Took the Inland for a walk today

[USGI]

Harlan,
When I was a youngster, a war surplus store in town had a liquidation sale. Almost every kid in the neighborhood was outfitted with field jackets, back packs, cartridge belts, canteens, and helmets. We only had the helmet liners, and almost all of them had a soldier's name inside - wish I still had mine. Maybe it was one of the Inlands you mentioned? I did find an old picture that was taken on a camping trip in about 1955 or 1956. I'm on the right, wearing my helmet liner. The others in the picture are my two brothers and a neighbor boy who went along with us on the trip. Both of my brothers went on to serve in the Army in Vietman and the neighbor boy spent 20 years with the USAF. A couple years ago, one brother gave me a steel helmet with a plastic liner, which is nothing like the old one I had in the 50's, which I think was fiberglass. He told me this new helmet wasn't original, but I can't remember if it's supposed to be a repro or some later type of USGI helmet. Maybe you can take a look at these pictures and tell me something about it? I got the net from CTD and put it on the best I could. Thanks! - Bob

PS - The old picture isn't very good, but can anyone identify the car? I'll let you know if you get it right.

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[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Bob,

The picture is a dead give a way for time frame. Rolled up shirt sleeves and pant cuffs. Reminds me of "the Day".

[frankderrico]

And the jean jacket, yea that is back in the day.
The front fender profile and two tone paint, could be a Chevy....Frank

[DaveHH]

As units deployed like the 1st Cav, 25th, 4th, 1st, 9th, 101st etc those patches started showing up. The other two big catch-all patches were IFFV (First Field Force Vietnam, II Corps) and later IIFFV (Second Field Force Vietnam, south) which were usually support units, but included some Infantry, like 50th Inf in IFFV. Very few Brigade patches, 11AC (Black Horse), 196th, 199th Light Infantry (both became the Americal Div, if I recall). They even moved the 5th Mec Inf into I Corps, it was my old outfit stateside, and so bad that I swore that if these guys show up, we're losing. Well they did and we did.

'49 Olds?

[USGI]

could be a Chevy....Frank

'49 Olds?

You guys are getting warm! Not a Chevy, but in the same price class as the Olds.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Buick

You guys are getting warm! Not a Chevy, but in the same price class as the Olds.

[USGI]

Not a Buick - it doesn't show very well in the picture, but the rear door handle location might be a clue.

[painter777]

1950 or if it had the extra chrome on the grill, a 1951 BathTub Mercury.
Flat Head, guessing 3 on the tree with OD.

Cheers,
Charlie-painter777

[USGI]

Charlie got it! A '51 with 112 HP flathead and "Merc-o-matic" drive. It belonged to my uncle - was blue with a gray top. My next clue was going to be something like this: Up to a couple years ago, "if you had the money, you could go down town and buy yourself one or two."

[painter777]

Split windshield helped give it away.
I knew they (Mercury) made them in 50-51, last of the Bath Tubs.
Then they started mimicking the Lincoln line instead of following Ford.
Had one years ago we used in a Demo Derby, same motor, different tranny, 6 volt system- IIRC.
One not messed with would be worth good $$ today,
Hard to find not Chopped.
I remember the ole boys called a two tone paint job FloTone.

That was fun! I win, I win !!!!!

Thx,
Charlie