tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post1872282542788698034..comments2024-03-29T07:11:26.839-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: RegroupingOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-74513403520914694612021-01-17T19:52:04.399-08:002021-01-17T19:52:04.399-08:00..drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83825707750816731542021-01-17T19:51:51.031-08:002021-01-17T19:51:51.031-08:00Sarge, the only WWII stuff I've read has been ...Sarge, the only WWII stuff I've read has been Pacific Theater stuff. I knew things in the ETO were brutal, but I'd never <i>read</i> about them.<br /><br />Thanks for writing this. It's given me an even greater appreciation of the "other half" of The Greatest Generation.<br /><br />And if you do a dead tree version of this, try and stick as many of these photos in as your Editor will allow. They add so much to each chapter.<br /><br />Bravo, sir!drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-40779047729971744712021-01-17T19:35:18.907-08:002021-01-17T19:35:18.907-08:00Yes they do! Before I even start to read, I study...Yes they do! Before I even start to read, I study the first photo for awhile, and I'm transported through time, and space...the worries of today lost in the mists, as I find myself on that long ago battlefield.Tank Killerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01955019760069183088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-48872545604017363462021-01-17T19:30:13.122-08:002021-01-17T19:30:13.122-08:00Lucky Strike Reds, the old man used to say, becaus...Lucky Strike Reds, the old man used to say, because Lucky Strike Greens went to war. Apparently the original pack was green, but they needed the pigment for paints used on war materials. Funny how that just popped into my head.Tank Killerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01955019760069183088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-78882017690561940412021-01-16T21:17:29.043-08:002021-01-16T21:17:29.043-08:00By December of '44, it was hopeless.By December of '44, it was hopeless.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-43482180256363154182021-01-16T20:31:25.482-08:002021-01-16T20:31:25.482-08:00I saw an interesting YouTube video on the M1 carbi...I saw an interesting YouTube video on the M1 carbine some months ago and for the life of me can’t find it again. I always thought it was a little under powered and looked like a toy rifle but for what it was designed for it did it’s job well. <br /><br />Think it’s reasonable range was only 300 yards if that. <br /><br />I am feeling a bit sorry for Manfred and Jurgen. Do you wonder if they weren’t feeling like the whole thing was hopeless. <br /><br />And I am thinking seeing so much death every day from your friends would really suck on your soul. Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720206407574457665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-6779501159721155612021-01-16T17:13:37.377-08:002021-01-16T17:13:37.377-08:00Yes, but one eases the stress of the other.Yes, but one eases the stress of the other.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-60858107746519145492021-01-16T17:08:18.971-08:002021-01-16T17:08:18.971-08:00(Don McCollor)...War and smoking are both bad for ...(Don McCollor)...War and smoking are both bad for your health. There was an account of a badly wounded Marine on Tarawa who asked the corpsman trying to treat him "Gimme your cigarette". The corpsman offered to light one for him. "No time, gimmie yours". The corpsman held his cigarette to the lips of the Marine, smoke curled out through his chest wounds, and he died...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-16755059859284700542021-01-16T16:14:07.892-08:002021-01-16T16:14:07.892-08:00Old Guns - Yes, I think people knew they were &quo...Old Guns - Yes, I think people knew they were "bad for you" but this was before the nanny government days.<br /><br />(My first real boss in the Air Force smoked Pall Malls, that brand has been around for a while.)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-19067757323903659592021-01-16T16:11:45.606-08:002021-01-16T16:11:45.606-08:00Don - True enough.Don - True enough.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-44486868508303763742021-01-16T15:30:49.569-08:002021-01-16T15:30:49.569-08:00I remember in 1954 when we got our first TV set Jo...I remember in 1954 when we got our first TV set John Cameron Swayze at the end of the 6 o'clock news announcing which VA hospitals were receiving cartons of Camels that night. Also there were Chesterfields, Camels and some other brands I cannot recall in the C-rations we were consuming 1959-63. Old GunsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02690195704568635237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83534453048457199302021-01-16T15:30:20.078-08:002021-01-16T15:30:20.078-08:00(Don McCollor)...many did not have time to get too...(Don McCollor)...many did not have time to get too addicted...<br />Don McCollorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18028324869570493102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-13796032227217184982021-01-16T13:34:40.945-08:002021-01-16T13:34:40.945-08:00To be fair, the government didn't really go ap...To be fair, the government didn't really go apeshit over cigarette smoking until the late '80s. Of course, then they went completely overboard. If the gubmint had tried to ban smoking in the '40s or '50s, there would have been blood in the streets. Our predecessors weren't sheep.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-70199588897181831072021-01-16T13:32:56.201-08:002021-01-16T13:32:56.201-08:00And hated by some generals, in particular one Geor...And hated by some generals, in particular one George S. Patton, Jr!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-71227736440016559072021-01-16T13:32:13.436-08:002021-01-16T13:32:13.436-08:00Tom - "Internet experts," kind of an oxy...Tom - "Internet experts," kind of an oxymoron isn't it?OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-36119300886539781092021-01-16T13:31:33.223-08:002021-01-16T13:31:33.223-08:00Beans - Don't blame one party, both parties wa...Beans - Don't blame one party, both parties want us disarmed and compliant. There is only one party in reality, the new aristocracy in DC has two faces, but only one goal.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-5535927699352486032021-01-16T12:00:40.125-08:002021-01-16T12:00:40.125-08:00I can echo many of the above comments - your writi...I can echo many of the above comments - your writing definitely paints a picture, to the point I can 'see' what's going on in my mind's eye and feel what the characters are feeling. The cigarette scene was brilliant. Funny how the US Government issued Lucky Strikes in ration packs, got the soldiers addicted to nicotine, then came after the evil tobacco companies for marketing a deadly product all the while not taking responsibility for the government's part in it all. Reminds me of the meme currently going around about how it's a felony to lie to the government, but the government can lie to us with impunity.Tom in NChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03576958446243001152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-32299836037171624402021-01-16T11:55:54.189-08:002021-01-16T11:55:54.189-08:00me, too - I also had a book of his cartoons and re...me, too - I also had a book of his cartoons and read it several times - Mauldin had a great insight into the dogface's life and was loved by the troopsTom in NChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03576958446243001152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-18235836268876886862021-01-16T11:52:41.881-08:002021-01-16T11:52:41.881-08:00I was fortunate to have good friends who were a wh...I was fortunate to have good friends who were a whiz at M1's and M1 carbines. He restored a Garand for me that is presentation grade, just beautiful, but not worth much to a collector since it has been refinished. I picked up a very nice Carbine made by Winchester at a gun show back in the late 90's - came with a little index card typed up (yes, on a typewriter) saying it was a WWII bringback and had not been shot in anger. Is in great shape with all parts matching with the exception of a couple of minor items. I'm amazed at how much it's worth these days... and while some internet experts poo-poo the effectiveness of the .30 carbine round, it's caused the demise of a LOT of our enemies in several wars.<br />We still run high power rifle clinics, and you can still get Garands and Enfields from CMP - a lot are kinda junky, but their store at the Marksmanship Park in Anniston, AL, had some very nice reworked ones for sale - pricey but nice.Tom in NChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03576958446243001152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-81432344720957079472021-01-16T11:24:55.264-08:002021-01-16T11:24:55.264-08:00It shouldn't be. But one party has been block...It shouldn't be. But one party has been blocking the return of the guns since forever.Beanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293778848879361153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-31181508358150642142021-01-16T11:23:47.891-08:002021-01-16T11:23:47.891-08:00Never did get a Garand, by the time I was interest...Never did get a Garand, by the time I was interested, they were far too pricey.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-24592677642486699262021-01-16T11:22:58.437-08:002021-01-16T11:22:58.437-08:00Often the photos set the tone for the story.Often the photos set the tone for the story.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-50615677649171671182021-01-16T11:12:16.509-08:002021-01-16T11:12:16.509-08:00Again, the photos really add great value to the wo...Again, the photos really add great value to the words. I am shivering just looking at those poor SOBs, equally miserable in the snow and cold, regardless of which uniform they wore.<br />John BlackshoeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-13949929258637569722021-01-16T10:51:10.113-08:002021-01-16T10:51:10.113-08:00Hey Old AFSarge;
The "Lucky Strike"...Hey Old AFSarge;<br /><br /> The "Lucky Strike" reference was a gem. And an excellent Pic you selected and the comment "Yeah, step into my office Jack, pull up a snow bank." was a good reference with some tongue in cheek humor. Still want to add a carbine to my rifle collection but I think that ship has sailed due to the collector craze that has struck in recent years. Oh well. I got a Garand and an 03 so I am good.MrGarabaldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05768774166065615995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-29384499709237675812021-01-16T09:51:35.706-08:002021-01-16T09:51:35.706-08:00Mr. Mauldin recorded what he saw. I love his work....Mr. Mauldin recorded what he saw. I love his work.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.com