I watched the show, "Dirty Jobs" again. That's a fine show. It brings back memories of many hard jobs I had and have done over the years. Now I do those type of jobs as a hobby. It gets me off my butt and away from the computer monitors. So I like to grease shafts and loosen rusty nuts. ;-) And I like using my big tools ! Especially my giant open end wrenches. My biggest is a 2.5" wrench. It's a couple feet long and weighs about 20 lbs. My barn / garage is full of heavy equipment and tools. I use them on one of my hobbies - restoring my World War II half-track. You need big tools for it. The tracks weigh about 500 lbs each. Fully equipped, the half-track weighs 10 tons. Hehehe, that includes ammo :-)))
I've had it in a couple Memorial Day parades in nearby towns. The people and older veterans really like seeing the old vehicles. We festoon it with American flags and a World War II veteran rides with me.
About Me
- Bunkerman
- I have a pioneer mentality. My wife & I live in the woods - neighbors aren't visible except slightly in winter. Our "bunker" - hehe, really a fine home & barn - has plenty of security. We have four dogs: Krypto (age 9, Kelpie), Ava (age 13, Rat Terrier), Sky (Kelpie, age 5) and Lucky Star (age 1, kelpie). I don't take crap from anyone anymore, having enough resources & gear stocked up to survive in any circumstance. I have three degrees from Harvard including a Ph. D. in a physical science, and an MS in Management from MIT. I worked as an investment banker for about 25 years, mainly in secured finance, at three major Wall Street firms and for the last 17 years with my partners at our own firm. I'm semi-retired now, managing some private corporations and business interests and doing my own trading & investing. This is not to boast, but to give you an idea I know a little about some subjects from experience. The photo is my 1943 M16 half-track which I am restoring. These armored vehicles were ubiquitous in the US Army in World War II and Korea. It's driveable.
6 comments:
You are so interested and fascinated with military history.....how come you never followed your family traditions and served? No way I could ever enlist.......I'd rather do hard time than gone to Vietnam or Iraq. But at least I'm not a chicken hawk like the overwhelming majority of republicans. Bush and Cheney are gutless cowards. They ran and hid like pussies rather than go to Vietnam. At least I admit I'm a coward.
Uh Bud, the war in Vietnam was over for all intents when I turned 18 in mid 1972. Much of military service opportunities depend on the timing of the wars. Ancestors who had opportunities to fight a war did. Those who were not of military age, didn't. None made careers of the military, except one stayed in after WW II to be a test pilot. Another WW II vet stayed in the Navy reserves and fought again in Korea.
My ancestors were, and I am, pretty independent. Military careers - regular, not reserves - don't fit such independent characters.
I wanted to join the reserves in the early 1980s under Reagan, but with my job and travel requirements, it was impossible.
I obtained another offer to fight the commies on getting out of college, but didn't take it. My life would have been very different if I had. One's choices really do matter.
I'm sure I would have joined up if 9/11 had happened when I was young enough. I needed an active enemy to motivate me.
2200 rounds per minute...yowza...you have the guns Bunkerman?
'active enemy to motivate me'........lmaoooooooooooooo
Not real ones - mine half-track is an M16 which had a quad mount with four .50 cal M2 HB guns. I have replicas that operate with propane - lots of booms.
A friend has a real M2 HB. Great fun to let it rip a belt. Second only to sex. ;-)
Sure. without an active enemy, I'm a peaceful man. Live and let live ... until threatened. Then I'm a tiger.
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