From: Horrocks, Aaron (ACHb@pge.com)
Date: Thu May 19 2005 - 11:54:36 PDT
I'll wear the uniforms, I'll preserve and display history... After all,
the UNIFORMS were given out to anyone that joined up, and later were
surplused out. But wearing unit markings and patches that have to be
earned; THAT'S what I consider an insult to the true vets.
Owning, wearing and using WWII gear like service shoes, leggings, and
the M1928 Haversack has given me a greater appreciation for what the
vets have done. No photo or History Channel special has ever given an
example of how far this stuff is from modern ergonomically designed
high-speed gear. The shoes can't compete with modern combat boots...
Leggings, while do their job great, are a tedious pain... And the M1928
haversack is one uncomfortable pack. Sure it's a great improvement over
the M1910, but still, try getting something out of it! Better yet invade
another country and pushback tyranny using this equipment? Wow.
http://www.aaronhorrocks.com/images/combat/08_04/08_04-2641-BHW.jpg
There's a photo where I'm dawning my completely authentic impression.
That K-ration crate and all the contents were hand made -by me-, through
endless researching and following specs, measurements, and photos.
"Obsession is the word the lazy use to describe the DEDICATED"
Aaron Horrocks
Airsoft Reenactor's Group, Mopar Alley, MVCC, NRA, & Saint Jame's
Grenadier Member
1952 M38A1
1970 Plymouth
1986 G.P. Medium
-----Original Message-----
From: Military Vehicles Mailing List [mailto:mil-veh@mil-veh.org] On
Behalf Of John Stewart-Smith
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 11:17 AM
To: Military Vehicles Mailing List
Subject: Re: [MV] MV's not allowed to participate in the Veteran's Day
events locally
All righty then, Sarge wants a word.
There has been a lot of discussion about snobbishness within our hobby.
The WWII guys don't want your M-series in their WWII convoy?
Why not? Perhaps because it is a WWII convoy?
Get over it.
The Vietnam guys don't want your WWII Jeep in their Vietnam era convoy?
Why not? Perhaps because it is a Vietnam era convoy?
Get over it.
The Star Trek fans don't want your Unimog at their convention?
You get my drift.
The period correct uniform is a little tougher, but here is my opinion.
I served in the British Armed Forces in the early seventies. I served in
the US Armed Forces from 1977 until almost the present day. According to
some peoples logic, that gives me the "right" to wear all of the
uniforms that I wore in service. From my UK cammies through my cotton
fatigues, up to my chocolate chip and BDU's. I agree, I wore these
uniforms and I have the right to wear them all, even my dress uniform
with medals up the ying-yang.
However, do I have the right to wear a civil war uniform, a WWII
Airborne Ranger uniform or even a nazi ss uniform?
I did not earn them, but by God, I live in America, and I still have the
right to wear what I wish.
Keep reading, I'm not finished yet.
We have a young man in our MVPA chapter who wears a period correct WWII
Airborne uniform to public events. Did he earn this through his own
sweat and blood? Of course not. The majority of WWII Rangers are dead.
This young man is willing to REPRESENT the sweat and blood of those
great warriors. He is a living history exhibit. He is not, even
remotely, attempting to pass himself off as a true WWII veteran. That's
ridiculous. He wants the public to see what Rangers looked like 60 years
ago. No more, no less.
The majority of our members dress in the period appropriate uniform for
the vehicle they are displaying. The public reaction is overwhelmingly
positive.
I am impressed with their dedication and the amount of time they are
willing to spend on looking the part.
Because it is so important, I repeat, they are not pretending that they
are the real veteran.
How many fantastically detailed uniforms from the Civil War would you
get to see if we followed the "did not earn" the uniform policy? Zero is
the only answer.
One hundred years from now, do you want Vietnam forgotten? Or would you
like your great-grandchildren to see men DEPICTING what our Vietnam Vets
looked like?
Sorry if I appear to be ranting, I'm just an old grumpy Sarge, and
SHOUTING is how I used to get my point across.
-Sarge
LIGHTEN UP! That's an order !
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