MVCC NEWS “Keeping em rolling, floating and flying for 36 years”
Issue #1 2014
Bougainville 1944, Looks Like an International M-5H-6 Cargo buried the front axle and the Seabees have brought in their International TD-9 to pull it out. In the mean time, a couple of armed Marines have pulled up in their Dodge WC57 Command Car. A LVT-1 has shown up to give a hand although they seem more interested in something going on behind the Command Car as are the armed Marines who are going to see what’s up. There is a Jeep that is mired and a Henry Spen Trailer with something interesting in the bed sitting with its tongue down in the mud. USMC NARA
A PUBLICATION OF THE MILITARY VEHICLE COLLECTORS OF CALIFORNIA
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contents
Business members ...... 8
Upcoming Events ...... 3
MVCC Staff ...... 5-6
CLASSIFIEDS ...... 14-15
MVCC & MVPA Membership Applications ...... 20 MVCC QUARTERMASTERS CORNER
MVCC Quartermaster, Look Here for MVCC gear for sale Chris Jorgensen (831) 426-0787 [email protected]
International 1 1/2 ton M-3-4 cargo trucks haul supplies off the beach. Guadalcanal USMC
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UPCOMING EVENTS
January 2014 This could be an event you sent in to get listed in the MVCC Newsletter. Remember the earlier you get the event info to the editor, the better your chances are of attracting participants and vehicles. [email protected]
March 21-23, 2014 War games filming Operation Lion Claws Military Simulation Series. To be held at the closed General Mills Flour Factory in Vallejo. Looking for combat vehicles of all types will provide Fuel, overnight lodging and transportation cost to and from site. POC’s: Sonny Hanson [email protected] And the producer John Lu [email protected]
April 20-27, 2014 Spring Meet Camp Delta (Tower Park) Stockton Delta KOA (209) 369-1041 JoAnne Lesser [email protected] “Biggest show in the west”
September 2014 Camp Delta at Tower Park. Camp Ground 4 Stockton Delta KOA (209) 369-1041 Be there or be square.
If you have any questions or have information regarding a meet or activity in your area, contact your regional vice president or any of the officers to let them know. Be sure to visit our website for any last minute activities or changes to activities/events. Please submit information regarding upcoming activities to the newsletter editor at least two months before the scheduled event. All articles must be submitted to the newsletter editor by the 15th of each month. MVCC News Editor Dave Ball [email protected] www.mvccnews.net
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to the members
It's Coming Up On MVCC Renewal Time! Yes that magic time is almost here - your chance to re-up with the biggest and best Historic Military Vehicle club in North America! Unlike some clubs whose operating budget is supported by events where they charge for admission, MV registration, and parking, the MVCC does not do that. We get no rebates from KOA for the two Camp Delta meets at Tower Park. Our negotiated discount goes right to your campsite fee and so far, this rate is extended to non-MVCCers as well. We are a California non-profit corporation that is mostly dues- driven. We make a little money selling merchandise, newsletter display ads, and the Friday Night Raffle at Tower helps, but we need YOU! And if you are a non-member reading this newsletter online in the free archives or your buddy loaned it to you, please consider being a member of the club that has hosted the largest annual MV event in western North America since 1978, plus the second largest since 1987! An application can be downloaded from www.MVCCNews.net or found in a newsletter. Out-of-staters are welcome!
While you are at it, sign up your spouse and child under 18 to be Associates! It's only $5.00 each and they receive their own membership card AND name badge plus a sense of belonging. We need to create a spark of hobby interest in our young people so they stick with it. They are the future!!
MVCC Membership Benefits: Membership card with renewal Voting Rights - you shape the Board of Officers Name badge - newly designed and not a clutch-back any more! (replacements available for purchase) Associates receive membership cards too. Associate spouses can vote Three year discount and Life Memberships are available, which save a bunch in the long run 12 great newsletters per year - printed and mailed or online in full color via a password-protected login Unlimited FREE Member classified ads in the newsletter! FREE Membership Directory periodically - find Members in your town or search for certain MVs if listed Club patches, stickers, and other merchandise is available to support your hobby interest Other benefits may be announced You will find an invoice with renewal application attached to this newsletter make as many copies as you need give them to your friends and family or anyone you think will benefit from belonging to the MVCC.
Welding Seminar at Camp Delta? By John Neuenburg A friend saw me at home welding on my jeep last July and said, “Hey you ought to lead a welding seminar at Tower Park.” Hah! I know enough about welding to be dangerous. Just look at my jeep’s gun mounts. But yes, a welding seminar in April would be fantastic. How about sheet metal welding, like on 18 gauge jeep tubs? That freaks me out. Maybe we can get an owner to bring a tub or a hood or whatever and end up with some free repairs. Any volunteers? Maybe a team – one who talks better than he welds, and another who is the opposite. We can get a welding supply vendor to bring some arc screens and whatever else we need. Even a MIG welder although I would think a guy will want to use his own. We’ll trade the vendor some display space and advertising. I can help set that up. What do you think? Contact me at 415-491-1601.
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MVCC STAFF
Northern Region VP Dave Porter Divisions 530 & 916 [email protected]
Happy New Year to all. I hope the new year finds you warm and happy. Did Santa bring you what you wanted for Christmas? It's too early to tell for me, because I'm writing this before Christmas has actually happened. Of course, my wish list includes too many expensive MV related items...
I missed the Lincoln Christmas Tree Lighting parade this year due to a prior commitment (office party for work - in Reno) but Ben Hovis and company had a great time once again, assisting with the Toys for Tots program and Christmas tree lighting. This was the 9th year the Semper Fi organization led the Toy-for- Tots drive in Southwest Placer County. The Toys-for-Tots train led the Semper Fi entry; followed by the USMC Humvee. Behind the Humvee were 7 restored WW2 jeeps conveying Semper Fi members and Toy- for-Tots volunteers. The Foothill Vintage Jeep Group was proud to honor the Semper Fi Association and the Toy-for-Tots campaign again this year. Owner/drivers were Ben Hovis, Randy Payne, Bruce Anderson, Mark Tombleson, Pat Walker, Tim Buescher and Curt Covington. The goal of Toy-for-Tots is to provide at least one new toy at Christmas for each needy child in their area. Frank Neves, the 2013 Toy-for-Tots direc- tor, would like to thank residents for their participation and generosity. Look for pictures forwarded by Ben in the After Action Reports.
Back in November, I participated with MVCC and NRG members in the Veterans Day "Bring a Veteran to School Day" at Egling Middle School in Colusa. Approximately 12 Veterans, with service ranging from WWII to Afghanistan were present at the school where they sat before the entire 5th Grade class and an- swered questions about their military service. After the presentation the students got to experience sitting in and climbing on our military vehicles on display in the park across the street from the school. This year some of the students got "stretcher rides" getting loaded into and unloaded from the USMC Holden ambu- lance jeep. Others got to climb into a DUKW or the back of an M35. The students later sent out thank-you letters too all the vets and club members, thanking them for sharing their experiences and bringing the "trucks", and asking still more questions. One student said we had "INSPIRED" her - I think she plans on joining the Army when she's old enough! Pictures are included in the After Action Reports.
January looks a little light on activities. Vehicle hibernation? I plan on working on that project jeep sitting in the garage (calling my name every time I go out there) - if I happen to find some free time. April and Tower Park is just around the corner! Now might be a good time to recruit a new member or two, especial- ly if you ran across anybody over the holidays with a military vehicle but isn't a member.
That's all for now, Dave
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MVCC STAFF
Central Coast VP Jack Valenti Divisions 831, 805 west & 408 south [email protected]
MVCC Newsletter Dec.12th 2013 Things are quiet right now – well if you consider the "hustle and bustle" of getting ready for Christmas and New Years quiet. I know of no local activities in this area, until April of 2014. I received an e-mail to save the date of the Pacific Grove Good Old Day Parade on April 12th just last week. And I made my April plans accordingly, and then today I received another e-mail changing the date to April 5th. I had made arrangements for a trip on the weekend of April 5th, so I will be out of town and therefore looking for another POC for this April event, any volunteers?
Then 15 days later Camp Delta starts.
See you there. Jack Valenti
North Bay West VP Scott Rohrs 415 259 8177 [email protected] Divisions 415, 707 west
South Bay VP Kim Sievert Central Valley VP Nick Bombini (408) 253-9469 (559) 645-1726 [email protected] [email protected] Divisions 408 North & 650 Divisions 559,209,760 &805 East
Secretary/Treasurer LK Viola 831-372-8228 P.O. Box 1765, Carmel, CA 93921 President Kurt Lesser [email protected] (408) 238-8277 [email protected]
North Bay, East VP Sonny Hanson East Bay VP Larry Pirack (707) 552-6918 (510) 522-6440 Divisions 510 & 925 [email protected] [email protected] Divisions 707 & 415
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Passing's
I was contacted recently by Louis Bertolucci and he told me his wife Carole passed away last May. They have two sons Dale and Dennis. Louis lives in Halfmoon Bay. (El Granada)
MVCC News STAFF
MVCC Newsletter Editor Webmaster Sean Nichols Dave Ball [email protected] (408) 805-0065 [email protected] www.mvccnews.net Please submit all contributions for publication in (775)-424-3813 the newsletter by email to the editor by the 15 of the month. Members Ads are Free. Pictures will be sized to fit, space providing.
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MVCC Business Members
Columbia Electronics International Inc. surplus military radio gear Paul Keyes (W6QDK) (805)386-2312
Email: [email protected] http://www.columbiaelectronics.com 3720 Groves Place Somis, CA 93066-0960
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GMC 2 1/2 ton 6x6 CCKW Cargo Truck Picture Taken at Fort MacArthur Los Angeles
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Camp delta Showcase
Victory Ship Photo by John Neuenburg Dave comes up with some interesting historical photos for MVCC News. It's like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get. In #11 2013 there was one of a WWII shipyard. A great reminder of the industrial power of the U.S. during the war. Here is more info about that photo. It was taken at California Shipbuilding Corporation, aka "Cal ship," in Los Angeles, around May of 1944. This shipyard was built from scratch during 1941 at Terminal Island and they delivered 467 ships - Liberty and Victory class cargo ships plus attack transports - from September 1941 to September 1945 to the day. They had 14 ways (each a shipbuilding station) and in December 1943 they delivered 23 ships! When you see shipyard photos like this, note the hull numbers at the prow. Like V-13, V-9, etc. This can be used to identify the yard where the photo was taken and the name of the ship if it is not already painted on a finished hull. It's on the internet. The SS Lincoln Victory in the foreground had her keel laid on February 26, 1944, she was launched on April 27, then finished and delivered on June 15. I'll bet the steel didn't have a chance to rust before getting final paint! Think about how many men and women were all "rear ends and elbows" deliver- ing this hardware for the war effort! My grandfather John Ruskin Keith commanded a Liberty and Victory ship in WWII. His son, Uncle Ken, graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy in NY and served aboard a Victory as Third Mate. Every time my grandfather's ship was in visual range of another cargo vessel he had his signalman flash, "Is Ken Keith aboard?" Off Okinawa in 1945 he finally received a "Yes!" Strings were pulled and he had his son transferred to his ship. This violated policy to have family members serving aboard the same ship after three brothers died aboard USS Arizona in 1941, and then the five Sullivan brothers dying aboard light cruiser USS Juneau in 1942. Maybe cargo ships in 1945 were not a big issue. Both survived the war and lived long but not long enough.
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CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE ITEMS WANTED ITEMS For Sale: Mule runs great, good condition. $6500 Wanted: Looking for the specialty mechanic's tools 15 WW2 GI Metal Cots $250. listed in the back of the -34 manual applicable to the Call 530-333-4338 Mark Smith 2-14 M151 series of vehicles. If you have any of these you are willing to sell, please contact Ron Hill at (916) For Sale: MB jeep body tub some 992 0887. So far I have located a little over half of rust $750 , MB jeep rolling chassis very them. This is not the jack and lug wrench set. These straight body only a little H.C. rust no tools were issued to motor pool mechanics. 1-14 engine ready to restore $1750 Wanted: Driveline, PTO and chain for an American 5 MB-GPW combat wheels need sand blasting Coach and Highway 10,000 lb. Winch. If you have original not repo. $500. any of these parts for WW2 1.5 ton Chevy G-7173 Jon McKee 707-459 -5873 2-14 please call mike Roulette. Carson City Nev. 775-883-0269 Thanks. 2-14 For Sale: 1962 Willys M-151 US Marine Corps. Engine and Tires low mileage, radiator a new copper recore. Complete Vinyl top with side WANTED: 1941-45 Willys/Ford Jeep Looking for curtains and door kit. Included with, Jeep hauler, primarily non running jeeps with original engine Any Tandem axle trailer with surge brakes and spare Condition Please contact 209-586-2551 2-14 tire mount. Custom built to transport WW2 and WANTED: Looking for a 1942 VEP GPW Ford M-series Jeeps. California registration and title is Script jeep. Restored or Unrestored Call with whatev- current and is recorded as California historic er you have. Please contact Jack 209-586-2551 vehicle. $10,000 Email pictures to: [email protected] 2-14 Dan Indelicato (707) 272-3432 1-14 Wanted: M170 Jeep Parts for vehicle restoration and FOR SALE: 1943 MBT 1/4T jeep trailer for sale duplication. If you know of original parts or have it is all restored new tires and canvas top cover parts for the M170 front line ambulance please call $2500 comes with bill of sale. Rudy cell 602-743-7571 Home: 938-632-0668 3-14 Call Claude Sacramento 916-363-9541 2-14 Wanted: Dodge 3/4 ton WC bell housing part number 921197 this is casted into the face of the bell FOR SALE: $ 5 each item, housing. Call tom 408-296-7677 3-14 3ea CX-4721 2 ft. 6 in., 1 ea. CX-4721 10 ft., 1 ea. CX-4722A 8 ft., 1ea CX4723 12 ft., 1 ea. CX-4723 15 ft. power cable from (bus bar w/ terminal ends) for M-1009 4 ft. 3 in., (VRC-12 system) 40 ea. bag of terminals new. (will fit on M-1009 bus bars) Ed Martis 650-968-2782 [email protected]
Classified Ads are free for military vehicle related items and kit for MVCC members. Your ad will run for three issues. Your editor will only except ads in writing. Please submit your ad by email: [email protected] or by post to: MVCC Editor: 18549 Paseo Tierra St. Saratoga Ca. 95070. Please print clearly and include contact info and price. Please submit ads by the 15th of the month. If you want to make changes to your ad including extending or cancelling your ad, you must notify your editor in writing. The MVCC is not responsible for omission's or Incorrect wording and or spelling. The MVCC reserves the right to edit ad copy for space. Please send payment for paid ads to: LK Viola, Email: [email protected] Ad prices: full page $45 Half page $35 Quarter Page $20 Business Card $5 per issue
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Camp delta
Camp Delta Spring Meet at Tower Park Resort The Largest Annual MV Swap Meet and Gathering in the WEST April 20-27, 2016 Stockton Delta KOA, 14900 West Hwy 12, Lodi, CA 95242 Actually this may be the biggest in North America. Depends how it’s measured. Number of days? We have that nailed down. MV count? How many others boast 200+ counting trailers? Vendors? Our is BIG and some use their large campsites to their fullest. Attendance? We don’t charge admission so don’t track it. The Big Spring Meet started in the late ‘70s and is in its third location due to growing out of the others. Members from most western clubs attend. For those who have never attended the Spring or Fall Camp Delta meets, they are vendor and social events at a large campground. Any camper may put out militaria for sale. No MV registration, admission, or parking fees. No vendor fees, only campsite rental through KOA and vendors must be in campsites. How does the MVCC make money? Well, we don’t except through club merchandise sales by the Quartermaster and we get the proceeds from the Friday Night Raffle. Thanks for supporting these things, and most of all for being a member. We are a membership-driven organization, so please renew and recruit a friend! Activities this April will include the Armor Showcase Presented by Hagerty Classic Vehicle Insurance, who is sponsoring the People’s Choice Prizes. We are hoping to set a record for halftrack attendance in particular, and the lineup will be featured in a national magazine article as will photos of the entire display with credits for each owner. Steve Andereggen Jr. is coordinating the halftrack segment and will again host a halftrack discussion group. Contact him at [email protected]. The Madame’s Afternoon Social returns on Friday afternoon for ladies of all ages. More on this later. The MV-only parking and display area returns. Catered dinners in the Pavilion are planned for Thursday-Saturday evenings. Friday we’ll have the Raffle and Social after dinner. We are considering moving the mili- tary living history display area to the dry camping field where there is more room and it can be a real destination. We’d like to have a seminar of some kind – anybody have any ideas? Vehicle restoration subject? Militaria? We will publicize it on the official flyer plus in newsletters ahead of the meet. Contact John Neuenburg about activities – 415-491-1601 or [email protected]. It is likely we’ll have a wait list for April campsites. You MUST contact our own Jo-Ann Lesser at 408-238-8277 or [email protected]. She assigns sites, helps people make changes, and tells KOA who to accept a reservation from. 3 night minimum. There is always space on Saturday night. For the September meet, contact KOA directly. The first Sunday and Monday are for early-birds. Consider attending the Early Bird Pot Luck Dinner at the Pavilion at 1800 on Monday. The last Sunday is pull-out day – not a good day to show up! For more Basic Training including parking dos and don’ts, directions, hotel listings, and updates on activities, see www.MVCCNews.net.
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MAKING WAVES
Ever thought about writing about your vehicle restoration or maybe a time saver or special tool or procedure you found while working in the shop? Why not put it in writing as Jim has done above and send it in to the editor ([email protected]). Share your thoughts and ideas with your MVCC friends. I try to get everything sent to me into the newsletter maybe not the issue you thought but it will get in eventually. So please send in pictures of your projects even if it’s a basket case. everyone loves those that’s where it all starts. Send big clear pictures 1 meg or 2. Front 3/4 pictures are best. I get a lot of tailgate shots! Don’t get me wrong tailgates are great but when you seen one you seen them all. Given the size or our club there has to be a couple thousand MV’s out there. Pictures Please!
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Field report
Pictures from Dave Porter. Toys for Tots 2013 and Bring a Veteran to School Day at Colusa.
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Scuttlebutt
On the next page you will find the public announcement regarding Jacques Littlefield's Museum (MVTF) joining the Collings Foundation and moving to Stow, Massachusetts. Vehicles have already started moving to Stow and others are being moved out from Building Four. There will be an auction in August. I know many members like myself were friends with Jacques and many of you went on the private tours he gave the MVCC before his passing. We were privileged to see the Panther in several stages during its restoration and getting to spend time in the five building including the shop looking at all the equipment and parts. I have approached the Foundation to arrange a tour for the MVCC, and I will need a headcount of those interested. It will be on a Sunday in February. You need to call me if you want to be included on this tour. I am only going to arrange for one tour because things are changing very quickly at the museum. The shop was closed a while back and Building Four is being closed as you read this. By June or July, there will only be two buildings with vehicles in them as they prepare for the auction of the equipment in August. Below are a couple of pictures from Chris Hughes showing some of the equipment and Building Four and what remains inside. If you are interested in going on the tour call me. This tour will fill up quickly. 408-866-8233 Dave Ball (ED)
Upper left: Bldg. 4 at time of printing. Upper right: M26A1 Pacific Tank Transporter (Dragon Wagon) to be auctioned in August. Lower left: Restored Sd Kfz 171 Panther A at time of printing. Bottom right: M22 light tank (airborne) Locust removed from Building 4.
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