Faulkner
08-27-2012, 08:28 PM
Been a while since I posted a new acquisition around here.
First, the story behind the new acquisition . . . my neighbor, Bob, is a U.S. Army veteran from the Korean War. By neighbor I mean that we live in a rural area, what folks call ‘out in the country’, and Bob lives a quarter mile down the road. Bob and his wife moved into the area 3 or 4 years ago and I’d only talked to him a time or two. Bob had some heart issues over the winter and he had to have a stint or two put in, so in the spring after I broke ground for my garden I decided to drive my tractor down to Bob’s to see if he would like for me to till his up as well. Bob jumped at the offer so I fixed him up.
Afterwards, his wife offered me something cool to drink and Bob and I visited in the shade of the front porch. He knew I was in law enforcement and he shared with me that he’d been an MP in the Army in his younger days and though he’s just a bit younger than my grandfather we hit it off great.
The doctors had told Bob that he wasn’t as young as he used to be and he needed to ease back into things with his heart ailments. I took a liking to Bob, so I helped him with his garden planting (garden as in about a half acre plot) and some other heavy lifting for some odds and ends he had around the place. Lightning had hit a big old pecan tree next to his house so my 15 year old son and I cut that tree down and then cut it up for firewood for him. Later in the summer when I cut and baled my hay we went over and cut and baled hay on his place too.
Every time we worked with Bob we’d always stop and visit for a while on the front porch before we’d head home. We finally got ole Bob to tell a few stories about his time in Korea and his visits to Japan and my 15 year old was especially intrigued. We got to the point we enjoyed going down to help Bob just so we could visit with he and his wife afterwards, even had ‘em down to our house a couple of times when we were grilling steaks.
Bob called me earlier this week and said he had something for me when I had time to come see him. I stopped on my way home from work yesterday and he was on the porch and told me he appreciated all the help I’d been through the spring and summer and he handed me a box. Inside was his USGI 1911A1 he’d used when he was a MP, along with a magazine pouch, M4 bayonet, and a box of 1942 dated .45 ACP ammo. I thought Bob was just showing it to me and it took a few moments to realize he was giving it to me. I resisted but he wouldn't have any part of it and he insisted. Frankly, I'm not too proud to admit we both teared up a bit, so I just stuck out my hand and said I was honored to accept it.
The 1911 is a 1943 Ithaca that has seen some use but it appears to be all original including it's High Standard marked barrel.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773853.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773843.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773848.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773857.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773842.jpg
First, the story behind the new acquisition . . . my neighbor, Bob, is a U.S. Army veteran from the Korean War. By neighbor I mean that we live in a rural area, what folks call ‘out in the country’, and Bob lives a quarter mile down the road. Bob and his wife moved into the area 3 or 4 years ago and I’d only talked to him a time or two. Bob had some heart issues over the winter and he had to have a stint or two put in, so in the spring after I broke ground for my garden I decided to drive my tractor down to Bob’s to see if he would like for me to till his up as well. Bob jumped at the offer so I fixed him up.
Afterwards, his wife offered me something cool to drink and Bob and I visited in the shade of the front porch. He knew I was in law enforcement and he shared with me that he’d been an MP in the Army in his younger days and though he’s just a bit younger than my grandfather we hit it off great.
The doctors had told Bob that he wasn’t as young as he used to be and he needed to ease back into things with his heart ailments. I took a liking to Bob, so I helped him with his garden planting (garden as in about a half acre plot) and some other heavy lifting for some odds and ends he had around the place. Lightning had hit a big old pecan tree next to his house so my 15 year old son and I cut that tree down and then cut it up for firewood for him. Later in the summer when I cut and baled my hay we went over and cut and baled hay on his place too.
Every time we worked with Bob we’d always stop and visit for a while on the front porch before we’d head home. We finally got ole Bob to tell a few stories about his time in Korea and his visits to Japan and my 15 year old was especially intrigued. We got to the point we enjoyed going down to help Bob just so we could visit with he and his wife afterwards, even had ‘em down to our house a couple of times when we were grilling steaks.
Bob called me earlier this week and said he had something for me when I had time to come see him. I stopped on my way home from work yesterday and he was on the porch and told me he appreciated all the help I’d been through the spring and summer and he handed me a box. Inside was his USGI 1911A1 he’d used when he was a MP, along with a magazine pouch, M4 bayonet, and a box of 1942 dated .45 ACP ammo. I thought Bob was just showing it to me and it took a few moments to realize he was giving it to me. I resisted but he wouldn't have any part of it and he insisted. Frankly, I'm not too proud to admit we both teared up a bit, so I just stuck out my hand and said I was honored to accept it.
The 1911 is a 1943 Ithaca that has seen some use but it appears to be all original including it's High Standard marked barrel.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773853.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773843.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773848.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773857.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/403773842.jpg