odd request for Jackknife

J

jpvjr

Joined
Feb 19, 2007
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Some time back you wrote about Mr. Van's time in the Corps. in WW2. You said he used a small pocketknife. A couple of Marines hear are looking for stories (actually of Korea, but this might do), of the "Old Corps".
Could you repost it?
Thanks.
 
jpvjr said:
Some time back you wrote about Mr. Van's time in the Corps. in WW2. You said he used a small pocketknife. A couple of Marines hear are looking for stories (actually of Korea, but this might do), of the "Old Corps".
Could you repost it?
Thanks.
Click to expand...


I don't know if I can help you out with what I think you are asking. Mr. Van hardley ever would say much about his service in the corp. Once in a very rare while, he'd let a tidbit slip, but mostly we knew him as our Lord and Master, Imperious leader, and Living God of our scout troop. But most of all, the memories we have of him is one of a teacher giving us priceless bits of learning that stayed in our heads like implants. Fellow scout Dave Tate, swears that it was Mr. Van who saved his life, when he had to punch out of a crippled Phantom over the wrong piece of real estate in Viet Nam.

As for his WW2 service, he said little of it. I feel as if there were things there he'd rather not talk about.

As far as his outdoor skills, he was a minimalist. He tought us to get by with only a small pocket knife in most outdoor situations. He told us that it was the one tool that if we had pants on, we could have with us. Mr. Van could build a nice camp with a 2 inch blade pocket knife. But his outlook was, keep a sharp knife on hand, but keep the grey thing between the ears honed as well.

Another thing he drilled into us; speed was dangerous, but accuracy is deadly. He was the champion of slow deliberate fire. Make every shot count, and if you have a doubt, hold on a second and see if you can get a better shot. He told us that in a fight, you have a second more than you think you do.

But mostly, he was our teacher.
 
Awesome stories; I remember a couple of people like that growing up.

thx - cpr
 
Re-reading these stories now, and your post here, jackknife, prompts me to say something to you again:

Do not ever undervalue the good you're doing for those Cub scouts you're helping. There aren't enough Mr. Vans in the world today and there aren't enough jackknifes either.
 
jackknife said:
I don't know if I can help you out with what I think you are asking. Mr. Van hardley ever would say much about his service in the corp. Once in a very rare while, he'd let a tidbit slip, but mostly we knew him as our Lord and Master, Imperious leader, and Living God of our scout troop. But most of all, the memories we have of him is one of a teacher giving us priceless bits of learning that stayed in our heads like implants. Fellow scout Dave Tate, swears that it was Mr. Van who saved his life, when he had to punch out of a crippled Phantom over the wrong piece of real estate in Viet Nam.

As for his WW2 service, he said little of it. I feel as if there were things there he'd rather not talk about.

As far as his outdoor skills, he was a minimalist. He tought us to get by with only a small pocket knife in most outdoor situations. He told us that it was the one tool that if we had pants on, we could have with us. Mr. Van could build a nice camp with a 2 inch blade pocket knife. But his outlook was, keep a sharp knife on hand, but keep the grey thing between the ears honed as well.

Another thing he drilled into us; speed was dangerous, but accuracy is deadly. He was the champion of slow deliberate fire. Make every shot count, and if you have a doubt, hold on a second and see if you can get a better shot. He told us that in a fight, you have a second more than you think you do.

But mostly, he was our teacher.
Click to expand...

I forwarded this to a Marine 1Sgt. He's blowing it up to poster size & placing it his office.
 
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