so.. how bad we going to beat them hawks?

[Hostile]

I consider myself a huge WWII buff. I could also listen to there stories for hours and have done so. My uncles were both in the Army. One was with Bradley and the other with Patton in Africa/Italy. The later was shot in the shoulder area and was sent home. He was my favorite Uncle and had no problems talking about the war. The other really didn't like talking about it. The stories he told about Patton from Africa to Italy were incredible. When he passed away he gave me his Army jacket which still had the hole and blood stains. I also got all the letters they sent home and some nice relics they acquired.

When they both spoke about the Tiger tanks the awe, respect and fear that came out on there faces was unforgettable. I have been a tank buff ever since there first story. If you want to read a really good WWII book. I will recommend "The Tigers are Burning". It is about the Battle of Kursk which many people from here don't know anything about. We never really hear much from the Russian perspective. That battle was the largest Tank and armored vehicle battle of any war. The sheer numbers of Tanks, Planes, armored mechanized vehicles and men engaged in that battle is astounding. That Battle was the true turning point of the war.

If you ever want some good reading on Patton I suggest The Patton Papers, 1885-1940 and The Patton Papers, 1940 - 1945. Blumenson is the ultimate Patton historian.

The stuff about him pre WWII is every bit as fascinating as the stories we all know of him. In the George C. Scott movie he has an Aide named "Cardman." That in real life is the man I interviewed. Not his real name BTW. Amazing man who loves Patton to this day.

My neighbor also loves him. Bill tells me stories all the time. His memories of Omaha Beach are still vivid even though he's 85.

I'll buy that book. Thanks for the tip.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Thank You, By the way the sig pic is a very unique pic. It is actually a german Tiger II tank acquired by Americans late in the war. They rode the tank to the Remagen bridge and had to leave it as the story goes it was too big to make it over the bridge.

We could use a Tiger II around here. Foks ran in fright from it. I thought Eric Bickerstaff was going to be one, but he went the way of those two KV-2s, Eddie George and T-Ham.

Since our star T-34 (JJ) is still down, what do you think we should roll with tomorrow?

Our multi-purpose MBII - Panther with its thick armour, cross country capability and more than sufficient speed, or my TT - TIGER ONE, with his 88 mm long-barrel fire power that could get you 1500-2000 yards if you'd just trust it to have worked out the bugs it showed early in its career at Kursk.

 

[kingwhicker]

Sea- 24
Dal- 13
We'll greatly miss JuJo