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The inventor of a new type of hand grenade says: “You merely press a small projection on the casing, a detonator explodes the charge, and there you are.†Or aren’t, as the case may be. 1943 newspaper * * * Snowyday

A visitor at the Army’s brand new Pentagon Building recently was startled by ominous rumblings in an adjacent corridor. “Don’t be alarmed,†said the Colonel with whom she was conferring, “that is simply the redeployment of the LSDs. Generals are mapping strategy, and careful study has been made on their disposition. “But what are LSDs?†inquired the visitor. “Large Steel Desks.†The Colonel said. New York Newspaper 3 Apr 1946 * * * Snowyday

Who are those people who are cheering, asked the draftee, as the soldiers marched to the train. Those, replied the veteran, are the people who are not going. Snowyday

Somebody once asked an American soldier what, in his opinion, gave the American Army its special punch. Optimism, he answered. You see it’s like this. The captain asks for 100 volunteers. So we volunteer. Then he says: It’s my duty to warn you that 99 of you will probably be killed. Well, this throws us for a minute. Then every one of those 100 soldiers heaves a sigh, looks around, and says to himself: Shucks, I’m gonna miss the boys. snowyday Most of the jokes I am listing are from 1943 - 1949 Newspapers.

A psychiatrist in testing the mentality of a young soldier asked: Do you ever hear voices without being able to tell who is speaking or where the voices come from? Yes, answered the young soldier. And when does this occur? When I answer the telephone. * * * snowyday

Bad,Bad,Bad

Gus Edwards, Mechanic’s Mate, is one of the Navy’s most seasoned tale spinners. One day he was sitting with a group of English tars, discussing the relative merits of British and American ships. “I’m curious about your carriers,†one English tar said, How fast are they?†Old Gus looked at him and replied, “To tell you the truth, I don’t know. We’ve never really opened them up. All they’ve been required to do so far is to keep up with the planes.†* * * snowyday

Especially annoyed at the slowness of Private Smith, the sergeant-major strode up to him. What was your job in civil life? He barked. Bank Clerk, said Smith. I suppose, sneered the sergeant-major, you dusted the desks and washed out the ink wells and made nice cups of tea for the manager. Oh, no, sir, replied Smith, we kept an old sergeant-major for those jobs. * * * I get these jokes from 1940's newspapers when every able bodied man was in the military. Snowyday

A new chapel had been built near an Army camp, and to insure attendance the colonel ordered his top kick to march a battalion of men up to the Sunday morning service. After a tough Saturday night fellows weren’t too pleased, nor did their resentment abate, when, inspired by the full attendance, the pastor held forth for over an hour. When service was over, he still had another treat for them. Producing an armful of candles he gave one to each soldier, saying he would lead a march through the crypt of the church and show them some interesting sights. But, bless my soul, he concluded. I thought I counted most carefully, but I find I have one candle too many. What in the world shall I do with it. The first man, barked the sergeant, who tells him where to put it, gets ten days in the guard house. * * * From a 1943 newspaper. Snowyday

From the Associated Press comes a story they’re telling in the Caribbean---and swearing it’s true: A transport lay in the harbor getting ready to sail with a detachment of troops ordered back to the good ol’ U.S.A. The soldiers stood about beside their barracks bags, awaiting their turn to go up the gangplank. Suddenly, from the group, one broke and ran, shouting at the top of his voice. “I’m not going aboard that boat, and you can’t make me!†Two burly M.P.’s gave chase. Quickly they overhauled him. A lusty session of rough-and-tumble ensued, at the end of which the fugitive, overpowered, was half carried aboard ship. The M.P.’s rubbed their hands, congratulating themselves on a job done with neatness and dispatch. A few hours later, when the transport was miles at sea, noses were counted aboard. There was one nose too many. A homesick soldier had found a way to go home. February 11, 1943 * * * Snowyday

In the days just before Pearl Harbor our citizen soldiers weren’t always too highly regarded by the folks who lived near the southern camp when I was trying to learn to be a military man. One blistering summer day found my outfit slogging down a back-country road, sweltering under full field packs. A bend in the road disclosed a barefoot farm boy, holding the halter of an exceedingly poor mule. One of the company wits, always eager to bait a rustic, sang out: “Say, sonny, why are you holding your brother so tight?†Back flashed the reply, “To keep the darn fool from joining the army.†* * *

I was 19 years old when we received our first C-130A's at Ardmore AFB, Oklahoma. I was in the 773 Troop Carrier Squadron as an Aircraft Instrument Repairman. I worked on all 16 of our aircraft and I do not remember any of the numbers. Do any of you know which 16 aircraft the 773rd received??? I am now 74 years old with slipping memory. Snowyday

A fond mother received the following letter from her son: “Dear Mum—I joined the Navy because I liked the way the ships were kept so clean and tidy. But I never knew until this week who keeps them so clean and tidy,--Love Jimmy.†* * *

An old lady living in the country had a son in the Navy. On one of her rare visits to a neighboring town she saw a sailor. Trembling with excitement she asked him if he knew her boy. She told him his name. “Well, what ship is he on?†asked the sailor. “What ship?†exclaimed the old lady. “Are there two?†* * *

“I have come to join my husband,†said Mrs. Smith, arriving at the Golden Gate. “Delighted to meet you, ma’am,†replied the keeper. “What was your husband’s name?†“Joseph Smith.†“I’m afraid that will not be sufficient for us to identify him. You see we have quite a lot of Joseph Smith’s up here. Are there any other means by which I can identify him?†“Well before he died he told me that if I ever kissed another man he would turn over in his grave.†“Oh, I know the chap. Up here we call him “Whirling Joe!†* * * Snowyday

Hi Rick, I helped close Ardmore A.F.B. in January 1959. At that time we had all C-130A's and they all had three bladed props. I thought that all A models had three bladed props. Those in the picture have four bladed props. Did they modify A models for the four blades? Snowyday

Shame on anyone that is involved in this venture. Ever since they started importing automobiles into this country we have had massive unemployment in all but a few years under Bill Clinton. Snowyday

This is the story of John Mule, late of the United States Coast Guard. It couldn’t happen anywhere but here. One day the sailors at the Coast Guard depot in Curtis Bay, Maryland, wearying of hauling coal in wheelbarrows to fuel their ships, pooled their funds and purchased a mule to do their hauling for them. But mules must eat, and the pay of a Coast Guard sailor hardly provided for feeding a mule. The problem was temporarily solved by enlisting the mule in the Coast Guard, putting his name on the official payroll as John Mule, fireman third class. But fireman third class, John Mule proved to be an extremely hearty eater, and soon they found if necessary to promote him to fireman second class. More money, more hay. Eighteen months later he was promoted to Petty officer second class! But all things must finally come to an end. Rumors drifted to Washington that a mule was enlisted as an officer in the Coast Guard. The Washington officials could appreciate the humor of the situation, but still, they decided, those smart Curtis Bay boys had to be taken down a few notches. Thereupon the following order was sent out of Washington to Curtis Bay: “Transfer John Mule, petty officer secand class, to seagoing cutter Bear in Alaska immediately.†Now how was a petty officer mule going to sea on a Coast Guard cutter? It just wasn’t possible! And so after much head-scratching a report went forth to Washington saying that Petty Officer John Mule had deserted. And that was that! Snowyday

On the day that Hitler seized power over his countrymen, a famous professor of economics in Heidelberg was asked what he would do if he suddenly got a letter from the Gestapo. “For one thing,†he replied, “I would finish reading it on the train.†Snowyday

“I have a pain in my abdomen.†The recruit told the Army doctor. “Young man,†the doctor replied, “officers have abdomens, sergeants have stomachs, you have a belly ache.†Times Record of Troy, New York, December 24, 1943. * * * Snowyday

The skipper of a tramp steamer, writing in the log, recording an eventful day, rounded off his task with the entry: “Mate intoxicated.†To the mate, who indignantly protested on reading it, the skipper retorted: “Well, it’s true, isn’t it?†The following day it was the mate’s duty to write the log. He completed his account with “Skipper sober.†The captain stared at it for a moment, and exploded. “Well, it’s true, ain’t it?†was the mate’s rejoinder. * * * Snowyday

A United States Army Major stationed in Australia decided to go on a kangaroo hunt. He climbed into his jeep and instructed his driver to proceed to the plains in quest of a kangaroo. Soon they spotted one, and the driver drove the jeep in hot pursuit. For some time they went at breakneck speed without gaining on the animal. Finally the driver shouted to the Major: “Ain’t no use chasing that thing, sir!†“Why.†Sam?†“Cause we is now doin’ sixty-five, and that critter ain’t put his front feet down yet!†* * * from a 1945 newspaper snowyday

From a 1946 newspaper: The old sailor had retired from the sea. Each morning a youngster knocked at his door, went in, and came out again. After this had gone on for some weeks the curiosity of the neighbors was aroused. “Tell me,†said one neighbor to the youngster, “why do you visit that old sailor every morning?†“Well, sir, he gives me a nickel if I say to him. “The captain wants you immediately!†“And what does he say to that?†“He says, “Tell the captain to go to the devil!†* * * Snowyday

She: “What do you do in the Navy?†He: “I’m a bone specialist.†She: “Oh, you set them? He: “No, I roll ‘em.†Snowyday

From 1943 A certain officer’s confidential report had written on it, by his commanding officer: “This officer should go far.†The Brigadier added: “The farther the better†The divisional commander wrote: “He should start at once.†snowyday