History Buffs

[RecMar8541]

Are there any other History buffs among us?  I am a huge History nut, especially war history of the WW2 era.  I collect memorabilia, and have some pretty cool pieces including a sight appeture from a mg-42 german machine gun (my grandad picked up in belgium).  Just thought I would see if there are any others out there!

[Zel]

I'm always watching the History channel drives my wife nuts.  WWII is also a fascination with me.  My father was in the navy during WWII in both the Atlantic and Pacific conflicts. He served on a Liberty Transport and often ferried German prisoners from Europe to the US.  He was on a ship that carried that infamous Nazi SS prisoner convoy.  They had lots of added security for the trip as they were expecting trouble.  But he said they were a well mannered and polite group, completely opposite of what they expected.  He got to see, and had to secure, a Japanese secret weapons facility in a massive cave right after the war.  

He would often trade cigarettes and candy for German medals, patches, and epaulettes, which I have (including the famous skull and lightning bolt collar patches of the SS, and the Iron Cross from that Nazi SS trip I mentioned).  

I also have a Japanese sniper rifle and infantry rifle (with a deep fingerprint in the metal which must have really hurt the guy making it), and bayonets.  Also have some WWII German and Japanese paper and coin money.        

[RecMar8541]

Man the deaths head is a monumental find!  I also have some currency, and a few weapons intact.  My favorite is an old m1 garand.  I have some insignia and uniform pieces but not to much.  I do have a canopy from d-day, a gift from an uncle who went through all that.  Most of my collection is pretty inexpensive stuff, but nice none the less.  I would love to get my hands on an authentic era luger, but whoa cha ching!!  I do have a browning 9mm that is ww2 german era and chambered for 9mm.  Oddly enough its resemblance to our 1911 is uncanny!

[Zel]

I've been told centuryarms.com has some WWII era rifles for sale at resonable prices.  Have never dealt with them.

http://www.centuryarms.biz/products.asp?cat=36

[Fish Man]

im also a pretty big WWII buff.i watch alot of the the history channel and the military channel.my dad has a german luger that his dad found in the war and on the handle it has the initials of the german officer carved in. i never got to meet him because he died before i was born but my dad says he was on a self propelled gun variant of a M3 halftrack during the battle of the bulge

[Root beer]

I too, used to read and watch shows on all kinds of war shows. WW2 and vietnam. I have a lot of stuff from desert storm and operation enduring freedom. My uncle served in both desert storm and enduring freedom.

I dont have any ww2 collection, execpt I've read books on it and stuff. Same with Vietnam.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I frequrntly watch the HISTORY CHANEL in just my BOXERS  oh  I thought you said HISTORY IN THE BUFF>>>my mistake!

[ejtaylor822]

Good one Muddy!

I enjoy history. Don't do any collecting, just reading and learning. Enjoy American history the best. Like visting historical places - especially related to the civil war. Of particular interest is the Revolution, Civil War, WWII and Vietnam. Totally dig the Military and History channels.

Several years ago read EVERYTHING I could find on the Vietnam war (it was a war IMHO, not a conflict). Met and became best friends with a guy that was on a Carrier (name is escaping me right now) when Siagon fell. Got me really interested and why I started reading everything I could find. Was a kid during this time (b. 1965) but I remember the body counts on TV. Remember being out with my Parents, in New Port News, VA and Church Bells ringing, sirens going off, etc and asking them what was going on and they said the war was over. Remember watching my mom cry in front of the TV when they showed the prisoners being released. Remember the scenes on TV when Siagon fell.

Hoping to make it to the memorial at Normandy one day.

Eddie

[michbass]

Huge History buff. Interested in past wars the most. Had a chance to visit Normany when I was in the Service. We also went on a band of brothers tour that started at there entry site. It was a great tour. Love to get back to the area too travel again.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Band of brothers....now THAT was a great series.

[cart7t]

I always wanted to be a buff. What are the requirements?

[michbass]

I always wanted to be a buff. What are the requirements?

alot of weightlifting, I use the charles atlas program to get buff    

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I always wanted to be a buff. What are the requirements?

HANG OUT WITH GUYS FATTER THAN YOU>>>>>>>>>IT WORKS FOR ME

[ejtaylor822]

Band of brothers....now THAT was a great series.

Right on, LBH.  That is one of the best, if not the best, series/movies ever made IMHO.  Spielberg and Hanks did an incredible job.  Love the way they had the "real" guys on before the story started.

[RecMar8541]

Muddy thanks for an image I dont think I can erase from my mind!

Band of Brothers was awesome.  Probably about as historicaly accurate as you can get.  

Very few flaws, only one significant.  Albert Blythe

Albert did not die in 1948, he went on to fight in Korea in fact, and had a quite distinguished career.  I am friends with his son, Gordon.  Albert and I also  shared the same bday, june 25th, which also happens to be the day north korea invaded south korea, as well as the day of Little Big Horn!

While there is some differences between the book and the movie, most are of no significance.

Who was your favorite BOB person?

I liked Lipton, I would have loved to meet him, but hes passed on now, and Lt Winters, who by the way is being considered for the MOH.  I hope he gets it.

Recon

[Fish Man]

my favorite caracter was probably Sgt. Denver "Bull" Randleman

[ejtaylor822]

....

Who was your favorite BOB person?

...

Maj. Winters, without a doubt.  What a tremendous leader.  He had God-given leadership abilities that just cannot be taught or learned.

I really liked Sgt. Guarnere (sp?) as well.  Don't know if it was just the way the he was  portrayed in the series, didn't get quite that much out of the book, but he seems like the kind of guy you just want to hang out with on a Sunday afternoon.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Speers was my favorite.  That is one crazy SOB

But yes, imo it is my favorite war movie series.  #2 would probably be saving private ryan.

The history/military channel is what I miss most about not having cable anymore.  Usually wouldnt change the channel off them.

[Guest avid]

Major history buff here.

History channel, Military channel etc.

I have many of the shows set to record on the dvr, and own practically evey war related dvd.

I do not collect memorbilia, or go to shows.  

To tell the truth I did a couple of times but they creeped me out.

Very pro Nazi crowd at some of these events.

I think the civil war and WW1 are also fascinating.  Imagine standing in a line and walking into a hail of gunfire.  No cover, no nothing, just line up and go.

There was so much film footage  of WW2 that it is hard for any other conflict save Viet Nam to compete with on TV.

Viet Nam coverage disturbs me.  I came of age during that war, but I wasn't drafted (high lottery number) and I didn't volunteer.

It's a fascinating study though.  It may be the first war in history where the side that won all the major battles lost the war.  But I'll say no more.

George Patton said something to the effect of "Compared to war all other forms of human endeavor pale to insignificance."  And that was before nuclear weapons.

Why is it that that which is so terrible is also so fascinating?

[=Matt 5.0=]

If you like the Band of Brothers series, like I do, you should read Dick Winters' book "Beyond Band of Brothers"

I also enjoyed reading "Flags of our Fathers" and "Flyboys" These stories made me realize why to this day, my grandmother has a profound dislike for the Japanese

Speaking of WW2, here is one of my most prized possesions. One of my grandfathers dog tags. He was a Captain in the Army, and saw combat in North Africa and Italy. You can see from the "O" prefix in the serial # that he was a commisioned officer, and the T41-42 I'm pretty sure means "tour 1941-1942".  

[RecMar8541]

Avid,

First off the whole civil war concept is INSANE!!  There is no friggin way I would wanna stand online and go toe to toe and let fate fall where it may.  

WW1 and the Civil War are facinating to study, although I am glad my career was in a different age.  Plainly put, I dont think I would have the stones for that kinda fight.

I have never been to a Memorabilia show, ever, I do most of my trading online, or with reputable dealers.  The whole "show" crowd is so glitched with fakes replicas and down right forgeries its hard to find good merchandise.

Lastly, I think Patton realized how significantly war changes everything in our lives, from social structure to the sacrifice of our own innocence.

I would have to say that the fascination is in the eye, seeing things, morbid or not, that we rarely see.  I couldnt tell you how many tanks Ive seen burning, how many arty shells I have seen fall, and the devistation is mezmerizing, perhaps not always pleasant, and usually gruesome, but something the mind finds facinating none the less.

[RecMar8541]

Reading D-Day by Stephen Ambrose....Kinda puts the invasion is scale perspective.

To relate the scale of this invasion, imagine moving every man woman and child from the cities of Green Bay, Racine, and Kenosha Wisconsin, all of their vehicles, all the medical support staff to take care of them and their equipment, all of the cooks to feed them as well as thier equipment and food, fuel for all the vehicles, massive ammounts of ammo, etc etc. across lake michigan, over night!!

Incredible feat even in todays day and age.

[Murray]

i have always loved history and learning how we got to where we are. I am going to the International World War II Convention next april and then to normandy in june as a graduation present. i cant wait. im more excited about the convention and france than graduating  

[fishbear]

I love American History, and always read everything I can get my hands on, however, I am completely enthralled with the Settling of the Old West, the Indian Wars and the Mountain Man Era....  Maybe I was born about 150 yrs. to late,  ::)who knows..  but I can not get enough of it.  However, I do not collect or anything like that, just read and watch everything I can find,

As Toby Keith says   "Should've Been A Cowboy"

[Guest avid]

I too am fascinated by the mountain man mystique.

These were truly self reliant, courageous, and unique individuals.