Today I got his death records. Seems "two insignias" were sent home with his effects- I suspect the two 115th DI's I have. Creepy. Also of note was that it was apparently a gunshot wound to the head.
The other nice thing is that the paperwork listing his body's return has told me what cemetary he is burried in. So I shall have to go visit. Poor kid (and mom). His dad was dead, and there are a number of letters from his mom asking for info, or help, or "when will you bring me back his body?"
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Wonderful relic
Serpent's Wall is a nice website done by a Russian Woman, Elena Filatova, looking at the defenses and battlesites around Kiev. http://www.serpentswall.com
This is one of her photos of a Lend Lease Sherman in a nearby marsh- (the hull is nearby)http://www.serpentswall.com/page28.html
This would be an amazing testamant to Amercia's "arsenal of democracy" - a lend lease Sherman destroyed in the fighting.
Elena also has some quite amazing material on line about her day trips into the radioactive zone of Chernobyl http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/
Monday, June 27, 2005
Cool AA patch
Dennis Moore found this on ebay. I think it is a cool modified AntiAircraft patch, in that it reads into the "aircraft at 6 o'clock"
(note the clock face around the edge).
Anyway, pretty cool. And probably the only real one like this- and now there will be more!
Sunday, June 26, 2005
paratroopers everywhere!
A friemd writes me:
"I went to Normandy last June 6, visiting graves at the US cemetery. I spent the afternoon near Carentan and Sainte Mère. At the De Trez museum at carentan, I had the surprise to meet with Forrest Guth. The stuff shown in the museum is just awsome. Probably the best museum of Normandy. At sainteMère, there were more people in paratroops uniforms than civilians. Never seen that before. The more fun was to see some families with wife husband and kids all dressed in paratrooper uniforms!!!"
Spent the weekend cleaning the gas tank with muriatic acid (and not burning myself). And yep- as expected where the straps rubbed off the paint some small rust pin holes developed. Thankfully the cool epoxy based gunk I am using seems to work well on this stuff.
FOund out the right wheels not turning is a featire of the way the jeep is geared. Put some tewnsion on the lefthand wheels and the power goes to the right. So that is a relief. Also bought a very cool "bolt-on" wire cutter for the front bumper.
Was offered a decent 1987 riot gun with ord proofs. I do not need it. But it is so cool! and when zombies come will be handy. A purchase liek this would fit into my "sell the extra junk and buy a few nice things."
"I went to Normandy last June 6, visiting graves at the US cemetery. I spent the afternoon near Carentan and Sainte Mère. At the De Trez museum at carentan, I had the surprise to meet with Forrest Guth. The stuff shown in the museum is just awsome. Probably the best museum of Normandy. At sainteMère, there were more people in paratroops uniforms than civilians. Never seen that before. The more fun was to see some families with wife husband and kids all dressed in paratrooper uniforms!!!"
Spent the weekend cleaning the gas tank with muriatic acid (and not burning myself). And yep- as expected where the straps rubbed off the paint some small rust pin holes developed. Thankfully the cool epoxy based gunk I am using seems to work well on this stuff.
FOund out the right wheels not turning is a featire of the way the jeep is geared. Put some tewnsion on the lefthand wheels and the power goes to the right. So that is a relief. Also bought a very cool "bolt-on" wire cutter for the front bumper.
Was offered a decent 1987 riot gun with ord proofs. I do not need it. But it is so cool! and when zombies come will be handy. A purchase liek this would fit into my "sell the extra junk and buy a few nice things."
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Last Digger dies
A state funeral will be held for Western Australia's last surviving World War I veteran, Peter Casserly, who has died at the age of 107.
Mr Casserly was 19-years-old when he signed up for the Australian Imperial Force in 1917 and was the last Australian survivor from the battles on the Western Front in France and Belgium.
Mr Casserly avoided Anzac Day parades, but attended the last two.
His 81-year-old son, Peter Casserly Jnr, says his father had welcomed the offer of a state funeral.
"He knew they wanted to do that and it made him quite pleased, cause the state funeral proposition was put to my father as far back as 18 months or two years ago," he said.
Western Australian Premier Geoff Gallop has described Mr Casserly as a remarkable person who is deserving of a state funeral.
"He lived through three centuries, of course he was the last remaining link between contemporary Western Australians and the great Anzac tradition that was forged, not only in Gallipoli but of course in Europe and it's a tragedy that that link has now been broken," he said.
The Prime Minister has paid tribute to Mr Casserly.
John Howard says he was part of a great generation.
"The death of the last surviving link with protracted battles that in themselves claim more than 45,000 lives of the 60,000 Australians who died in World War I, it is an important significant passing," he said.
Mr Casserly was 19-years-old when he signed up for the Australian Imperial Force in 1917 and was the last Australian survivor from the battles on the Western Front in France and Belgium.
Mr Casserly avoided Anzac Day parades, but attended the last two.
His 81-year-old son, Peter Casserly Jnr, says his father had welcomed the offer of a state funeral.
"He knew they wanted to do that and it made him quite pleased, cause the state funeral proposition was put to my father as far back as 18 months or two years ago," he said.
Western Australian Premier Geoff Gallop has described Mr Casserly as a remarkable person who is deserving of a state funeral.
"He lived through three centuries, of course he was the last remaining link between contemporary Western Australians and the great Anzac tradition that was forged, not only in Gallipoli but of course in Europe and it's a tragedy that that link has now been broken," he said.
The Prime Minister has paid tribute to Mr Casserly.
John Howard says he was part of a great generation.
"The death of the last surviving link with protracted battles that in themselves claim more than 45,000 lives of the 60,000 Australians who died in World War I, it is an important significant passing," he said.
Friday, June 24, 2005
BONZO!
This is BONZO- the mascot of the Army Experimental Station at Pine CAmp (The sonic warfare guys).
I rescued this only known photo of him off ebay. I need to ship the original up to the museumn there, but have been just too daren busy and keep forgetting.
Anyway, here's to Bonzo! I think I have a group photo of the 3132nd Sonic someplace with him in it as well.
ESB helmet
I had mentioned this to some people before- an Engineer Special Brigade helmet that I had been offered (for $$$) and then was sold on ebay.
The rediish arc and blotches I am pretty sure are aged gas detection paint. In some color films of Navy troops at D-day this front blotch is seen a lot. But anyway this helmet has started rumors of "red" arcs for D-day, which it just isn't. Very neat helmet though.
Jeep news
After seeing Land of the Dead today- (fun, not great, some good bits, some silly bits, worth seeing though) I fired up the jeep and threw it into gear (on stands)
Only the left hand wheels got power. The front right was dead, and the rear right was turning in small spurts of power.
I think there is some rust in the gas tank so tomorrow I am going to try and use the old acid cure myself. Slosh it around with some brass chain I have. Then flush with 10,000 gallons of water. A friend is looking at a 1942 GPW this weekend, and I offered to go with him. Watch it be the first WW2 jeep I owned and sold as parts long ago.
Only the left hand wheels got power. The front right was dead, and the rear right was turning in small spurts of power.
I think there is some rust in the gas tank so tomorrow I am going to try and use the old acid cure myself. Slosh it around with some brass chain I have. Then flush with 10,000 gallons of water. A friend is looking at a 1942 GPW this weekend, and I offered to go with him. Watch it be the first WW2 jeep I owned and sold as parts long ago.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Purple Heart for code talker
From: Indian Country Today, 20th June 2005:
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.–After being injured on Iwo Jima while transmitting secret code, 83-year-old Corporal Teddy Draper Sr. received the Purple Heart May 29. Standing at attention, resplendent in the bright yellow shirt, turquoise neck clasp and red cap that has become the uniform of the Navajo code talkers, Draper at long last received the special award–reserved only for soldiers whose blood is shed at the hand of an enemy–from Maj. General Gene Renzi (Ret.), father of Arizona District 1 U.S. Congressman Rick Renzi.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.–After being injured on Iwo Jima while transmitting secret code, 83-year-old Corporal Teddy Draper Sr. received the Purple Heart May 29. Standing at attention, resplendent in the bright yellow shirt, turquoise neck clasp and red cap that has become the uniform of the Navajo code talkers, Draper at long last received the special award–reserved only for soldiers whose blood is shed at the hand of an enemy–from Maj. General Gene Renzi (Ret.), father of Arizona District 1 U.S. Congressman Rick Renzi.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Tanks, a lot!
After a very sleepless night with the dog having trouble breathing, I tried to clean the jeep gas tank. I made a big mess, sent fountains of solvent, degreaser and water through it. I got out some small sand sized particles- and then when the tank was drying down I was feeling inside and could feel a smooth surface where my pressure washer could get, but to the sides there were loose bits of this stuff that were reddish, but didn’t seem like rust particles.
The problem is the drain hole on the tank is seized shut, and my attempts to open the plug look like they will rip the metal wall out first. So cleaning is a problem. I am stumped. I think I will take a sample of the grains and see if they dissolve in fresh gas- if so they are resin bits. If not, back to the drawing board.
In other news a great mail order book store is going under and stuff is on sale- www.tollehausbooks.com Drat! It is nigh impossible to make money selling books these days.
The problem is the drain hole on the tank is seized shut, and my attempts to open the plug look like they will rip the metal wall out first. So cleaning is a problem. I am stumped. I think I will take a sample of the grains and see if they dissolve in fresh gas- if so they are resin bits. If not, back to the drawing board.
In other news a great mail order book store is going under and stuff is on sale- www.tollehausbooks.com Drat! It is nigh impossible to make money selling books these days.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
In which I become famous
Sort of, I am seaking in Ct. this summer. One of very few appearances I do. It is just so very hard to do them due to the problems with all the teenage female groupies that try and rip off my clothing at these things.
http://www.chs.org/events.htm
I have no frigging idea what to say, but think I am going to show the photo of me an dad in St. Eflez, and then tell the story of how he got there, and then how I got there, and then just ramble on about where to look or info.
http://www.chs.org/events.htm
I have no frigging idea what to say, but think I am going to show the photo of me an dad in St. Eflez, and then tell the story of how he got there, and then how I got there, and then just ramble on about where to look or info.
Doesn’t anyone READ anymore?
When I was young, there were NO books on uniforms and equipment. Which is one of the reason I ended up writing some. Now, there are some very good ones out there, and some bad ones as well. But doesn’t anyone read any of them?
In the last two weeks I have had TWO inquiries from vets (of different obscure units I have written about) ask me if Spearheading D-day is still available as they had some guys ask them all about what uniforms they wore (both were reenactors wanting to do impressions of these units). Neither had apparently done a simple internet search on the unit except look for the vet association.
Now I have to admit I get a lot of inquiries on things, but I will say that the ones from reenactors tend to be among the stupidest: and to explain stupidest I mean things that could have been easily answered by doing a tiny amount of research. Like the guy who called me asking some questions about uniforms for his “impression” that- had he actually read SDD (and he had not) he would have found in there.
Now this does not include theguys that read the books and articles and then ask for clarification or if anything new had been discovered. This is just the “I heard of this cool unit and want to do it as I am a living historian.”
So when you think of guys wanting to be historians (and anyone can be one) but they do not do what I would consider the basic looking around, I worry about putting guns in these guys’ hands. And that is one of the reasons I am not seen at reenactors anymore- Let someone else’s eardrums and eyes get blown out (mine are bad enough).
And of curious note- last week I got a subscription form for GI Journal. And it was one of my original subscription forms (color coded). God bless him, but where has that form been that it ended up in someone’s hands this year….
now on the plus side, I also got a fan letter in (bad) English from France. Not asking for anything, just sort of thanking me for the books and also sadly mentioning how his adopted US vet friend is badly failing with Alzheimers. Boy can I sympathize. I really can;t imagine what it must be like for some 80 year old vet to develop a freidnship with a young Frenchman thankful for the liberation and actually INTERESTDoesn’t anyone READ anymore?
When I was young, there were NO books on uniforms and equipment. Which is one of the reason I ended up writing some. Now, there are some very good ones out there, and some bad ones as well. But doesn’t anyone read any of them?
In the last two weeks I have had TWO inquiries from vets (of different obscure units I have written about) ask me if Spearheading D-day is still available as they had some guys ask them all about what uniforms they wore (both were reenactors wanting to do impressions of these units). Neither had apparently done a simple internet search on the unit except look for the vet association.
Now I have to admit I get a lot of inquiries on things, but I will say that the ones from reenactors tend to be among the stupidest: and to explain stupidest I mean things that could have been easily answered by doing a tiny amount of research. Like the guy who called me asking some questions about uniforms for his “impression” that- had he actually read SDD (and he had not) he would have found in there.
Now this does not include theguys that read the books and articles and then ask for clarification or if anything new had been discovered. This is just the “I heard of this cool unit and want to do it as I am a living historian.”
So when you think of guys wanting to be historians (and anyone can be one) but they do not do what I would consider the basic looking around, I worry about putting guns in these guys’ hands. And that is one of the reasons I am not seen at reenactors anymore- Let someone else’s eardrums and eyes get blown out (mine are bad enough).
And of curious note- last week I got a subscription form for GI Journal. And it was one of my original subscription forms (color coded). God bless him, but where has that form been that it ended up in someone’s hands this year….Doesn’t anyone READ anymore?
When I was young, there were NO books on uniforms and equipment. Which is one of the reason I ended up writing some. Now, there are some very good ones out there, and some bad ones as well. But doesn’t anyone read any of them?
In the last two weeks I have had TWO inquiries from vets (of different obscure units I have written about) ask me if Spearheading D-day is still available as they had some guys ask them all about what uniforms they wore (both were reenactors wanting to do impressions of these units). Neither had apparently done a simple internet search on the unit except look for the vet association.
Now I have to admit I get a lot of inquiries on things, but I will say that the ones from reenactors tend to be among the stupidest: and to explain stupidest I mean things that could have been easily answered by doing a tiny amount of research. Like the guy who called me asking some questions about uniforms for his “impression” that- had he actually read SDD (and he had not) he would have found in there.
Now this does not include theguys that read the books and articles and then ask for clarification or if anything new had been discovered. This is just the “I heard of this cool unit and want to do it as I am a living historian.”
So when you think of guys wanting to be historians (and anyone can be one) but they do not do what I would consider the basic looking around, I worry about putting guns in these guys’ hands. And that is one of the reasons I am not seen at reenactors anymore- Let someone else’s eardrums and eyes get blown out (mine are bad enough).
And of curious note- last week I got a subscription form for GI Journal. And it was one of my original subscription forms (color coded). God bless him, but where has that form been that it ended up in someone’s hands this year….
In the last two weeks I have had TWO inquiries from vets (of different obscure units I have written about) ask me if Spearheading D-day is still available as they had some guys ask them all about what uniforms they wore (both were reenactors wanting to do impressions of these units). Neither had apparently done a simple internet search on the unit except look for the vet association.
Now I have to admit I get a lot of inquiries on things, but I will say that the ones from reenactors tend to be among the stupidest: and to explain stupidest I mean things that could have been easily answered by doing a tiny amount of research. Like the guy who called me asking some questions about uniforms for his “impression” that- had he actually read SDD (and he had not) he would have found in there.
Now this does not include theguys that read the books and articles and then ask for clarification or if anything new had been discovered. This is just the “I heard of this cool unit and want to do it as I am a living historian.”
So when you think of guys wanting to be historians (and anyone can be one) but they do not do what I would consider the basic looking around, I worry about putting guns in these guys’ hands. And that is one of the reasons I am not seen at reenactors anymore- Let someone else’s eardrums and eyes get blown out (mine are bad enough).
And of curious note- last week I got a subscription form for GI Journal. And it was one of my original subscription forms (color coded). God bless him, but where has that form been that it ended up in someone’s hands this year….
now on the plus side, I also got a fan letter in (bad) English from France. Not asking for anything, just sort of thanking me for the books and also sadly mentioning how his adopted US vet friend is badly failing with Alzheimers. Boy can I sympathize. I really can;t imagine what it must be like for some 80 year old vet to develop a freidnship with a young Frenchman thankful for the liberation and actually INTERESTDoesn’t anyone READ anymore?
When I was young, there were NO books on uniforms and equipment. Which is one of the reason I ended up writing some. Now, there are some very good ones out there, and some bad ones as well. But doesn’t anyone read any of them?
In the last two weeks I have had TWO inquiries from vets (of different obscure units I have written about) ask me if Spearheading D-day is still available as they had some guys ask them all about what uniforms they wore (both were reenactors wanting to do impressions of these units). Neither had apparently done a simple internet search on the unit except look for the vet association.
Now I have to admit I get a lot of inquiries on things, but I will say that the ones from reenactors tend to be among the stupidest: and to explain stupidest I mean things that could have been easily answered by doing a tiny amount of research. Like the guy who called me asking some questions about uniforms for his “impression” that- had he actually read SDD (and he had not) he would have found in there.
Now this does not include theguys that read the books and articles and then ask for clarification or if anything new had been discovered. This is just the “I heard of this cool unit and want to do it as I am a living historian.”
So when you think of guys wanting to be historians (and anyone can be one) but they do not do what I would consider the basic looking around, I worry about putting guns in these guys’ hands. And that is one of the reasons I am not seen at reenactors anymore- Let someone else’s eardrums and eyes get blown out (mine are bad enough).
And of curious note- last week I got a subscription form for GI Journal. And it was one of my original subscription forms (color coded). God bless him, but where has that form been that it ended up in someone’s hands this year….Doesn’t anyone READ anymore?
When I was young, there were NO books on uniforms and equipment. Which is one of the reason I ended up writing some. Now, there are some very good ones out there, and some bad ones as well. But doesn’t anyone read any of them?
In the last two weeks I have had TWO inquiries from vets (of different obscure units I have written about) ask me if Spearheading D-day is still available as they had some guys ask them all about what uniforms they wore (both were reenactors wanting to do impressions of these units). Neither had apparently done a simple internet search on the unit except look for the vet association.
Now I have to admit I get a lot of inquiries on things, but I will say that the ones from reenactors tend to be among the stupidest: and to explain stupidest I mean things that could have been easily answered by doing a tiny amount of research. Like the guy who called me asking some questions about uniforms for his “impression” that- had he actually read SDD (and he had not) he would have found in there.
Now this does not include theguys that read the books and articles and then ask for clarification or if anything new had been discovered. This is just the “I heard of this cool unit and want to do it as I am a living historian.”
So when you think of guys wanting to be historians (and anyone can be one) but they do not do what I would consider the basic looking around, I worry about putting guns in these guys’ hands. And that is one of the reasons I am not seen at reenactors anymore- Let someone else’s eardrums and eyes get blown out (mine are bad enough).
And of curious note- last week I got a subscription form for GI Journal. And it was one of my original subscription forms (color coded). God bless him, but where has that form been that it ended up in someone’s hands this year….
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
a fun T-shirt
I normally hate most "military" T-shirts, with stupid thgins like "Rommel's Spring Tour" or "Band of Brothers" on them. ( Oh, I WISH I had trademarked that!) But this one was kind of fun in a subtle way
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=205171
Just a T-shirt with the WW2 frogskin pattern cammo on it. And $12- not bad. Course they also have German splinter and tan and water- but they look like the post war patterns from what I could see.
Still, beats a shirt saying "My other car is a Tiger I"
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=205171
Just a T-shirt with the WW2 frogskin pattern cammo on it. And $12- not bad. Course they also have German splinter and tan and water- but they look like the post war patterns from what I could see.
Still, beats a shirt saying "My other car is a Tiger I"
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
another reason to hate computers
Spent all last night and this moring working on my computer trying to figure out why it kept crashing. For a brief moment I thought I had lost all my files on the new book. No idea what it was, but how do people with lfew computer skills manage?
Proofs of the new WW2 US Army experimental cammouflage article in Militaria Magazine arrived. I am told this may make some self proclaimed cammo "expert" go a bit red as it not only quotes specific documents and reports, but contrdicts some self proclaimed "collector's facts."
That's always fun.
Proofs of the new WW2 US Army experimental cammouflage article in Militaria Magazine arrived. I am told this may make some self proclaimed cammo "expert" go a bit red as it not only quotes specific documents and reports, but contrdicts some self proclaimed "collector's facts."
That's always fun.
Monday, June 13, 2005
More on gas tanks
Went to drop off my tank to be cleaned, but no dice. Seems the EPA will not let them boil out tanks anymore. So he wanted to cut mine half, clean it, and re weld it. At a cost higher than a new one.
In theory I need to get a high pressure spray and just do it myself at home. And as I have a air compressor I guess this may be reasonably inexpensive, but messy.
In theory I need to get a high pressure spray and just do it myself at home. And as I have a air compressor I guess this may be reasonably inexpensive, but messy.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
The sweetest sound in the World
The great Master Bean (mechanical genius) came over yesterday and after hours of torture in high 90’ humidity, and 2 trips to the auto store, the jeep fired up.
First we tried to get her going on starter fluid and when it caught oil sprayed out of the (not tight) oil filter.
Then we spent time cleaning the fuel pump and then figured out the rig I had built opt by pass the gas tank only sucked in air. Fixed that. Pump then sucked gas, but sprayed out all over the carb. Cleaned the carb and then gas sprayed out of a small hole in the tubing. Replaced that and she fired right up and ran pretty darn well.
Now to find a place to have the gas tank cleaned so it does not run on a tube sitting in a jerrycan of gas.
First we tried to get her going on starter fluid and when it caught oil sprayed out of the (not tight) oil filter.
Then we spent time cleaning the fuel pump and then figured out the rig I had built opt by pass the gas tank only sucked in air. Fixed that. Pump then sucked gas, but sprayed out all over the carb. Cleaned the carb and then gas sprayed out of a small hole in the tubing. Replaced that and she fired right up and ran pretty darn well.
Now to find a place to have the gas tank cleaned so it does not run on a tube sitting in a jerrycan of gas.
Museums everywhere!
After the "fun" folks at Veirville decided that they did not need a museum at Omaha Beach and closed their down years ago, now there are more musuems everywhere. It seems one cannot walk from one end of France to another without stepping n museums as you go.
DeTrez is into this now, after some nice temporary exhibits, he's trying to raise money for a grand A/B museum. www.paratrooper-museum.org
You can buy his 1/6 scale figures of famous 101sters there and help support it. Golly- a simulated ride in a jump aircraft- be very cool if they get it going.
DeTrez is into this now, after some nice temporary exhibits, he's trying to raise money for a grand A/B museum. www.paratrooper-museum.org
You can buy his 1/6 scale figures of famous 101sters there and help support it. Golly- a simulated ride in a jump aircraft- be very cool if they get it going.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
gas! as in tanks.
Well, still trying to clean out the jeep gas tank. Looks like there is indeed a lot of crud in it as all the solvents I used turned a very dark crud color. I think, as I can't seem to drain it very well, that should just find a place to clean it for me. Looked in the Yellow Pages and not ONE listing of a radiator shop saying the did gas tanks. I'll start calling on monday I guess.
Had a nice talk with a vet from the 552 FA Bn (240mm guns). He has a pile of photos he took, and I gather he also aquired a pile of 16mm HJ films as well. I just need to find time to go look at this great treasure trove. Its just any time anyone tells me they have great stuff, it ain't, and the when they say "tisn't nothing" it sometimes is.
Had a nice talk with a vet from the 552 FA Bn (240mm guns). He has a pile of photos he took, and I gather he also aquired a pile of 16mm HJ films as well. I just need to find time to go look at this great treasure trove. Its just any time anyone tells me they have great stuff, it ain't, and the when they say "tisn't nothing" it sometimes is.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
I am sick of D-day
It has been D-day week on TV. Every year at this time I dread it. I sort of ‘have’ to watch the shows, but I end up regretting it. Mostly the same old thing, or just badly done. I finally got around to watching most of “D-day, the Hidden (or something) Evidence.” I had to stop watching it last year when they totally mis identified where Utah Beach was on a map. And it was a show about aerial photography ferchristsakes! I did not miss anything. Well, I did miss one rather cool 30 seconds simulated sweep of the beach, but that was it. The rest made me want to throw things at my TV.
Then comes the sunken DD tanks show. That one pisses me off. First off the guy never admits that some Frenchmen actually did all this survey work a long time ago. OK, fine. But then he goes ahead and makes some rather big conclusions on what “really” happened, without (seemingly) citing any work in any post action debriefs or talking to vets who were still alive.
I try to take all these silly shows with a grain of salt. But it is the reason I turn down so many chances to be on TV. First off the producers do not care if they do a good job. That means more than likely my interview will be cut back to make me say something dumb and or wrong. I say enough dumb things on my own. I do not need their help.
At least we get to go back to normal for a while now. And those of us that actually care about this stuff can get back to work and slowly pick away at looking for the real history and not be swamped by people that ask “did you see that there film Private Ryan?”
Then comes the sunken DD tanks show. That one pisses me off. First off the guy never admits that some Frenchmen actually did all this survey work a long time ago. OK, fine. But then he goes ahead and makes some rather big conclusions on what “really” happened, without (seemingly) citing any work in any post action debriefs or talking to vets who were still alive.
I try to take all these silly shows with a grain of salt. But it is the reason I turn down so many chances to be on TV. First off the producers do not care if they do a good job. That means more than likely my interview will be cut back to make me say something dumb and or wrong. I say enough dumb things on my own. I do not need their help.
At least we get to go back to normal for a while now. And those of us that actually care about this stuff can get back to work and slowly pick away at looking for the real history and not be swamped by people that ask “did you see that there film Private Ryan?”
I have mildew
I try and keep my basement area reasonable for storage of the massive collection. I run a dehumidifier, try and quarantine things that may bring in bugs, and check the temp/humidity in the central collection space.
Problem was- I had a slow leak in a drain pipe so whenever I ran my kitchen water it dripped down where I could not see it easily. When it did this the humidity of the area went up, but was not seen on the gauge. So the area started to grow mildew.
And I guess it spread form there. So I am now rooting out pockets of the crud where the air had not circulated. Thankfully we have had some very sunny days as mildew is best killed with UV light. I am also running an air filter in the basement to suck all the mildew spores out of the air.
One place I found a pattern of it on the top layer inside a box where the cardboard flaps did not fully close. So the spore stuff must have settled there on an air breeze. Had I had the box sealed better I might have prevented it.
So I am converting more of my lesser stuff from cardboard into better plastic boxes. Fighting this horrific thing is a pain. Plus the spores are supposed to be nasty to people, and I have a cough now that will not stop.
People spend far too much time looking for stuff for their collection, and not enough taking care of what they have.
Problem was- I had a slow leak in a drain pipe so whenever I ran my kitchen water it dripped down where I could not see it easily. When it did this the humidity of the area went up, but was not seen on the gauge. So the area started to grow mildew.
And I guess it spread form there. So I am now rooting out pockets of the crud where the air had not circulated. Thankfully we have had some very sunny days as mildew is best killed with UV light. I am also running an air filter in the basement to suck all the mildew spores out of the air.
One place I found a pattern of it on the top layer inside a box where the cardboard flaps did not fully close. So the spore stuff must have settled there on an air breeze. Had I had the box sealed better I might have prevented it.
So I am converting more of my lesser stuff from cardboard into better plastic boxes. Fighting this horrific thing is a pain. Plus the spores are supposed to be nasty to people, and I have a cough now that will not stop.
People spend far too much time looking for stuff for their collection, and not enough taking care of what they have.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Green stuff lives
Its all just Green stuff. Always has been, always will be.
After my PHPBB was hacked and the files LOST by the very evil Cedant.com hosting company, I decided not to start another bulletin board, but just to blog my way through my trials and tripidations of dealing with military history. Which may seem overly trendy, but it may proove to be a good way to stay in touch with people I know around the work.
After my PHPBB was hacked and the files LOST by the very evil Cedant.com hosting company, I decided not to start another bulletin board, but just to blog my way through my trials and tripidations of dealing with military history. Which may seem overly trendy, but it may proove to be a good way to stay in touch with people I know around the work.
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