Jeff Fussell, Class of '66, continues as the King of the Trivia for Lee's Traveller. Jeff scored 70 on the test this week. Below are the answers to the questions.
1. Detective Joe Friday’s badge number was 714.
2. The hull number of the original Starship Enterprise was NCC-1701
3. The bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart (Don Adams), was also known as Agent 86.
4. His partner was Agent 99
5. Ivory soap was advertised as being 99.44/100% pure.
6. The Borax wagon was powered by a team of 20 Mules.
7. The engine size of the Beach Boys’ four speed dual quad posi-traction car was 409.
8. Steve McGarrett, was head of Hawaii Five-O.
9. The number you can call up and have a date (any old time) was Beachwood 45789
10. Elizabeth Taylor played the most desirable woman in town, who is easy to find. You just had to call BUtterfield 8
_____________________________________
We had so many responses to the photo above that I had to cut them into two weeks. Here's the rest of the emails.
Marty Phillips, GySgt USMC, Class of '66 -The item is the trusty “P38” used for opening C’s (Combat rations) I still have the original one I received in 1968.
________________________
Chip Smoak, Class of '66 - The mystery item for this week, unless I am sadly mistaken, is a fold-up can open issued to military personnel primarily for the purpose of opening c-rats.
__________________________________
Donna Karolewski Stone. Class of '68 - The mystery photo is a can opener. I was reminded of these a few years ago after Hurricane Andrew in Florida. A couple from our church was going down there and one of the things they were saying was needed was can openers as people were walking back to their areas with open cans of food. We thought of these military can openers and scoured the army navy stores and were rewarded with boxes of them along with donations of same. When this couple got to Florida with the can openers the people were amazed someone had thought and brought such a small item that ended up being so important.
________________________________
Jan Hunt Class of '66 - Ah! Tommy, where did you come up with this one? I still have one on my old dog tags. If it were not for our P-38s, what would we have done to open our C-rats? This was the best invention of the Vietnam war next to the m-79 grenade launcher, the bee hive round for the cannon cocker red legs and the Cobra Attack Helicopter. I want to thank all veterans and I pray each day for our troops in action. They need our prayers and support. God bless you all.
________________________________
Rick Simmons, LHS ’59-‘63, USMC, ’68-’74, Capt, NFO, A6 Intruder - This is a GI’s pocket can opener.
___________________________
John Scales, Class of '66 - Of course, it's a P-38 can opener. A case of 12 C-rations would normally have several loose in the case for those who had lost theirs. I carried mine on my dog tag chain so I wouldn't lose it! Thanks for showing it - brings all the old menus to mind, including the infamous ham and lima beans (otherwise known as ham and m----------rs!)
_________________________________
Mike Griffith, Class of '66 - The Mystery Photo for this week is the P-38 can opener. Each package of the delicious U.S. Army "C-Rations" contained one. Currently, I have one on my key chain that I've carried around for about 38 years now ... it is surprising how many uses there are for such a device, and of it's durability.
____________________________________
Jim Betterton, Class of '64 - The item on display is a P-38 can opener. I used it many times. I served in the U.S. Air Force Security Service from 1966 through 1973. Thanks for the Veterans Day information. Also, thanks for your good service to our country.
______________________________________
Jim Myrick, Class of '66 - It's a p-38 can opener from our staple provisions in Viet Nam, C-Rations. I believe it was also used in Korea and WWII.
______________________________
Shirley Latta Gomez, Class of '71 -That is P-38, the Army version of the can opener. I have used one since I married a Soldier and I still have one on my keychain. I am equally thrilled for you on joining and serving again. My husband Gene is retired Army and my son-in-law is active duty Army. I still get goose bumps when I hear the National Anthem, which sadly, is not as often as before. I work for the Army as a civilian, and although I know my work is important, I would like to do more for my country. I hope to one day go over as a civilian and do my part the only way I can at this point. One regret I have is not following my heart and joining the Army out of high school. At that time it was not the usual thing for women and I let others influence my decision. Too bad the regular services do not accept us older folks, we are a good pool of experience and Patriotism! Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading the post each Sunday.
______________________________________
Jim Bannister, Class of '66 - The mystery item is a P38 can opener also know as a "John Wayne". Every case of C-Rations was supposed to have at least one in it but never did. All of you old military guys know that a C-Rat can is almost impossible to open with anything other than a can opener. Brings back memories of being at general quarters for extended periods of time and they would come around and gives us some C-Rats to eat. Some of those dating back to WWII & Korea (still had the 4 pack of Lucky Strike Green Label cigarettes in them). I still have a John Wayne that was chrome plated by the plating shop on the USS Oriskany.
____________________________
Skip Cook, Class of '64 - The mystery item is a can opener that came with C-rations. I always heard it referred to as a P-38 …don’t ask me why ‘cause I haven’t a clue. You were out of luck if you didn’t have a P-38 to open the delicacies that were contained in a box of “c-rats”. The meal that I found the most personally disgusting was Ham & Lima Beans. The Cook family ate a lot of ham at picnics in Hunstville on the Tennessee River but I never saw anything like the gelatinous mess that was stuffed in those cans. I carried my P-38 on my key ring for many years but it disappeared without a clue. Seeing the P-38 brought back old memories, some good and some not so good. Thanks for all of your dedication and effort and congratulations on your new “commission” with the state guard. Florida is not as advanced as Tennessee and Alabama and doesn’t have an organization like the state guard.
________________________________
Karen Tucker Oliver, Class of '65 - If memory serves me right, that is a military issue can opener. Damn proud Army brat!
______________________________
Charlie Hancock, Class of '66 - The can opener was a super idea! I have two unopened P38s in my earthquake kit. In Western Washington, we have several small earthquakes a yr. Most are not noticed by most of us. Eventually we will get THE BIG ONE. And we'll know "this is it!" when it hits. So in my backyard shed with my lawn mower and edger, I have an old chest freezer with no motor or electricity. Inside we store 200 bottles of water and MREs and other dried and canned food. If we survive the original earthquake, our neighbors and us will be OK for awhile with the food and clothes stored inside. We are NOT as helpless as New Orleans. I hope we never need these things. But we very well expect to use them someday.
__________________________________
