Just got some cool childhood memories.

I was using some of my old man's tools and found a cardboard box of these, which he bought back in the early 70s.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...pst1q6tsio.jpg






Pretty good childhood memories. I'd just sit and watch him reload ammo or clean his guns after a sunday of shooting at the club. I still remember the smell of many of the products he used, like that Winchester oil, a German stuff called Ballistol Klever, Hoppe's # 9, Lee Alox and such...

Good times.

Just the smell of any of those reminds me of my dad cleaning his guns after a day of hunting.. Good memories indeed...

I love the smell of Hoppe's in the morning... smells like... victory.

Smell related memories are some of the best!

I welled up a little - must be something in my eye

Same here. After my dad passed I ended up with all his shooting and maintenance gear. Including this work stand he made for the M70 and his collection of M1 and M14s.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/08...8132018-00.jpg

"Sunday shooting at the club" brings back a lot of memories of family trips to tournaments, the sites, smells, outdoor banquets in Germany complete with the big glass boot full of beer. I was about seven years old. All of his trophies and medals are boxed up in the garage.

Dad at the indoor range he opened on Ft. Jackson in 1967.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/08...hooting_01.jpg

Miss you old man.

Great story, TT.

Was your dad a competitive shooter?

Yes. He was also a sniper in Korea at the age of 17. Long story there.

Earned seven bronze stars and a purple heart in Korea in 11 months. Then Army commendation medals in Viet Nam. As a grade school kid I used to "go to work" with him on Ft. Jackson during summers where he was range master. After one particular day training, after the recruits had left, an officer unboxed a new M-16. At that time the M-14 was still the issued rifle. As a ten year old kid I was on the firing line with the old man, a couple of other soldiers, an M-14, the new M16, and for comparison, an AK-47. "This is what we're going to, this is what we're up against." Shot the hell out of some 5-gallong coffee cans that afternoon.

Sorry for the hijack, firearm related memories of the old man run deep. He passed away two years ago and I brought his remains to the National Cemetery here in Memphis.

TT

Sounds like your dad was a fine father and a great soldier, TT.

My wife attended the basic electronics course at Ft. Jackson during the summer of '77. What a hot and humid sonofabitch it was. Otherwise, Columbia was a pretty nice town. I remember that most residents took the passing of Elvis pretty hard -- every local radio station played his music non-stop for like two or three days.

Hope you guys don't mind.......

I sort of did a moment of silence - just seemed appropriate.

Was on the DMZ 84-85, not a sniper, but at active Artillery Firebases.

My dad was a hunter/shooter, I grew up with that - the smells the sounds, the talk, the lessons.

When I got to basic training, I had NO trouble with marksmanship - regardless the weapon system.
I think it also teaches safety, patience, deliberation, Decisive action and coordination, not to mention discipline, respect and responsibility.

My opinion - YMMV etc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FrankJohnson

I think it also teaches safety, patience, deliberation, Decisive action and coordination, not to mention discipline, respect and responsibility.

My opinion - YMMV etc

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+1

Time to pull out the Hoppes and give everything a good clean and lube.

Might even clean the Tele hardware with it. :hmm That will be an interesting sight/smell juxtaposition when the case is opened.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TT100

Yes. He was also a sniper in Korea at the age of 17. Long story there.

Earned seven bronze stars and a purple heart in Korea in 11 months. Then Army commendation medals in Viet Nam. As a grade school kid I used to "go to work" with him on Ft. Jackson during summers where he was range master. After one particular day training, after the recruits had left, an officer unboxed a new M-16. At that time the M-14 was still the issued rifle. As a ten year old kid I was on the firing line with the old man, a couple of other soldiers, an M-14, the new M16, and for comparison, an AK-47. "This is what we're going to, this is what we're up against." Shot the hell out of some 5-gallong coffee cans that afternoon.

Sorry for the hijack, firearm related memories of the old man run deep. He passed away two years ago and I brought his remains to the National Cemetery here in Memphis.

TT

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Salute!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TT100

Yes. He was also a sniper in Korea at the age of 17. Long story there.

Earned seven bronze stars and a purple heart in Korea in 11 months. Then Army commendation medals in Viet Nam. As a grade school kid I used to "go to work" with him on Ft. Jackson during summers where he was range master. After one particular day training, after the recruits had left, an officer unboxed a new M-16. At that time the M-14 was still the issued rifle. As a ten year old kid I was on the firing line with the old man, a couple of other soldiers, an M-14, the new M16, and for comparison, an AK-47. "This is what we're going to, this is what we're up against." Shot the hell out of some 5-gallong coffee cans that afternoon.

Sorry for the hijack, firearm related memories of the old man run deep. He passed away two years ago and I brought his remains to the National Cemetery here in Memphis.

TT

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I ain't American, so the last war we were involved in was WWII, and I am too young to have that kind of memories, but I kinda know how you feel, my great-uncle fought with the allies (Brazilian army officer in Italy) and he was very close to my old man, I grew up listening to my dad telling me all about the war stories and gun related talks and drills with his uncle...