Comments for The Flight Deck

Comment on One year ago today. by Kris, in New England

Kris, in New England — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:24:49 +0000

Sim – seems that Aussies and Americans have much in common.

Comment on One year ago today. by Sim

Sim — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:45:20 +0000

Kris-

The Govt. donated about 880 million, the Red Cross alone raised about 340 million in donations. The Govt relaxed planning rules to get people back in homes as soon as possible (takes time to rebuild about 2200 houses).

We’re Aussies, we’ll get back to the job and make it work, even if it’s something as small as making sure all their football teams have a ground and a team to field for their community.

We are strong and this setback (though terrible) will not deter us from our path.

Comment on One year ago today. by Kris, in New England

Kris, in New England — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:40:10 +0000

Wow – those images are terrifying. Can’t imagine how the survivors felt in those moments when they thought they wouldn’t survive. Courage indeed.

Comment on HULC by MaxDamage

MaxDamage — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:04:40 +0000

So what powers the electro-hydraulics and computers? Because if you can get more power with less weight you can start attaching armor to that exoskeleton with the same freedom of movement. Eventually, you’re a Starship Trooper. On the other hand, if you run out of battery 1/3rd of the way you’re ditching your strength for mobility, something that hasn’t had great success on the battlefield since retreating soldiers starting tossing shields and armor in the hope of out-running their armored peers to the rear.

It’s a cool idea, I’m just thinking the power requirements are the area where this goes from nifty toy to government contract.

– Max

Comment on From enlistment till death by MajHarvey

MajHarvey — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:17:15 +0000

A few years back I collected all my military papers – orders, awards, travel claims, discharge papers, etc. – into one big binder. Makes it much easier to access when/if needed. I also turned my military issue footlocker (do they still give these away?) into a repository of all my various memorabilia. Flags, cruise books, pictures, knives, photo albums, etc. go in there. In a small chest go the various trinkets – rings, currency, coins, etc.

This way, should one of my kids/grandkids ever take an interest, they will be readily available for future generations.

Comment on From enlistment till death by Kris, in New England

Kris, in New England — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:50:23 +0000

Sim – very nice indeed. I too am the only person in my family to have an interest in our archives. So they were given to me some time ago and what a mess they were in. It’s getting better little by little.

I do have a great great grandfather’s (there could be another great in there, I’m not sure) discharge papers from the Civil War; they are signed by Grant.

Comment on From enlistment till death by Ron Snyder

Ron Snyder — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:58:04 +0000

Your point about having the issue addressed in a will was a good one. I had already named one of my nieces to receive all of the family items that I have collected. Items my siblings have will also be going to the same niece.

Comment on From enlistment till death by Sim

Sim — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:28:53 +0000

VX-

Not fortunate, moving houses just meant it took a while to find what box they were in.

If you read the last article his medals etc reside in the War Memorial while his paperwork is in the National Archives.

Ron-

As I’m the only one that’s shown an interest it’s written into my father and Nans will that it goes to me.

Comment on From enlistment till death by Ron Snyder

Ron Snyder — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:15:43 +0000

That is great Sim.

Our family gathered up as much as we could find on our Dad about 15-20 years ago regarding his life and experience as a WWII Army Combat Infrantryman in the ETO. Wish we would have started 20 years earlier.

I remember Dad showing me photographs that he had taken when his unit liberated a few concentration camps, him on a hedgerow in Europe with a tommygun, a pistol he brought home, and other similar items. Much had been thrown away, or lost, by the time I got out of the service and appreciated those mementos more fully.

While I have physical possession of most of the exisiting memorabilia, we did have everything copied, scanned and distributed to a number of family members to ensure that what we do have will not be lost.

Hope our older relatives keep their promise and send me the things they have from Dad in WWII before they become lost or thrown away.

We also spoke with the combat friends that Dad had kept in touch with over the years (at least the ones that we knew of), with a similar request for information on their WWII experiences.

Lest we forget.

V/R

Comment on From enlistment till death by virgil xenophon

virgil xenophon — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:34:08 +0000

As Lex said, neat–and very fortunate. Wonder how many other thousands of forgotten men who died in foreign climes have memorabelia moldering away in some distant relatives attic? The thought is very sad in a way….and only reinforces that old saying that “life is for the living” and that our time on this mortal coil is short and uncertain and that memories of one’s self are fleeting indeed.