h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

His first jump was into the Bulge (17th Airborne US) His final duty was at Dusseldorf in the occupation. He did also cross the Rhine (I believe as Glider Infantry, He held both wings) He served as a medical corpsman.



F S

"The old man never seemed quite the same again" [Florida Sailor]

Interesting mine fought from the D Day beaches (officer so first out of the landing craft), via Calvados to the Rhine, he was seconded to RASC to organise the ammunition supply for the Rhine assault and was constantly under fire in the forward positions not much rest there he received an MC the US DSC.

He never said a word about that however its on the MC citation

Participation in warfare tends to be something you do at a certain point early in your life. Nothing that happens to you later in life resembles it much, so why mention it? Besides, it's all teamwork. You're apt to think that the other team members did most of the work -- and you'd be right.

Very true.

Just a quick note... as of today with a post delivery, I now have two new knives that fit in my wallet.

Carry on.

Not a 'penknife' as such, but certainly a serious pocket knife. An old Camillus 6.5inch. One very sharp folding blade and a Marlin spike not to be argued with.
I'm not dressed without it.
The hasp is attached to a 3 foot whipped lanyard that I made 25 years ago, the other end of which goes to my keyring.
I usually pass the lanyard through one of my belt loops so that unless I completely lose my trousers I will always have my knife and keys with me.
No more bending down to pick up dropped keys, no more knives lost to The Ocean.

It is impossible to lock myself out of the car.

The lanyard is marked in in. and cm. and the weight of the knife makes it a handy plumbline.
They won't let me into public buildings with it because they say it could be used as a 'sling-garotte'

It's a 'power-object'... a part of *me* ...an extension to my hand that gives me super-normal abilities without having to fetch my toolbag.

alec.

Sounds very empowering.

I carry a Swiss Card in my purse/wallet, so that's always with me or close by. I also have a small Classic (I think) Victorinox knife. Both are black. They were presents from hubby and were much appreciated, which probably says something about us.

I always carry my large Victorinox swiss army knife. Over the years, I have used every 'blade' on it. I did it some damage a few months ago though, when I was building some bookshelves and didn't have a hammer. I flipped out the one that has a ruler on, and held that end, using the body of the penknife as the hammer head. It got the nails into the wood, but left marks, cracks, etc. on the casing...

Was the damage confined to the bookshelves or the penknife?

Well this thread inspired the Xmas present I've got my dad. Now that he's retired and doing all the odd jobs around the house I thought a Leatherman multitool with a personalised engraved blade would make a nice gift.

Oh, the shelves are fine. They were designed to be put together with a hammer, so anything heavy with a flat end would do the job.