- Joined
- Nov 2, 1999
- Messages
- 2,805
During the Shot Show, Maria LaGana, Peters daughter, had indicated to me in a phone conversation that Dads health was not good. His hands had already been giving him trouble in previous months, relegating our need for hand signed certificates to another time when he felt better. However, her description of Peters health in this discussion necessitated a visit, and fast.
She made arrangements in her guesthouse for my overnight stay on Feb 20th. I departed on my 300-mile drive with anxiety and fear. What would he look like? Would he remember me? Would he still browbeat me about tons of things like he normally does, such as how we need to hold the Vietnam Tomahawk to spec? That he still doesnt understand why we make the Hawks so damn sharp? That he thinks I would even forget to wear my pants if it werent cold outside because I always forget two or three things that I was supposed to bring with me when I go to see him. Man, he can dish it out.
I have come to love the shellackings he has given me during our time together, because hes such a rare breed a straight shooter, detail oriented, memory like a steel trap, unafraid of any man, and extremely experienced in lifes sufferings. I didnt want this visit to be anything different that what I had known in the past and I did NOT want to see him suffering more than he already has in his life.
To my delight, I will say right now that my fear was just that fear. In fact, I was brutally humbled by his presence of spirit despite his failing health. Quite frankly, if he wasnt feeling well, he hid it like a pro because I barely noticed it...just like an old Marine!
As usual, at my arrival, I met him in what he refers to as his shop, which is a small office and workshop off the main residence walls absolutely covered ceiling to floor with pictures, mostly of others...fellow Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Fallen Comrades, Newspaper Clippings, State of Pennsylvania Conservation Certificates/Badges/Patches, Plank Owner Papers and a Plank piece of the U.S.S. Macon.
I nearly tackled him with a hug when I saw him standing over his desk, flipping the page of the daily newspaper (he reads five papers every day). AND, as usual, when I asked how he was feeling, he responded as he always does Miserably well!
He promptly pulled out his list of dated and detailed notes while I took my place at the stool in front of his desk. Thus was the beginning of the dreaded review of American Tomahawk Companys contracted performance requirements, where I shut my mouth for an hour and Peter reminded me of what it takes to enjoy the privilege of his name in my enterprise! While I did forget a few things he sharply pointed out on his list, like extra handles for a few of his old customers and an ATC embroidered jacket, he was pleased overall with where we are going.
After the meeting, it was off to the VFW, where Peter goes daily to be with friends and knock back the Gallo Paesano! Nothin like a fellow Italian that likes sharp steel!
After a few drinks, I probed Peters past as I never had before asking him relentlessly about the roots of his experience in hand-to-hand combat, which I learned was founded in WILL more than SKILL. He avoided the details for quite some time, but I broke him FINALLY!!!!
Peter as it turns out, beyond his bloodline as a Mohawk Indian, is also a proud Judo and Jiu-Jitsu man! In Peters words, Karate is just showmanship .Jiu-Jitsu can maim and kill .Judo defends against Jiu-Jitsu. We learned both!!! He also went on to say that few people will tear out an eye, rip a mouth apart at the lips, or bury a Tomahawk in someones head but men of his time would, could, and did.
I also learned that Peter was asked to be a full-time civilian Hand to Hand instructor at both Fort Bragg, as well Quantico. He declined both offers of employment after thorough consideration, as his home was Western Pennsylvania. He said that while he would have loved the warmer weather of the South, he simply could not leave family, friends, and equally important, his brothers at the VFW.
In one of his CQB demonstrations featuring the Vietnam Tomahawk, he expressly told two Marines with un-sheathed, fixed bayonets to attack him as hard as they could, and even taunted them to do so, claiming that THEY were the ones who were going to get hurt when he did this demo at Quantico, it was in front of 18 officers. He bloodied his right hand during the attack, but completely disarmed two Marines attacking him from two different directions, who had complete permission to gouge, stab, and cut him at full speed.
Following the double Bayonet attack, the single Machete and single Knife attacks seemed like childs play. In fact, the knife attacker lost the knife in one second, as Peter SMASHED his hand instantly upon employment of the attackers technique, causing the knife to fly across the field.
Now, mind you, I have only seen Peter in person as a fit, but aging, senior citizen, so it has been hard for me to envision exactly what he looked and moved like as a man in his 40s, training Marines and Soldiers in the use of the Tomahawk, let alone Hand to Hand Combat! Well, I got to see the 8 mm film footage later in the evening at Marias guest house. I could not believe my eyes! It was like watching Rudolf Nuriev on steroids with a Tomahawk Peter was an incredibly fit, wide-chested, wiry man jumping, rolling, and flipping all over the place! He moved with incredible agility and speed we are trying to digitize this footage for our website.
In the film, he decimates two wooden man-like Targets with large, sweeping horizontal attacks with the Tomahawk. Then, two full speed scenarios are played out where Peters M-1 is jammed and he must fight two attackers with a Tomahawk for his life.
After quickly dispatching the first attacker with a mock blow to the torso, he dispatches the second by throwing the Tomahawk right next to the attackers head, in a well positioned man sized target board right next to the attacker, for illustration ( because if he wanted to, he could have placed it in the LIVE target). The smiles of the assistants after each scenario are impressive, as they have complete confidence in Peters ability and control!
Then, I watched a throwing demonstration he did just two years ago, at age 73, where he dispels the myth of a balanced throwing knife, choosing instead to toss screwdrivers, files, scissors, scrap metal, and bayonets into a target with accuracy in a nearly flawless performance, ultimately demonstrating that ANYTHING can be thrown you just have to know how to throw it.
After the film, I perused the Guest House, inspecting some of the legends memorabilia a WWII Ka-bar, various knives, whips, bows, arrows, and horse tack.
Then, on the coffee table, I found Peters published poetry book, entitled, Poetry Everyone Can Love. I have had my own copy for quite some time, but have spent little time reading it just a few small excerpts well, as I dug in for the night, I immersed myself in Peters words on Guns, Guts, Warriors, the Outdoors, and Patriotism. I became so inspired that I called Robert Humelbaugh at Survival Sheath Systems to read him some of the poetry at 2:00AM EST he stayed on the phone for an hour, totally riveted by Peters words.
I will be preparing another post on the forum, which will sample some of his poetry and provide a way for you to get the book, which Robert said should be renamed to Poetry Everyone SHOULD Love!!!
I returned the next day feeling encouraged in my vision for American Tomahawk Company, stronger in my relationship with Peters family, and holding a deep respect for this man who I had gotten to know much more than I thought I would during this visit. I hope and pray it is not my last.
Well thats all for now. Keep Peter in your prayers, because he does indeed need them. It is now my conviction that we must not only do his legacy respect by keeping it alive, but further, grow it to a level of public awareness that is unprecedented.
I feel blessed to be the new owner of this company and to have customers that want to know more, learn more, and continue to show interest in something that is very important to our industry real heroes.
Thanks,
She made arrangements in her guesthouse for my overnight stay on Feb 20th. I departed on my 300-mile drive with anxiety and fear. What would he look like? Would he remember me? Would he still browbeat me about tons of things like he normally does, such as how we need to hold the Vietnam Tomahawk to spec? That he still doesnt understand why we make the Hawks so damn sharp? That he thinks I would even forget to wear my pants if it werent cold outside because I always forget two or three things that I was supposed to bring with me when I go to see him. Man, he can dish it out.
I have come to love the shellackings he has given me during our time together, because hes such a rare breed a straight shooter, detail oriented, memory like a steel trap, unafraid of any man, and extremely experienced in lifes sufferings. I didnt want this visit to be anything different that what I had known in the past and I did NOT want to see him suffering more than he already has in his life.
To my delight, I will say right now that my fear was just that fear. In fact, I was brutally humbled by his presence of spirit despite his failing health. Quite frankly, if he wasnt feeling well, he hid it like a pro because I barely noticed it...just like an old Marine!
As usual, at my arrival, I met him in what he refers to as his shop, which is a small office and workshop off the main residence walls absolutely covered ceiling to floor with pictures, mostly of others...fellow Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Fallen Comrades, Newspaper Clippings, State of Pennsylvania Conservation Certificates/Badges/Patches, Plank Owner Papers and a Plank piece of the U.S.S. Macon.
I nearly tackled him with a hug when I saw him standing over his desk, flipping the page of the daily newspaper (he reads five papers every day). AND, as usual, when I asked how he was feeling, he responded as he always does Miserably well!
He promptly pulled out his list of dated and detailed notes while I took my place at the stool in front of his desk. Thus was the beginning of the dreaded review of American Tomahawk Companys contracted performance requirements, where I shut my mouth for an hour and Peter reminded me of what it takes to enjoy the privilege of his name in my enterprise! While I did forget a few things he sharply pointed out on his list, like extra handles for a few of his old customers and an ATC embroidered jacket, he was pleased overall with where we are going.
After the meeting, it was off to the VFW, where Peter goes daily to be with friends and knock back the Gallo Paesano! Nothin like a fellow Italian that likes sharp steel!
After a few drinks, I probed Peters past as I never had before asking him relentlessly about the roots of his experience in hand-to-hand combat, which I learned was founded in WILL more than SKILL. He avoided the details for quite some time, but I broke him FINALLY!!!!
Peter as it turns out, beyond his bloodline as a Mohawk Indian, is also a proud Judo and Jiu-Jitsu man! In Peters words, Karate is just showmanship .Jiu-Jitsu can maim and kill .Judo defends against Jiu-Jitsu. We learned both!!! He also went on to say that few people will tear out an eye, rip a mouth apart at the lips, or bury a Tomahawk in someones head but men of his time would, could, and did.
I also learned that Peter was asked to be a full-time civilian Hand to Hand instructor at both Fort Bragg, as well Quantico. He declined both offers of employment after thorough consideration, as his home was Western Pennsylvania. He said that while he would have loved the warmer weather of the South, he simply could not leave family, friends, and equally important, his brothers at the VFW.
In one of his CQB demonstrations featuring the Vietnam Tomahawk, he expressly told two Marines with un-sheathed, fixed bayonets to attack him as hard as they could, and even taunted them to do so, claiming that THEY were the ones who were going to get hurt when he did this demo at Quantico, it was in front of 18 officers. He bloodied his right hand during the attack, but completely disarmed two Marines attacking him from two different directions, who had complete permission to gouge, stab, and cut him at full speed.
Following the double Bayonet attack, the single Machete and single Knife attacks seemed like childs play. In fact, the knife attacker lost the knife in one second, as Peter SMASHED his hand instantly upon employment of the attackers technique, causing the knife to fly across the field.
Now, mind you, I have only seen Peter in person as a fit, but aging, senior citizen, so it has been hard for me to envision exactly what he looked and moved like as a man in his 40s, training Marines and Soldiers in the use of the Tomahawk, let alone Hand to Hand Combat! Well, I got to see the 8 mm film footage later in the evening at Marias guest house. I could not believe my eyes! It was like watching Rudolf Nuriev on steroids with a Tomahawk Peter was an incredibly fit, wide-chested, wiry man jumping, rolling, and flipping all over the place! He moved with incredible agility and speed we are trying to digitize this footage for our website.
In the film, he decimates two wooden man-like Targets with large, sweeping horizontal attacks with the Tomahawk. Then, two full speed scenarios are played out where Peters M-1 is jammed and he must fight two attackers with a Tomahawk for his life.
After quickly dispatching the first attacker with a mock blow to the torso, he dispatches the second by throwing the Tomahawk right next to the attackers head, in a well positioned man sized target board right next to the attacker, for illustration ( because if he wanted to, he could have placed it in the LIVE target). The smiles of the assistants after each scenario are impressive, as they have complete confidence in Peters ability and control!
Then, I watched a throwing demonstration he did just two years ago, at age 73, where he dispels the myth of a balanced throwing knife, choosing instead to toss screwdrivers, files, scissors, scrap metal, and bayonets into a target with accuracy in a nearly flawless performance, ultimately demonstrating that ANYTHING can be thrown you just have to know how to throw it.
After the film, I perused the Guest House, inspecting some of the legends memorabilia a WWII Ka-bar, various knives, whips, bows, arrows, and horse tack.
Then, on the coffee table, I found Peters published poetry book, entitled, Poetry Everyone Can Love. I have had my own copy for quite some time, but have spent little time reading it just a few small excerpts well, as I dug in for the night, I immersed myself in Peters words on Guns, Guts, Warriors, the Outdoors, and Patriotism. I became so inspired that I called Robert Humelbaugh at Survival Sheath Systems to read him some of the poetry at 2:00AM EST he stayed on the phone for an hour, totally riveted by Peters words.
I will be preparing another post on the forum, which will sample some of his poetry and provide a way for you to get the book, which Robert said should be renamed to Poetry Everyone SHOULD Love!!!
I returned the next day feeling encouraged in my vision for American Tomahawk Company, stronger in my relationship with Peters family, and holding a deep respect for this man who I had gotten to know much more than I thought I would during this visit. I hope and pray it is not my last.
Well thats all for now. Keep Peter in your prayers, because he does indeed need them. It is now my conviction that we must not only do his legacy respect by keeping it alive, but further, grow it to a level of public awareness that is unprecedented.
I feel blessed to be the new owner of this company and to have customers that want to know more, learn more, and continue to show interest in something that is very important to our industry real heroes.
Thanks,
But YOU'RE safe in South Carolina! However, talking with Pete on the phone is ALWAYS a treat, as you also know! 