I know what you mean, I used to ride a WW2 Harley WLA from West Hills to Burbank (in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles) every day for 2 years in the late 80's. And would get those really cool stories. I would watch the reaction of those around me from the oblivious to those who remember. My favorite episode was early one winter foggy morning, I was a little late for work so I was on the throttle with the exhaust note reverberating down an empty Victory Boulevard. I spot a figure in the distance. By the time I could make out that it was a hunched over old man walking with a cane...just then I could tell the instant he heard my exhaust..he turned and stood up straighter than I bet he had in years..as I passed we where looking at each other and he tried to smile....I could tell that man rode one in WW2! That my friends is why we toil so hard on these wonderful old machines!Ben Dover wrote:Having a CCKW (or other WWII MV) is great fun they are a time warp and bring back personal memories for some of us who remember when these beasts roamed the streets as government property. They lend us a hint of what the WWII GI experienced while operating or riding as passengers. They are also a good source of new friends while stopped at the traffic light, an air show, a visit to the drive in restaurant, a stop at the gas station, etc.
There is an missing ingredient now becoming evident, the WWII Veteran, disappearing from the scene are the chance encounters at these stops is the occasional elderly lady at the corner grocery that remarks, "nice truck, I drove those at Boston Army Base during the war", or the Veterans that remark "I can't help but admire your Jeep, I worked on these in the shops at Dow Field back in the 40's", "I hauled ammo in the Alps in one of these", "We used to back up, and stop quick to unload the bombs", "I used to outrun Circle C Cowboys in my Jeep after the war", "We used to have to unwind the winch and clean the cable".
For some of us, the view is changing.
CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013/2018
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Re: THE VIEW IS CHANGING
Proud caretaker of U.S.A. truck 3219442-S 1943 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine 1 1/2 4x4
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Re: CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013
T/SGT Joe Gopan was a WWII US Army Ranger who was involved in a lot of combat while serving with the 28th and 106th Infantry Division.
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
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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Re: CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013
The view was not quite the same as earlier years. Yesterday was the 2016 Veterans Day Parade. Gone are many of the same Veterans spotted along the Parade route and those who do turn out are slowly showing their age, even the youngest of the Vietnam veterans are starting to look old.
The CCKW ran flawlessly with memories of past wars and their Veterans as the 1.9 mile parade route unwound under my truck. I have many fond memories of the Veterans I have known and the war stories told by those who were there.
As always, no Veterans Day Parade is complete with out the drive thru the Main Gate at the WWII Dow Field.
Learned after the parade that my best friend for the past 50 years passed away. We bought clean cannibalized M-37, M-38, M-38A1, M-35 residue at Ft Devens for years, he had the knack of convincing the PDO that what they loaded was not equal to what we bid on and they would always add another vehicle or two. Those were good times as the scrap Jeeps were going for $2.00-$4.00 a Net Ton and held steady until some individuals caught on to how cheap the Jeeps were going for and spoiled it for all around 1970 when they shot the price up to $800/Ton. The PDO figured that two cannibalized M-38 or M-38A1 Jeeps would average one ton. They did not weigh the loads. Cheap Jeeps and $2 Dollar Foot Lockers were the name of the game. The PDO would hang a wooden sign "FOOT LOCKERS today, $2 Ea.
Am going to miss Louie, he would tell of looking toward the sky during WWII when he was a teenager and seeing B-17's and B-24's headed to war in Europe, and after the war ended of going to Lowell Massachusetts with the local surplus dealer to haul back crated CG-4 WACO Gliders just to salvage the plywood from the crates. His motto was "A man is only as good as his word".
Lewis P. Valente, 1927-2016- RIP, going to miss you Louie.
The CCKW ran flawlessly with memories of past wars and their Veterans as the 1.9 mile parade route unwound under my truck. I have many fond memories of the Veterans I have known and the war stories told by those who were there.
As always, no Veterans Day Parade is complete with out the drive thru the Main Gate at the WWII Dow Field.
Learned after the parade that my best friend for the past 50 years passed away. We bought clean cannibalized M-37, M-38, M-38A1, M-35 residue at Ft Devens for years, he had the knack of convincing the PDO that what they loaded was not equal to what we bid on and they would always add another vehicle or two. Those were good times as the scrap Jeeps were going for $2.00-$4.00 a Net Ton and held steady until some individuals caught on to how cheap the Jeeps were going for and spoiled it for all around 1970 when they shot the price up to $800/Ton. The PDO figured that two cannibalized M-38 or M-38A1 Jeeps would average one ton. They did not weigh the loads. Cheap Jeeps and $2 Dollar Foot Lockers were the name of the game. The PDO would hang a wooden sign "FOOT LOCKERS today, $2 Ea.
Am going to miss Louie, he would tell of looking toward the sky during WWII when he was a teenager and seeing B-17's and B-24's headed to war in Europe, and after the war ended of going to Lowell Massachusetts with the local surplus dealer to haul back crated CG-4 WACO Gliders just to salvage the plywood from the crates. His motto was "A man is only as good as his word".
Lewis P. Valente, 1927-2016- RIP, going to miss you Louie.
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
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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Re: CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013/2016
Back to the Drivers view, 6 Volt electric defrosters that are attached with 4 suction cups were issued for use in winter driving, they work fine, but restrict vision.
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
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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Re: CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013/2018
My version of the "RED BALL EXPRESS".
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
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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Re: CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013/2018
And the best CCKW view of all? It is all of you who wave and yell "Hi" as I drive by.
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
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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Re: CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013/2018
Got a feeling that the 2020 CCKW view will be lonesome.
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
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
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COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
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Re: CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013/2018
Same here Joe. Our annual veterans day march has been cancelled (known as ANZAC Day here) and I hear that the owner of a classic/historic vehicle has been fined over $1500 for driving outside of the stipulated reasons.
I am thinking of parking one of my HMV's on my front lawn for the day, weather permitting.
Cheers
David
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Re: CCKW CLOSED CAB DRIVERS VIEW 2013/2018
I guess I can sit in it and make GMC noises.
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
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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