It is with much rejoicing that I announce the expected release of my long time friend's book this December.  Don't be a tight wad, and go buy your own copy.  Please check bender publishing for more info.

Garage saler extraordinaire E. Larry recently found a WWII US Army Cook's Manual.

It includes many legendary period recipes including (as the GIs called it) SOS or Sh-- on the shingle.

A copy of it is listed below. Try making it for the family; they will love it! You may want to cut the size a bit;

 as it is for 100 men.

We salute U.S.A.A.F. Gen. Curtis E. LaMay a.k.a. Bombs away LaMay

General LaMay was the commander of the 20Th Army Air Force flying in the Pacific during WWII.  He instituted the low level night fire bombing of Japanese cities including the firebombing of Tokyo March 9/10, 1945 in which 16 square miles of Tokyo were incinerated. His approach of firebombing Japan helped to end WWII, and resulted in more Jap fatalities than the 2 atomic bombs combined. This guy was not squeamish about doing what was required to get the job done, or burned sushi. We could use him in the war on terror.

For more info go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_LeMay

Thank you!

I recently revisited a friend's website, and he has his deadbeats and knuckleheads section where he lists the people who have caused him problems.   I thought about the concept, but decided to turn it 180 degrees and make my list of  great people that have been good to me; they deserve an "E" pat on the back. I am lucky to know them!  My many thanks to the below listed individuals. Please be aware that this list is a work in progress and by no way complete, and is in no particular order.

David Bell  James Miklik   Glen Sowles   Reefe Renforth  Spencer Schirs   Bill Combs   Larry Jackson  Ivan Dulskij   Terry Burke   Bill Deckert  Ron Paschall  Ron Haddad  Brian Humston   Bill Shea  Antonin N. (Junior & Senior) Martin  Kampmann   Chris Devine  Susan Duford  Micky Gorman  Paul Cook  Robert Cress  Rollin Curtis  Joe Pankowski   Jan Smid   David Smith  Russ Ostrem  Paul Seibold  Mel Smith  George Petersen   Kramer   All the good people @ Lake Shore High School  where I learned my craft

My Wife Jane and Son Thomas without them what is the point of it all?

My Mom & Dad for bringing me out of the communist workers paradise of Czechoslovakia and giving me all I needed!

The great people who I very much enjoy doing business with. You guys really help make my business be my dream job.  (you know who you are)

Do you have a mess kit fund???

What, you don't know what a mess kit fund is??!!  A mess kit fund a.k.a. a slush fund is where you put away a little bit of money every time you get paid or sell something. When I worked my regular job as a high school teacher I put away $20 from every check. Now, I put some money in my fund after every militaria show and once a month when I deposit the checks from you.  You will be amazed how fast the amount will grow. But, it takes discipline not to dig in there when you need a few bucks. Try to let it grow for a year. Then, when you see something really cool, on you favorite web site (which of course is SV Mitaria) you can use your secret fund to buy it. It is more fun to use some type of WWII container. I use a WWII Italian mess kit, and so have called it my mess kit fund. Good luck!

German WWI/WWII Cutout Helmet Info.

It is quite easy to tell if a cutout helmet is original. Here are some things to look for when buying one:

They are always a size 64!!!

They are always made by ET.  The placement of the ET64 stamp on a standard M16/18 helmet is in the area of the cut or scallop, so if a standard helmet has been made into a cutout, the ET64 will be missing. The Et46 stamp is located farther to the front on a real cutout.

The edge will have an even roll or lip the points outward, not just an area where material has been removed.

Please see the photos of original examples.

Click on the photos for enlargements

Take the SS Collar tab challenge.

Which SS Calvary Division Maria Theresia tab is an original one and which is a made in the 1960s fake?  Why?    How do we tell? Neither glows under a black light, and both are the same in  thickness! Click on the images for an enlargement.

A.   

B.   

Answers are @ the bottom of this page.

SVM’S Little Known Historic Quotes

“Never give the Fuhrer a noogie!”  Field Marshal (retired) Von Blomberg

“The Red Army was not very nice.” The women of Breslau

“What the hell was that?” The Mayor of Nagasaki

“New briefcase, Stauffenberg?” Adolf Hitler

“Never start a boys only club.” Ernst Rohm

“Just exactly how many Russians is in a big honkin’ butt load, General Paulus?” Adolf Hitler

 "Der Fuhrer will be my brother-in-law; nothing can happen to me now." Hermann Fegelein

"Apparently jokes regarding hillbillies that need a breath mint are not always appropriate."  Douglas MacArthur

"I have been given a command in Southern Russia. That sounds like a nice warm place for some easy blitzkrieging."   Friedrich Paulus.

SS Collar Tab Challenge Answers

B is the original one. The background wool, on the original, should not have a checkerboard weave visible in the fake.  Also the post war example silver grey thread has some "fuzz" visible with a magnifying glass, but somewhat visible here. Original WWII era silver grey thread will have no fuzz under magnification. Use these two hints top help you with SS embroidered tabs. Caution, these replica tabs, available with most different divisional insignias, as well as skull and SS style, are offered for sale often. Many times they will have wonderful looking age to them!