March 9th, 2008.
Dear Bull Dog Mack 13: (AKA Iron Man Bennett):
My truck's problems all seem to be just minor ones, shooting the bugs from long storage and Army maintenance out of her..... You really DID get rid of a very good truck (contrary to what my wife thinks when she's gotta get up early to take me to work when the deuce didn't start).....
Julie got the photos back from the lab yesterday, so when I get home Wensday from Austin,I'll put a set in the mail to you of her, she'll be without her 3" national star on the bumper and rear cross sill, those got applied themiddle of last week. All in all, I can't complain, but there are some days when I wish she'd of been ESP'd or Air Force modified.... IT IS TRUE- THE Air Force Does TAKE BETTER CARE of IT'S EQUIPMENT then the ground pounders do.... Whole different philosophies of maintenance...Even AF locomotives are better maintained....
Jay, I'm thinking of bidding on an ex AF M105 at Altus AFB, OK or a M105 Army unit at Norman,OK. If I get one or the other, I'm thinking of having her fluids changed and using her to co up an get the trailer and bring it home. The crunch is Altus is 210-250 miles from here, so that will be a 6 or 7 hour journey one way, and I have no clue what condition I'll be in from the pounding. You'd love the story of that catbird that towed her down from your place to mine with that Chevy PU and trailer....he couldn't EVER get over 45 MPH, and the fiirst call was that Friday night to the effect of "I've GOT YOUR MONSTER ON MY TRAILER AND I CAN'T GET OVER 45!!! Needless to say he was ever so happy to lose the deuce, and I don't think he'll ever move ANYTHING with an M- in front of the number (I suggested he stick to M38/M38A/M37/and M715 series items....) 700_ miles at 45 had to suck royally!!!
Keep me posted on your Dodge's restoration, sure it's AF, but with the exception of the twits beating your combat rims up, it looks like it's a good truck (even has a heater). Givemy regards to Mrs. Bennett and GI JAY,Jr, I'll bet he loves that fleet you're collecting---MAKE SURE HE WEARS THE EAR PROTECTORS!!!!!
With Great Regards for the many, many kindnesses,
I remain, Sir(s),
Most Sincerely,
Kyle F. McGrogan
1971 Kaiser Jeep M35A2 Wo/W "Saddam's Nightmare" Desert Storm and Vietnam Veteran Deuce
1963 Swiss Army Cargo UNIMOG S404.114 Mercedes Benz
N.B. The photos are duplicated on a disk, now if I can figure out how to post them, I'll let you Steel Soldiers types that love the
icon, to see an everyday, garden variety 686A Tan cargo deuce with a hard top, so unexceptional, you probably passed her many times in her career in Illinois and Kuwait/Saudi Arabia, the US and Vietnam, that she never got a second glance. She's is just a common deuce working for her living hauling me and any gear I need moved, around Northeast Texas.
HOWEVER, she is beloved of all the old vets around here for the memories she brings back to them, and on May 17th, 2007 (a Saturday), it looks like the Red River Valley Chapter of the MVPA is gonna be here for 3 or 4 hours at the Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site, 812 South Church Street, Paris, TX 75460 Tel
903) 785-5716 to participate in a Memorial Day program. It will be called "TO DEFEND AND PROTECT" and will look at Texas and US Military History from the Mexican War to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to honor our past Veterans and serving G.I.'s, so all of you Steel Soldiers who are in the area are hereby invited to attend!!!!! SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE!!!!
