Forums
596: Community Forums
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Community Forums
600: Community Forums
601: Photo Gallery
602: Community Forums
603: Community Forums
604: Community Forums
605: Photo Gallery
606: Home
607: Community Forums
608: Downloads

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Learning from the Vets
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Garry_Redmon
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 398
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 2:25 am
Post subject: Learning from the Vets

I returned this evening from tending to an exhibit of the Patton Museum at the Kentucky State Fair. The museum has an M5 halftrack with a dummy .50 cal. on display in the South Wing A that I looked after and answered questions about it from the public. While this in itself may not seem important, what I learned from talking to the visitors was priceless. I talked with many veterans and/or family members and here are just a few gems.

1. I met my first veteran of the North Africa and Italy campaigns. He was a crewman on an M3/105 GMC before he transitioned to the M7 Priest.

2. I met the widow of a member of the Army Air Corps whose responsibility was to remove and clean human remains from inside bombers that had returned from missions in the ETO. She said that he was not the same when he returned from the war. She also said that one of his friends committed suicide because of the gruesome work.

3. Today I talked with a man that served with the Armor Board at Ft. Knox during the Fifties and Sixties. He did evaluations of the M41, M47, M48 and even mentioned the Mule. Five minutes later, a man that worked with vehicles and weapons systems at Aberdeen Proving Grounds during the same time period came up and struck up a conversation. If only I could have got the two of them together, what stories on AFV and weapons development they could have told.

4. Roy, you'll appreciate this one. I talked with a Viet vet whose unit was first issued the M114 equipped with the 20mm autocannon. He said they were a POS and hard to reload.

5. I met a Marine that served during the Korean War. He said that he and his buddies had stolen two M16 AA halftracks from the Army and drove them to their part of the line. Soon afterwards they used them to repel a massed Chinese attack on their positions. He said that if they hadn't had those M16's they would probably have been overrun.

6. I met another WWII vet that served with a towed ATG unit. They had 90mm towed by halftracks. They later transitioned to M36 TD's.

7. Another Viet vet seeing the .50 cal. on the M5 commented to his wife that he used them in Vietnam. I talked with him and found out he used to be a track commander on an ACAV, then he walked away quite abruptly.

8. I talked with another guy who was at Ft. Bliss on light duty while recovering from an accident when he literally tripped over General Omar Bradley's wheelchair during a visit to the post. He said he practically landed in his lap with their faces inches apart. After he pulled himself up and saluted as smartly as he could and apologized, the general dismissed him with a wave of his hand and he and his entourage continued.

The whole experience was very rewarding. I was dressed in a WWII uniform which prompted comments from the vets. "That's what I used to wear." "Those are the same kind of boots I had.", etc. The only problem was that I was the only one tending to the exhibit so my conversations were shorter than desired since I had to look after the kids climbing on the halftrack and many times deluged with questions from other spectators. I probably talked with more veterans in those three days than I ever have with all other museum events combined. I'm looking forward to doing it next year.

_________________
armorfortheages.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:21 am
Post subject: Re: Learning from the Vets

- Garry_Redmon


2. I met the widow of a member of the Army Air Corps whose responsibility was to remove and clean human remains from inside bombers that had returned from missions in the ETO. She said that he was not the same when he returned from the war. She also said that one of his friends committed suicide because of the gruesome work.



Garry,
Several of your comments bring up memories or thoughts (like the Armor Board veteran...would like to have met him...), but number 2 reminded me of Randall Jarrell's haunting poem...what a nightmare that must have been.

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner
by Randall Jarrell

"From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:28 am
Post subject: Re: Learning from the Vets

Hi Garry! Hi Folks!

- Garry_Redmon
I returned this evening from tending to an exhibit of the Patton Museum at the Kentucky State Fair. The museum has an M5 halftrack with a dummy .50 cal. on display in the South Wing A that I looked after and answered questions about it from the public. While this in itself may not seem important, what I learned from talking to the visitors was priceless. I talked with many veterans and/or family members and here are just a few gems.

4. Roy, you'll appreciate this one. I talked with a Viet vet whose unit was first issued the M114 equipped with the 20mm autocannon. He said they were a POS and hard to reload.


I know what you are talking about. The same thing happiens at the model club display shows. A Vet or family member will point out a model and start talking about their experances.

The M139 20mm Autocannon was a real bear to load up the first time. It could also hurt or kill you if you made a mistake while loading it. The trick to reloading it was not to run it out of ammo. There was a cut off switch at the front edge of the ammo box that would leave 25 rounds going into the feeder assemble. Burn those 25 rounds and it WAS a bear to reload. Hold at the edge of the ammo box and all you had to do was slap a link down onto the last round in the belt.

Good job Garry!
Sgt, Scouts Out!

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Garry_Redmon
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 398
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:25 pm
Post subject: Re: Learning from the Vets

Two more things that I failed to put in the first post. On my first day there, a young man, obviously having difficulty walking and with other motor skill problems came up to me with his friend and spoke in a raspy voice difficult to understand. I believe he said something about kicking the hell out of Al Queda or something to that effect and gave me a thumbs up. As he turned and walked away, his friend said over his shoulder that he used to be lieutenant and was wounded in Iraq. It then became apparent to me that this young man had brain damage and may be a survivor of an IED. I didn't get a chance to shake his hand or anything because of the many people vying for my attention at that time. I'm always going to regret that.

Another interesting thing happened when a guy started talking about his father serving in a tank battalion close to the end of the war. He said that his father's photos were on the Internet. Here is the link: news.webshots.com/albu...6219QvINBj

As it turned out, this guy lives in my town, we used to live two houses from each other and had met before in the neighborhood, but neither of us recognized each other at first. He also said that one of the model decal companies had come out with a set of decals based on his father's tank. Check out the photos. They are very interesting.

_________________
armorfortheages.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Learning from the Vets

Garry

Thanks for the AAR. Having to sit this one out. Sounds like I'm really missing out.

Remember the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Two of the gentleman were Sherman DD crewman from Normandy (from different vehicle). They had some harrowing tales of the 6th of June. Also the survivors tales which saw them in the Bastogne area in Dec 44.

One of the reasons I enjoy volunteering at the Museum. Learning the oral history of the many visitors, and then being able to tell the story to the following generations....

Thanks again, See you soon
Don
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:08 pm
Post subject: Re: Learning from the Vets

- Garry_Redmon


Another interesting thing happened when a guy started talking about his father serving in a tank battalion close to the end of the war. He said that his father's photos were on the Internet. Here is the link: news.webshots.com/albu...6219QvINBj

As it turned out, this guy lives in my town, we used to live two houses from each other and had met before in the neighborhood, but neither of us recognized each other at first. He also said that one of the model decal companies had come out with a set of decals based on his father's tank. Check out the photos. They are very interesting.


Notice Tank 26 in some of the pictures. An M4A3E2 Jumbo that had a 76mm installed in the heavy turret!

_________________
Bob Smart (bsmart@xecu.net)
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Garry_Redmon
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 398
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:23 pm
Post subject: Re: Learning from the Vets

- Doug Kibbey

Garry,
Several of your comments bring up memories or thoughts (like the Armor Board veteran...would like to have met him...), but number 2 reminded me of Randall Jarrell's haunting poem...what a nightmare that must have been.

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner
by Randall Jarrell

"From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose."


Doug,
That's a rather chilling piece of poetry there. I think all of us here are aware of the price that has been paid in life and limb, but we don't always hear the details of the aftermath. I know I was quite moved by her story.

_________________
armorfortheages.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Garry_Redmon
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 398
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:25 pm
Post subject: Re: Learning from the Vets

- Roy_A_Lingle
Hi Garry! Hi Folks!

- Garry_Redmon
I returned this evening from tending to an exhibit of the Patton Museum at the Kentucky State Fair. The museum has an M5 halftrack with a dummy .50 cal. on display in the South Wing A that I looked after and answered questions about it from the public. While this in itself may not seem important, what I learned from talking to the visitors was priceless. I talked with many veterans and/or family members and here are just a few gems.

4. Roy, you'll appreciate this one. I talked with a Viet vet whose unit was first issued the M114 equipped with the 20mm autocannon. He said they were a POS and hard to reload.


I know what you are talking about. The same thing happiens at the model club display shows. A Vet or family member will point out a model and start talking about their experances.

The M139 20mm Autocannon was a real bear to load up the first time. It could also hurt or kill you if you made a mistake while loading it. The trick to reloading it was not to run it out of ammo. There was a cut off switch at the front edge of the ammo box that would leave 25 rounds going into the feeder assemble. Burn those 25 rounds and it WAS a bear to reload. Hold at the edge of the ammo box and all you had to do was slap a link down onto the last round in the belt.

Good job Garry!
Sgt, Scouts Out!


That's some good information, Roy. I wish you had been there. I'm sure you could have traded some good stories.

_________________
armorfortheages.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Garry_Redmon
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 398
Location: Kentucky
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:32 pm
Post subject: Re: Learning from the Vets

- Dontos
Garry

Thanks for the AAR. Having to sit this one out. Sounds like I'm really missing out.

Remember the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Two of the gentleman were Sherman DD crewman from Normandy (from different vehicle). They had some harrowing tales of the 6th of June. Also the survivors tales which saw them in the Bastogne area in Dec 44.

One of the reasons I enjoy volunteering at the Museum. Learning the oral history of the many visitors, and then being able to tell the story to the following generations....

Thanks again, See you soon
Don


Don,
Unfortunately I wsn't able to attend the Bulge veterans event. Too many conflicts. This has been the first time I've been able to do the State Fair exhibit and I'm really glad I did. More of the volunteers need to do it if they can get away from work. I know it's hard, but it's worth it.

It seems to me that at the Life of the Soldier or even the old Fourth of July reenactment there have been less visits by the veterans. I know their ranks are dwindling and we will be sorrier for their passing.

_________________
armorfortheages.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum