Early GMC Life image

[mb4ever]

.
Have you read 'Up Front' Ben?

It was written during the War by a Sergeant in the 45th Division.
It tells it as it was in Southern Europe.
The Sergeant who wrote it went on to become a Senator.
If my memory serves me rightly.

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[Joe Gopan]

I have read "Up Front" by Bill Mauldin the Cartoonist. We spent many pleasant hours on the telephone a few years back talking WWII and general BS and his Jeep. I used to sell him parts.

[mb4ever]

.
You are a very lucky man to be able to count him amongst your friends Ben.

I rate him as not only the foremost cartoonist of WW2,
but also as one of the foremost historians.
Not only from his cartoons,
which give invaluable insight into day to day life "Up Front"
but also through his book Up Front.
And as, arguably, playing a bigger part in Evil adolph's downfall
than any other man,
by his contributions to moral.

Obviously, I only know him through his cartoons and Up Front,
and from what other people have written.
You've chewed the fat with him a few times.

Please will you correct my opinion where you feel it's incorrect Ben?

[tamnalan]

Back to that GMC image...

It must have been a real beeyotch to steer with those dual front wheels. Imagine trying to parallel park something like that.

[Joe Gopan]

They were normally installed for navigating soft going and removed soon after, the duals are a strain on the steering, suspension and chassis.

[mb4ever]

.
I doubt there was much lock left
on the steering for parking either.

[Joe Gopan]

Real heroes drove these trucks, for those in the jungles of the Pacific, the travel was slow and involved lots of manpower, blood and sweat. The unit from the Maine National Guard saw 3-1/2 years of action. I knew many of them and 70 years after the fact, I am still learning about them as few ever talked of their heroics.

[D.R.H.]

I like this photo very much. As we can see it is not fitted with any type of traction additives, except the front duals. It is however getting a helping tug out of the mud from something with a winch.

[Joe Gopan]

What makes the hobby so interesting is growing up in military parts busness from the end of WWII on plus our location at the main gate to Dow Field and just about everyday contact with WWII and Korean War Veterans. Got to hear war experiences and MV talk while it was still fresh in the memories of veterans while they were still young. Lonnie Tasker, the Rod Man on my survey crew witnessed the Corsair landing in the mud on the uncompleted airstrip at Munda, I heard it first hand from Lonnie years before I read it in aviation history books. It doesn't get any better than that for someone whos hobby is MV's and 40's-50's military aircraft when they go thru life surrounded by Veterans.
Lonnie Tasker would be 103 this year.

[Joe Gopan]

Remembering my friends.
Note the early CCKW USA registration in the LIFE photo, my CCKW is USA W-454317.