A lot of the MV spare-parts (GMC, Dodge, jeep, you name it) I have seen
in Norway have been marked with a paper label (either glued on the
packing cases or tied on to the larger axle or whatever) with the US
stars along the top, a handshake in the middle, and the red/white
stripes at the bottom. In connection with a project I'm working on I
need to know whether this label was used for military aid alone, or also
for civilian/humanitarian aid (such as Marshall Aid), when it was first
used, is it still in use today, etc, etc. Is there maybe an internet
site I can get some more info ? All suggestions appreciated. I have to
get this project finished in time for an exhibition on Saturday first.
By the way, those who recall that I was recently asking for travel-tips
in the USA, will also realise that my plans have of course been delayed
until further. I should have been in New York today. Something I've been
looking forward to all my life. But my disappointment is nothing
compared to what the people of NYC, DC, and the USA as a whole have been
through this past week. Ther rest of the world has been shocked by the
tragedy, and our thoughts are with those who are gone and those who have
lost someone, and not least our admiration for the brave firemen,
police, medics, and others who are now trying to rescue any survivors. I
drive a GPW not only because it's fun, but as a symbol of what America
did for all of us in WW2. It's not much, but it's my way of making a
statement. Let's hope that the world will now support the USA in return.
(and as a Brit I must also say I've been touched by the MV-listers
comments on the Buckingham Palace episode. We might be, as someone once
said "two countries divided by a common language" but, no matter what,
there will always be a bond that neither time nor events can break. I'm
saying this as one who grew up in East Anglia, surrounded as a small boy
by "Yanks" at all the USAF bases; growing up and discovering all the
USAAF bomber and fighter bases in Suffolk, and Norfolk, and learning
about all the Americans who came, and not all of whom returned; as one
whose father as a young man trained as an RAF pilot in Oklahoma in
1944/45 and was welcomed into the homes of American families; and now as
an adult with an understanding of what America stands for).
I hope anyone who is not technically a "Yank" won't be offended, but to
small boys in England in the 50's/60's anything American was "Yank",
whether it was aircraft, mil-veh's, autos (always far too large for the
English roads and with loads of chrome and huge rearlights), Air Force
Sergeants with more stripes on their arms than a tiger, the whine of the
F-101 Voodoos and later F-4 Phantoms flying out of Bentwaters, USAF
Open-Days with hotdogs and donuts, the Everly Brothers (American music
always was my favourite from the start and still is), The Lone Ranger,
Sgt. Bilko, Lucy and Desi, I could go on for ever.
Thanks,
David Hammond
GPW-42 MVPA/MVT/HMK(Norway)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Oct 08 2001 - 10:58:59 PDT