Rhine Evacuation

You don't see something like this everyday. I was looking around on a website called etsy.com (girly site with lots of vintage and handmade stuff) and came across a grouping of photos for sale which I can only guess were taken by a Glider Pilot. They included several photos of CG4A's and AAF personnel. The most interesting photo is one of a bunch of guys loading up in a truck, which is being taken back over the Rhine, presumable after Varsity as the caption states. Judging by the caption and the gear I'm guessing these are a group of GP's being taken back to the rear after making their landings.



First aid packet on helmet, lots of carbine and .45 ammo pouches, .45 holster, a Thompson barrel, M43's...if I didn't know any better I'd say GP's for sure.

Woody In The Army

Woody Guthrie, perhaps one of the most well-known American folk singers of all time, was no fan of the Axis. Prior to World War II, when he performed with the Almanac Singers, he wrote mostly peace songs. All that changed when he heard of Germany invading Russia, and afterwards he scrawled the famous phrase on his guitar, "This Machine Kills Fascists." Although he had communist/socialist political leanings, he nevertheless insisted they include him in the USO to perform for the troops. He was rejected, and instead joined the Merchant Marine to avoid the draft. He carried his guitar aboard and entertained the men on the ship and when they went in port.


Woody Guthrie in the Merchant Marine, 1943.

Without fail, each time he was aboard a ship they were torpedoed for a total of 3 times. After 2 years he was thrown out of the Merchant Marines and labeled a communist. Much to his chagrin, he was drafted into the Army only 2 months before the surrender of Germany. When the war with Japan ended, he was discharged in November of '45.


Woody in the Army, 1945.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Pacific Army

The Pacific Theater of Operations was not all Marines and Navy. The Army was there too...


25th Infantry Division on Guadalcanal.


Dead Japanese on Leyte.


25th ID on Luzon, 1945.

Two MPs

Aside from the whole "having to be an asshole" part, I wouldn't mind riding around on one of these babies.