Sep 2nd, Happy 85th Birthday Dad

I'm glad DaveHH said: Who said that this stuff didn't happen? G.I. bringbacks?

My Father served in the PTO. Most of his time spent in the Philippines. He was an Engineer, mostly blasting away wreckage and running heavy equipment clearing out obstructions for rebuilding. At the time of his service he said most all troops were Engineer units. He thought they were grouped together for the possible rebuilding of Japan and dreaded that thought.
After meeting his CO he was handed the CO's WRA Carbine and his jeep. This CO Charles Crawford informed my Father that he would be driving him to and from the Officers club nightly. Today we'd call that the designated driver, as most nights my Father carried him to the jeep.
Before his battle with Alzheimers began he could tell you the (main) first part of his serial number. He loved the carbine but had qualified with the M1, which he didn't care for. He spoke about many who cut off the frt sight leafs on their carbines for quicker sighting.
A .45 was easier to keep handy as he ran heavy equipment. He had won in a poker game and still owns a Colt Model of 1927 made for the Argentines. Called the Modelo Ejercito Argentino. Made in 1927 here is the USA by Colt for a 10,000 gun contract with Argentina. At the time Argentine Lt. Col (?) Raul Andreas was here to over look the operations and had his own stamp. Dad didn't know the specifics at the time but sure enjoyed having it.
He won it from the same Australian buddy that helped sneak it off the ship in San Fransisco when my Father was released. I was told it took all the cash he had to buy enough beer at the local watering hole to hold up my Fathers end of the deal. The word was out that the GI's were being checked and the foreign troops were passing right thru.
My Father hitch hiked from there back to Nashville, Tennessee penny less. In fact he sold off a couple of GI knives, Post Cards of sunken ships and demolished buildings to help pay his way home.
It was this carbine that got me into researching after seeing how ill he was getting.
Some may remember as this was when I first showed up on the CSP forum asking the really newbie questions. At the time I only knew it was his WWII rifle. I can remember having our pictures taken with it when I was 4 or 5, along with some others being some what older. Still hope to find the time to go through my Mothers stash of pictures to see if I can find any of them. This is a project planned for this winter.
He carried that Colt on duty. I have this picture but can't tell if it's the model of 1927... 1 of 10,000. I've been told the frt sight isn't original and while researching can see that it isn't. It's to late to ask him about the frt sight as if it was that way when he won it or had someone replace it. But all the numbers match right down to all the internals.
More than I planned to say...... But yes it happened. GI's were slick. Many figured out a way to bring home a few things.

Regards,
Charlie-painter777
Proud son of a WWII Veteran. He turned 85 yesterday.

The WRA 5,573,898....

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00721-1.jpg


The Contract model of Colts .45, 1 of 10,000 for Argentina......# 9287

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC03034-1.jpg

I have a complete picture file of this Colt broke down showing all the correct markings and stamp. If interested in seeing it, contact me. I'd be happy to share it.

My Father, Carrying the Model of 1927 ??

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../10/0011-1.jpg

Some of his paperwork....
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...scan0001-1.jpg

I found this ID card along with quite a few pictures and post cards from his time spent in the Philippines in his scrap book. Soon I hope to have them scanned in and post them. With the help of one of the members of the U.S. Militaria Forum he was able to tell me what it meant. If you look closely you'll see it's the same Shoulder Sleeve patch that's shown in the picture of him. Very helpful member as he does research work at the National Archives. I hope to get back with him when things slow down this winter. Also with his help I was able to find 2 of these patches.

ID.... I forget the name of this symbol. Will have to look it back up in my notes.
South West Pacific Thunderbolt or something like that. Just not sure without finding the notes.
They had A Olympic style games set up to boost moral. My Father won the Gold in his weight class boxing.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...scan0002-1.jpg

Herbert, my dad's name also Charlie. Herbert Melvin Hollinger would have been 91 this year. They just don't make 'em like that any more. Happy birthday!

I remember when you first came on. I was really pleased to see someone honoring their Dad.

Knew right then you would be one of the good/honest guys. And it has proven to be true.

Very pleased to be able to call you my friend. Don't know about that horse though.

Charlie,
Happy Birthday to your Dad.

I regret not getting more info from my now-100 year old father. We didn't know he had dementia until some of his answers just didn't seem to add up. We realized too late that facts he no longer remembered, he just made up to conceal his lack of memory. Therefore we now have pics of his WWII Navy years as well as old family photos with no stories to go with them. Old large framed portraits of family members are now unidentified.
Grab all the info you can while you can. Things like this seem to sneak up on us.
Great Post, by the way.......

Phil

Happy Birthday to your father. Enjoy him while you can. I never got many stories from my father before he died - he hated talking about the details of WWII.

We are losing them so quickly and there are so few left of that Greatest Generation.... and right now, this country needs a Greatest Generation just like them. May God bless them all!

Charlie, I love that picture of your father in the Philippines. His character really shows. One tough looking guy, glad he is on our side. You can be very proud of him. Happy birthday Herbert.....Frank

Happy birthday to your Dad Charlie! September 2 also happens to be VJ day as well, how appropriate!. My own Dad passed away on September 1, 2007 at the age of 86. He served in WW2 as an Army Lt. in the Transportation Corps and was assigned as a cargo officer on Liberty ships. He stayed in the reserves for 20 years and retired as a Reserve Lt. Col. Love those bringbacks!. My uncle, Dad's older brother served in B Company, 506th PIR, 101st Abn, from Normandy through the end of the war. He brought back a couple of Nazi proofed Polish P-35 Radom pistols. Still have them!

I can't say my father served as I am to young, but my grandfather did. He was a photographer on B-24's in Italy with the 456th bomb group. He did not fly on all of the missions with the group. He ,from what I understand, would fly only when needed because of someone being shot down or sick. His primary job during WWII was photo interpretation. He told me that he carried ethier carried a Thompson or Carbine when in possession of bomb damage or pre bomb photographs carrying the from wing to group or vice versa. He remembers the carbine to be a Winchester and the Thompson to cock on the top. He had a .45 with him at all times, but he doesn't remember much about it now. He will be 90 in October.
I remember as a kid some of the stories he would tell, it was some of my favorite memories of times with him. I recently purchased a copy if his bomb group's history book. Low and behold the stories he remembered were mostly spot on.
Dave

Enjoy your father as long as you can. Always take time to listen when he shares his past with you. I regret I never had the opportunity to talk with my father about his WWII experience or for that matter other conflicts (wars) the United States was involved with. Happy Birthday to your dad.
BB