Veterans Day

[|iR|Focalor]

I've have to get some pictures of it sometime. Pretty sure I've mentioned it somewhere around here before, but still haven't gotten around to getting a picture of it. Maybe tomorrow if I can find my camera battery charger.

Finally got some pictures of this thing for you guys. I made smaller pics just to post here, but if you click the pics, it'll take you to the full size versions of the pics so you can get a closer look at the details.

First pic shows the entire club. It's about 22 inches long. It's got an old piece of string around the handle thats tied to where it can't slip off the end of it. I guess my grandfather tied that on there after he found it, but I dunno what for, perhaps to hang it off his belt somehow.



2nd pic is a closer image of the business end of it, shows some of the design carving a little closer. Nothing completely outstanding about the design carved into it. It's not even completely symmetrical, but hey, some jap carved it by hand with a combat knife and I doubt he was a professional carpenter.



3rd pic shows a closeup of the tip of it on the reverse side. You can see that it's a bit darker than the rest of the wood. According to what my grandfather always said, it was stained red with blood when he found it. As you can see from it's appearance, it's got a shiny finish to it because he did a numbskulled thing and varnished it. So, no, I didn't do that to it. If it would've been me, it would've stayed in the original condition I found it in.

[Krlll Mule]

Thanks for sharing pics of that weapon....whatever it is called.  I've never seen one or heard about such. It definitely was designed for a silent ambush weapon. And thanks to others that gave us a small glimpse of what living or dead family/friends went through and still must deal with. The treatment or lack of treatment our vets get now is shameful. God bless all the men -and now women- who have served.  I feel pain for those that died in the mud in some field, on a sandy beach or in a cold forest or desert roadside that we never saw or knew about and what their families went through. War sucks. Unnecessary war sucks even more. But the people who serve follow orders and do their duty while we watch football and play Quake.

I used to have a tradition of calling or visiting a veteran on Veterans day and just telling them "thank you". The response was amazing....most of them told me no one had EVER thanked them.  That's a shame, and shame on me for not keeping that tradition.  Maybe we should all make it a point to step out of our comfort zone on regular days as well as Veterans Day to say it.

[Sgt. Dick]

  +1

[haunted]

My parents forced that tradition upon me at an early age.. And since, I have adopted doing it every time the opportunity arises. Mostly it's in passing... But I particularly do so if I see an Armed Serviceman eating dinner with his family and friends, for example. One could call it annoying, but on the contrary, my intent is to thank them and glorify them in front of their loved ones. Don't get me wrong; I don't overdo it.. it's a simple "Thank you for your service." and a handshake.

My other grandfather died of meso, from asbestos in ships/carriers during construction... his exposure happened in his youth and he was diagnosed in old age, though. He is one of those classic examples you see in the legal commercials regarding that. Both of their fathers served in WWI, their brothers alongside them in WW2... back when we used to win wars. Uncles in korea, and my dad was in the guard during Vietnam, he wouldn't have been called to serve for another 7 months after it had ended.

[The Happy Friar]

The treatment or lack of treatment our vets get now is shameful.

They're treated better then they ever have been.    It's not great but they definitely get more then they used to.  Although, now it's not a draft it's 100% volenteer.