WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

For posting personal or other photos of the relevant G740, G758, M38, M38A1, M170 MV's for this Forum
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Joe Gopan
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WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:56 pm

WWII Veteran in my 44 MB. He shot down 11.5 German Aircraft including jets. I waited 45 Years to meet Brigadier General Charles Yeager a true American Hero.
This was taken August 11, 1996, at the Bangor ANG Base, formerly Dow Field and Dow Air Force Base.
Attachments
Chuck_Yeager_001[1].jpg
Chuck_Yeager_001[1].jpg (65.11 KiB) Viewed 9078 times
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Sun Feb 28, 2016 2:08 pm, edited 4 times in total.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


Joe Gopan
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Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:34 am

Peter Marini, Enlisted Pilot, flew O-47, B-18 and L-5 Aircraft on Submarine Patrol; from the Gulf of Mexico to Florida in the 6th AF. He had his Commercial Pilots rating, GI flight School was waivered. He patrolled from early 1942 thru 1945 and spotted a few German Subs. Peter was in his 90's and the Chaplain in my Legion Post. Peter needed a little help walking but was like a "Jack in the Box" whenever the 195th Army Band played "Wild Blue Yonder" at a ceremony.

My dog Fluffy, she made every parade and loved riding in the CCKW, this was her last Veteran's Day Parade, she passed away 4 months later.
Peter was my last guest of honor, he had one more parade to go before he took off on his final flight. It is rough losing a veteran.
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Fluffy.jpg
Fluffy.jpg (51.44 KiB) Viewed 9054 times
Marini.jpg
Marini.jpg (74.22 KiB) Viewed 9054 times
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:26 pm

I also have had the honor of providing a Jeep for one of the first female Generals in the US Army, BG Millie Hedberg. I met her 15 years ago when she contacted me to sell her 1951 CJ-3A. She was the Parade Marshall the following year in the 1997 Veterans Day Parade in my hometown. Am trying to find the photos. She requested my M-38A1 (without canvas).
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Sat Sep 20, 2014 4:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

tapeandgauze
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Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by tapeandgauze » Sun Sep 30, 2012 8:12 pm

GREAT STORY!

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Halsey
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Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Halsey » Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:14 pm

That is very cool!

We owe them so much.

Thanks for sharing.


Chris
43 GPW 122779 7/15/43
43 GPW 105097 3/25/43 Matching numbers.
51 CJ3A
51 M38
55 M38A1

Joe Gopan
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Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Apr 01, 2014 5:14 pm

I made a mistake when I prepared the MB for General Yeager. the Stars displayed for USAF General Officers are a different color than those displayed for US Army General Officers. I used silver instead of white. The General was still pleased.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
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Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:30 am

August 11, 1996 was a memorable day, I got to meet General Yeager and spend a few hours with him at an airshow at the former Dow Field.
19 years ago seems like yesterday. Time has stood still.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Aug 12, 2015 5:16 am

Something else that has withstood the test of time are the memories of my family and neighbors returning home from war, the trim and fit soldiers exiting a cab in front of their house, the airmen with their Overseas Cap, sunglasses and B-4 Bags walking up my sidewalk looking at street numbers, and my uncle Joe the Army Ranger, a dead ringer for Charles Atlas, my neighbor Calvin Knaide neat and fit in his Warrant Offices uniform and weighing 180 lbs but soon to push 275# as the fattest cop on our police force for the next 25 years. Uncle Joe was soon to give me my first Jeep ride in a new 1945 Pasture Green Jeep that came to our dealership a few weeks later.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
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Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Feb 28, 2016 2:03 pm

The clock is ticking, Chuck Yeager celebrated his 93rd birthday a few days ago.
I'm forever trying to remember names of local WWII veterans that I saw wearing their uniforms home from WWII. The uniforms still exist, many of the Veterans do not. Kind of sad to not know of any more friends or relatives. What is more sad is to read the obituaries of locals that I have known all my life and realize for the first time that they were a B-29 Pilot (Rooster Wagon,) B-24 Gunner, B-17 Gunner, Infantry Scout, Corsair Pilot, Aviation Machinist Mate on Corsairs, Seaman on Cruiser Los Angeles, C-47 Hump Pilot, 8th AF Weather observer, High School Guidance Director, Marine Veteran of Iwo Jima etc.. I only wish that I had asked a few questions over the years which may or may not have done any good as many were silent heroes who shunned glory.
Let's see what the coming Memorial Day Parade brings.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:10 am

Ben Dover wrote:WWII Veteran in my 44 MB. He shot down 11.5 German Aircraft including jets. I waited 45 Years to meet Brigadier General Charles Yeager a true American Hero.
This was taken August 11, 1996, at the Bangor ANG Base, formerly Dow Field and Dow Air Force Base.
AUGUST 11, 1996 - AUGUST 11, 2016, 20 years went by quick. It is still like it happened just yesterday.
Sure wish I could do this experience over again.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: WWII VETERAN-IN MY MB

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun May 27, 2018 5:18 pm

Will remember these Veterans plus a few more Monday. The memory never dims. The black outs the air raid sirens...........it all comes back.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


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