suntzu
Needs a Life!
Posts: 3,599
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Post by suntzu on Mar 9, 2021 13:58:36 GMT -8
This is my vintage Hamilton Model 23 military chronograph. I purchased this from the son of the original owner who used it while serving in the United States Navy. This model was often mounted in an Octant used by Navy navigators to accurately measure the position of the stars and sun to calculate the plane’s course using time and altitude. The second and third images shows the case back and all the markings. I also have the original rubber protective covering and leather fob in the original military box that I have put away somewhere. The leather fob I have on now is not original. I had this overhauled with new mainspring back in 2004. It ticks like a tank and absolutely awesome to look at and use the chronograph features. Oh! the guy you see in the Jeep is my great uncle who served in the South Pacific during WW2, made it home, and became a medical doctor. I’m unaware who the other two soldiers were. I found them in my grandparent’s photo album. The picture was taken at University of Miami in the early 1940’s.    |
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small
WS Benefactor
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Post by small on Mar 9, 2021 14:24:24 GMT -8
My grand father was in Patton's Ghost Troops, I'm a sucker for the American Hero's Channel and seeing WWII in color. I'm amazed at how young they soldiers were in WWII. Just F'n kids. My daughter turned 19 in January...My mom was married at 19 and had been 20 for 10 days when my older brother showed up. No way would I have been ready for any of that, and I think I'm still better prepared than the generation of my daughter whatever they call hers...
Oh and nice watch. I remember reading Hamilton watches were issued and government property to be returned at the end of your service, in the Navy watches and Binoculars always turned up missing, or should I say never turned up.
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suntzu
Needs a Life!
Posts: 3,599
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Post by suntzu on Mar 9, 2021 14:42:19 GMT -8
My grand father was in Patton's Ghost Troops, I'm a sucker for the American Hero's Channel and seeing WWII in color. I'm amazed at how young they soldiers were in WWII. Just F'n kids. My daughter turned 19 in January...My mom was married at 19 and had been 20 for 10 days when my older brother showed up. No way would I have been ready for any of that, and I think I'm still better prepared than the generation of my daughter whatever they call hers... Oh and nice watch. I remember reading Hamilton watches were issued and government property to be returned at the end of your service, in the Navy watches and Binoculars always turned up missing, or should I say never turned up. My mom was married at 19 too and was not served alcohol on the honeymoon in Florida. My folks are still married.
I worked with a doctor who enlisted in the Army and served under Patton in the Battle of the Bulge and was shot multiple times in the chest and neck. His neck still showed the scar. He played dead with Nazi soldiers walking over him and he wasn't rescued until the next day when the Americans also thought he was dead. He told me he shouted at the soldiers "Hey assholes, I'm alive!" He made a full recovery and refused to go home so he reenlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed in England where his commanding officer was the actor Jimmy Stewart. He was responsible for radioing in bombing sorties. I would sit with him during lunch totally engrossed in his vivid stories that he loved to tell me. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and five battle stars. He went to college when he came home and then medical school.
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small
WS Benefactor
Posts: 2,456
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Post by small on Mar 9, 2021 15:59:21 GMT -8
My grand father was in Patton's Ghost Troops, I'm a sucker for the American Hero's Channel and seeing WWII in color. I'm amazed at how young they soldiers were in WWII. Just F'n kids. My daughter turned 19 in January...My mom was married at 19 and had been 20 for 10 days when my older brother showed up. No way would I have been ready for any of that, and I think I'm still better prepared than the generation of my daughter whatever they call hers... Oh and nice watch. I remember reading Hamilton watches were issued and government property to be returned at the end of your service, in the Navy watches and Binoculars always turned up missing, or should I say never turned up. My mom was married at 19 too and was not served alcohol on the honeymoon in Florida. My folks are still married.
I worked with a doctor who enlisted in the Army and served under Patton in the Battle of the Bulge and was shot multiple times in the chest and neck. His neck still showed the scar. He played dead with Nazi soldiers walking over him and he wasn't rescued until the next day when the Americans also thought he was dead. He told me he shouted at the soldiers "Hey assholes, I'm alive!" He made a full recovery and refused to go home so he reenlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed in England where his commanding officer was the actor Jimmy Stewart. He was responsible for radioing in bombing sorties. I would sit with him during lunch totally engrossed in his vivid stories that he loved to tell me. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and five battle stars. He went to college when he came home and then medical school.
My folks were married for several months before they told their parents. My dad dropped my mom off late one night and she was grounded and couldn't see him for two weeks...and they were married! The divorced after 42/44 years, the divorce took 2. I like to say now that I'm the product of a broken home... Of all my brothers and sister I was the one that say with my grandparents and Great Uncles at events listening to all their stories. Honestly the greatest generation... |
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