Who has never been in the military?

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> Who has never been in the military?

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Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 9:41:15 AM

TheElf

Posts: 3870
Joined: 5/14/2003
From: Pax River, MD
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Seems only fair

As a civilian how do you finance your wargaming habit and what started it?

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 10:25:13 AM

cpt_Venomous

Posts: 139
Joined: 5/2/2002
From: PYCb MOCKBA
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Prolly Im only one of the few who didnt serve during the past millenium in my family which served in Russian, Polish and Serbian armies.
Actually obcessed with wargaming from since I can remember myself from tin soldiers and capture the flag mugging fests in pioneer camps.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 10:35:19 AM

Pascal_slith

Posts: 1651
Joined: 8/20/2003
From: back in Commiefornia
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Unfortunately my eyesight kept me out of US Navy OCS (back in 1983). I was really unhappy about that.

Almost professional historian (have been into history since I was 5 watching the war movies on TV with my Dad back in the mid-60's).

I'm an investment manager, so I make enough to have around 5000 history books at home and about 250-300 wargames (paper and counter), adding regularly (including finding rare out-of-print). An obsessed collector? Sure.

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So much WitP and so little time to play.... :-(

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 10:44:01 AM

Sneer

Posts: 2654
Joined: 10/29/2003
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same story Pascal :-)
the only diffrence I'm ap 10 y younger

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 3:22:12 PM

kaleun

Posts: 5145
Joined: 5/29/2002
From: Colorado
Status: offline

MD. Always interested in wargames, history.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 3:52:44 PM

captskillet

Posts: 2493
Joined: 3/1/2003
From: Louisiana & the 2007 Nat Champ LSU Fightin' Tigers
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I guess I was lucky...had to register for the Draft my senior yr of high school (1974) but by then we were out of Nam..now I'm too old I guess cause if they need me .....WE ARE IN DEEP DODO!!!

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 4:36:41 PM

SirRodneyOfGout

Posts: 41
Joined: 6/28/2004
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Started playing wargames in Grade 7. First purchase was S&T's "CA" from another student. Anthropology / Archaeology B.A. Tried to program a space war game on my Coleco Adam when I wasn't writing term papers on Sumerian warfare.

Pushed keys for a while, then I pushed others to push keys. Lots of $ to buy games but no time to play them. My hats off to G.G. & co for banging their heads on monitors, day in and day out, to make games instead of getting rich writing financial software packages...

Now I'm a lab rat for pharma companies. More time to game but less $ to support the habit.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 4:49:10 PM

Mr.Frag

Posts: 13410
Joined: 12/18/2002
From: Purgatory
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Flat Feet ... they wouldn't take me ... funny enough, profile stuff said I'd be an excellent sniper

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 4:49:16 PM

rlc27

Posts: 306
Joined: 7/21/2001
From: Connecticut, USA
Status: offline

Anthropology degree here too, currently closing in on the Ph.D. One year to go, if I can get this danged dissertation done.

Wanted to be an AH-64 pilot for the longest time when I was a teen, did two years of ROTC in college but some mild asthma made it impossible to finish.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 7:48:00 PM

grraven2004

Posts: 273
Joined: 3/4/2004
From: Cuyahoga Falls OH
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My start was reading a book called Flattops at war in Jr. High.

Its been downhill from there

I drive truck so cash is not an issue with me. I don't have any lol

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 7:54:42 PM

IanLister

Posts: 158
Joined: 4/7/2002
From: Pennine Hills, Northern England, UK
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I'm an English teacher. Been playing wargames since 1963 aged 12. I got interested as my dad was an artillery observer in 78th Battleaxe Div in British army in WW2, one uncle flew Spits and Hurricanes 1939-45 and anothe was an engine fitter in the RAF, served in Egypt, Malta and tha Far East. The other one disappeared while on a Coastal Command Catalina patrol over the Atlantic so I never met him. WW2 was all they ever talked about..........my mum was an RAF truck driver during the war, met Glenn Miller when he was in England at one point.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 7:58:59 PM

Grell

Posts: 1064
Joined: 4/1/2004
From: Canada
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Interesting stuff that Ian, an entire family at that.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 9:36:44 PM

IanLister

Posts: 158
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From: Pennine Hills, Northern England, UK
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It gets better. My fighter pilot uncle was a Czech whose father was a local politician. In 38 dad was murdered by Nazis during the invasion, and he left to France and joined the airforce. I believe he flew Curtiss Hawks in 39-40, then escaped to England with 2 mates in a fishing boat. He joined the RAF in June 1940 and flew Hurris in 310 Czech squadron during the Battle of Britain. Shot down twice but doubled that score in return. He later commanded 313 squadron in Spits, and then joined the RAF permanently in 1946 - he couldn't go back home as apparently he was persona non grata with the Russians. He flew Sunderlands in Korea and then, scariest of all, married my mum's sister. Died last year aged 88. Do you ever play Talonsoft's Beyond The Reich? I contacted the guy in the US who has reworked that game big time, and he kindly added my uncle in to the pilot database at the right rank in the correct squadron

. First time I played the campaign after that, he was shot down and killed on his first mission. I felt sort of guilty......

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 9:40:21 PM

Grell

Posts: 1064
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From: Canada
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Ian,

That is truly bookworthy stuff. Ever thought of putting it all together and getting it out?

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 9:47:55 PM

IanLister

Posts: 158
Joined: 4/7/2002
From: Pennine Hills, Northern England, UK
Status: offline

When I stop teaching about books and retire, I'm planning a work of fiction based on the idea of interweaving the lives of my WW2 relatives' real experiences. BOB, Malta, Egypt, Tunisia, Italy, 2TAF in 44 over NW Europe, Burma campaign in 44-45 etc......7 years to retire, another 7 to write it.....try the bookstore in 2018, if by then you're bored with WITP. Hang on, if WITP is as good as I hope, I may still be playing it myself, and there'll be no book!

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 9:50:12 PM

Grell

Posts: 1064
Joined: 4/1/2004
From: Canada
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Nah, Ian,

That's as good a book as any top-seller AFAIC. I'd do the book thing and watch the royalties flood in!

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 9:57:55 PM

TheElf

Posts: 3870
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From: Pax River, MD
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quote:

ORIGINAL: IanLister

It gets better. My fighter pilot uncle was a Czech whose father was a local politician. In 38 dad was murdered by Nazis during the invasion, and he left to France and joined the airforce. I believe he flew Curtiss Hawks in 39-40, then escaped to England with 2 mates in a fishing boat. He joined the RAF in June 1940 and flew Hurris in 310 Czech squadron during the Battle of Britain. Shot down twice but doubled that score in return. He later commanded 313 squadron in Spits, and then joined the RAF permanently in 1946 - he couldn't go back home as apparently he was persona non grata with the Russians. He flew Sunderlands in Korea and then, scariest of all, married my mum's sister. Died last year aged 88. Do you ever play Talonsoft's Beyond The Reich? I contacted the guy in the US who has reworked that game big time, and he kindly added my uncle in to the pilot database at the right rank in the correct squadron. First time I played the campaign after that, he was shot down and killed on his first mission. I felt sort of guilty......

Closest I can come to this kind of story is this. When I was in college my mom introduced me to a member of our church. His name was Richard Mehle. He flew Hellcats off the Big "E". Had 5 or six kills to his credit. We talked a lot and I asked him lots of questions. I wish he were still alive, cuz now that I am winged I think we'd have MUCH more to talk about. I'd have a million more questions to ask too. He was a rascal. Even in his 70's he had a young(relatively) trophy wife.

My late Uncle Fred was a ground crewman in Germany during WWI He ate breakfast in the same chow hall as the Red Baron, saw him regularly, and spoke with him on a couple of occaisions. Again, wish he were still alive to pick his brain.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 9:58:54 PM

IanLister

Posts: 158
Joined: 4/7/2002
From: Pennine Hills, Northern England, UK
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Actually, I'm spending so much time on here waiting for you-know-what to suddenly manifest itself, i could be writing the book....it might be therapeutic! I AM GETTING A LITTLE IMPATIENT.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 10:01:40 PM

Grell

Posts: 1064
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From: Canada
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Good Stuff Elf!,

My grandfather fought in WWI in the Hungarian army.

LOL, Ian,

Sounds like a plan friend!

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 10:04:10 PM

wworld7

Posts: 1727
Joined: 2/25/2003
From: The Nutmeg State
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Flat feet and a dislike for getting up early kept me out of the service. Instead I pushed cardboard vounters around for the last 30 years... BTW computers are fantastic.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 10:04:24 PM

byron13

Posts: 1589
Joined: 7/27/2001
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Who has never been in the military?

Whew. Tough one. Let's see: I know my mom was not. My secretary has never been in, though her son just got out of the Navey. Um . . . Clinton apparently never was, but I think he did more than Gee Dubyah.

Hold on. Let me get the phone book out. This is going to take awhile . . .

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 10:41:05 PM

Pianoman

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Joined: 6/30/2004
From: USA
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When I was 7-8 years old (mid 1970's) I started writing letters to the US Navy department. Not just once and a while but like every month. I would just ask for information on battleships and aircraft carriers. Within a few years I had a pile of documents and pictures about 2 feet tall. I found out later that they had sent me free copies of portions of books that the Navy publications dept sold.

From then on the military always fascinated me. Used to play Panzer Leader, Victory in the Pacific, 3rd Reich, Hitler's War, Axis & Allies with my buddies in high school.

In the 80's I started playing the early computer games available. Haven't stopped since although now I don't have as much time. Plus funding it is a problem for the first time since I left my job with a $WallStreet$ firm to go back to college and study -$History-$.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 11:07:52 PM

IanLister

Posts: 158
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From: Pennine Hills, Northern England, UK
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Did you ever play the really huge board wargame based on the Normandy invasion? Can't remember what it was called, but I think it was by AH. Map was so big I had to play it on the lawn cos it wouldn't fit in the house. You get a big breakthrough on Caen, then the dog passes by and leaks on it....Hitler sure was desperate in those days, but I never worked out how he communicated with the dog!

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 11:21:05 PM

Pianoman

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From: USA
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Never played it but I know what your're talking about. I'm guessing your board was a real board not the paper stuff that I had for Pacific War (board game by Victory Games I think?). A 6' by 6' map held together with paperclips and paperweights to keep the folds down. Unfortunately we spent more time setting it up and putting it away than playing it.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 11:34:40 PM

msaario

Posts: 245
Joined: 5/22/2002
From: Back in E U R O P A
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Luckily playing wargames has nothing to do with being in the military... well, I did my compulsory stuff, but been a buff all my life.

Can't come even close to the stories about Polish pilots etc. but in one of my jobs I was the replacement (or successor?) of the grandson of one of the highest scoring Finnish WW2 fighter pilots, Ilmari Juutilainen... gee, I guess that makes me famous, too?

--Mikko

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 11:48:27 PM

Bill Durrant

Posts: 967
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Oxfordshire
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quote:

ORIGINAL: IanLister

Did you ever play the really huge board wargame based on the Normandy invasion? Can't remember what it was called, but I think it was by AH. Map was so big I had to play it on the lawn cos it wouldn't fit in the house. You get a big breakthrough on Caen, then the dog passes by and leaks on it....Hitler sure was desperate in those days, but I never worked out how he communicated with the dog!

The Longest Day by Avalon Hill - only about 500 printed. Recently fancied buying it on e-bay. $250 for a second hand game!!!!! WitP is much better value

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 6/30/2004 11:56:22 PM

Synjin

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Joined: 6/6/2003
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Never in the real military, but I went to military school when I was a freshman and sophemore in high school. Fork Union Military Academy for those who are around the VA/MD/DC area. Applied for the Naval Academy, got denied, and was going to just do NROTC, but once I saw how hot the girls were in San Diego, and how dorky the guys were in NROTC, I just became a regular college frat boy.

I had wanted to be a naval aviator ever since I got a behind the scenes tour of the USS JFK when a friend of the family (who worked in the Pentagon) was dating some Marine Colonel. Was so cool watching him grab some poor seaman and ordering him to give us a tour of everything from the bridge to the flight deck to the radar room. This was about 6 years before Top Gun came out... which also rekindled my desire.

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RE: Who has never been in the military? - 7/1/2004 12:04:33 AM

IronDuke_slith

Posts: 1595
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From: Manchester, UK
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I got hooked on World War II history after listening to a collection of war themes on a record when I was about 7 (mid seventies). I remember John Wayne was on the front, and there was a couple of planes atacking a bridge. Weird way to get started, but it sparked an interest in hitory as well as WWII.

I have no military service (I don't think I'd have what it takes) and had no military ancestors until I met my wife, whose (sadly departed) Grandfather served in the British Army during the second world war. I'm in the process of putting together (a laborious process) his service history. He served in an AA unit in france, I think, before being pulled out before the German offensive and sent to Norway. He spent a couple of weeks there before being evacuated. Then he went to Africa, his AA unit seems to have been disbanded and he was transferred to the 50th Infantry. He then invades Sicily (albeit after being torpedoed on the way and being returned to Africa first). He then Goes to Italy, before being pulled out with Monty for D-Day. He lands at D-Day + 45 mins then serves in NW Europe until the end.

Some wonderful stories.

Regards,
IronDuke

< Message edited by IronDuke -- 6/30/2004 10:04:58 PM >

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