My my, how times change.

[CarlC]

For the past seven years I have driven my dad in the San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade in my 1961 AMC Mighty Mite. My dad Joe "Hook" Casanova is a WWII veteran with the 3rd I.D. North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, Southern France, that nasty 100 mile walk during X-mas 1944, plus a whole lot more that he's only talked with me about one time. He's my hero.

So I get to the parade early for staging and while waiting in the check-in line a whole bunch of Navy and Marine personnel gather around the Mite. I head over and start talking with them, and the Navy photographer asks if it would be OK if the Mite could be posed with one of their vehicles.

For it's time, and in many ways today, the Mite is a technological tour-de-force. Air cooled V4 engine, fording capability, independent 1/2-eliptical leaf spring suspension, inboard brakes, almost all aluminum construction, etc. It weighs in at 1750# and is 5' x 10' total. It's tiny, and was meant to be hoisted under a helicopter during a time when rotary-wing power was not what it is today.

So imagine my surprise when I pulled up next to this beast.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

All of the guys and gals were great and enjoyed seeing how things used to be done. The Chiefs all shook their head in amazement at what previous generations made-do with.

Now all I need to do is get one of those black pointy things that's on the top of the other one for mine!

[MrQuick]

thirty is wayyy too much....fifty might be over kill.....nahhhh looks good. LOL
I'd recommend one of these so you don't have to sit in front of it. Hot shells in your shirt hurt.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif



Mite, thats pretty neat, 20 inch rims?
That Oshkosh MRAP M-ATV is massive.

Please thank "Hook" for his service and give him a giant hug. Same resume as my late grandfather but a Bataan Death March
survivor.
Vince

[shortrack]

Very cool that every year you find the time to take your Dad in the parade.

I find those old guys battle stories fascinating if they'll talk about it.

[NOT A TA]

Great post Carl ! Cool pic. As much as everyone complains about the country today it's a good place to be, without the service of men like your dad things could have been very different today. Please thank him for his srvice and risking his life for us.

[tommycomfort]

Excellent post Carl. Thank your Dad for me (us) and thank you for taking him to the Veterans Day parade every year!
Tom

[JEFFTATE]

Thanks Carl !
Thanks Hook !

[John Wright]

Great thread...really enjoyed the read. Thanks to all who have served.

[BonzoHansen]

For the past seven years I have driven my dad in the San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade in my 1961 AMC Mighty Mite. My dad Joe "Hook" Casanova is a WWII veteran with the 3rd I.D. North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, Southern France, that nasty 100 mile walk during X-mas 1944, plus a whole lot more that he's only talked with me about one time. He's my hero.

So I get to the parade early for staging and while waiting in the check-in line a whole bunch of Navy and Marine personnel gather around the Mite. I head over and start talking with them, and the Navy photographer asks if it would be OK if the Mite could be posed with one of their vehicles.

For it's time, and in many ways today, the Mite is a technological tour-de-force. Air cooled V4 engine, fording capability, independent 1/2-eliptical leaf spring suspension, inboard brakes, almost all aluminum construction, etc. It weighs in at 1750# and is 5' x 10' total. It's tiny, and was meant to be hoisted under a helicopter during a time when rotary-wing power was not what it is today.

So imagine my surprise when I pulled up next to this beast.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

All of the guys and gals were great and enjoyed seeing how things used to be done. The Chiefs all shook their head in amazement at what previous generations made-do with.

Now all I need to do is get one of those black pointy things that's on the top of the other one for mine!

It's like your Camaro next to a new one. ha ha.




I think that is very cool you share that with your Dad.

[Damn True]

Hey Hook, thanks Soldier!

My Grandfather's ride in WWII
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/11/B25YankeeWarrior10oClock-1.jpg

The B-25 could carry 4000lbs of "dumb" iron bombs.

Current aircraft with similar capability:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

The F-35 can carry 4000lbs of smart weapons that can hit your coffee cup from 50,000'AGL

[The WidowMaker]

the title says it all. without all that old technology we wouldnt have the country that we do today.

thanks to all the vets out there, past and present!!!

[67zo6Camaro]

Thanks to "hook" and all those that have served.

[Mathius]

Does anyone know the name of the "beast" he pulled up to? I'm not a military buff and I've never seen one of those before.

Mathius

[CarlC]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Mite, thats pretty neat, 20 inch rims?
That Oshkosh MRAP M-ATV is massive.

Please thank "Hook" for his service and give him a giant hug. Same resume as my late grandfather but a Bataan Death March
survivor.
Vince

Oh I like that! I bet it weighs about as much as the 'Mite.

It's an honor for me to be in the parade. Not all of us get to be heros. Some of us get to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.

Batan was a rough deal. My dad has a bad time dealing with memories and he was never a POW. I can't imagine how bad it must have been for your grandfather. There's little to nothing any of us can do to help, and that makes it tough for me to deal with. I just wish there was a way to give them a decent nights sleep.

16" rims. The engine is an aluminum/magnesium composite that burns once set on fire. Lay a flare on the engine and she'll burn to the ground, making it useless to the enemy. The funniest thing is showing the younger generation how to start it. No key, just flip a switch and pull the starter knob. "Where's the key?" No keys in combat kid.

[MrQuick]

Does anyone know the name of the "beast" he pulled up to? I'm not a military buff and I've never seen one of those before.

Mathius

that would be the Oshkosh M-ATV a new line of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) class vehicles. http://www.oshkoshdefense.com/defense/products~matv~home.cfm



Oh I like that! I bet it weighs about as much as the 'Mite.

It's an honor for me to be in the parade. Not all of us get to be heros. Some of us get to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.

Batan was a rough deal. My dad has a bad time dealing with memories and he was never a POW. I can't imagine how bad it must have been for your grandfather. There's little to nothing any of us can do to help, and that makes it tough for me to deal with. I just wish there was a way to give them a decent nights sleep.

16" rims. The engine is an aluminum/magnesium composite that burns once set on fire. Lay a flare on the engine and she'll burn to the ground, making it useless to the enemy. The funniest thing is showing the younger generation how to start it. No key, just flip a switch and pull the starter knob. "Where's the key?" No keys in combat kid. haa keys, we don't need no stinkin keys.

The stories me grandfather told me were pretty intense. Going career in the military puts you in some precarious places.

[6'9"Witha69]

No trees fell on it though, right? :)

[406 Q-ship]

Hey Carl, tell your Dad thanks for his service.......they really are the Greatest Generation.

CarlC's little Mite is very cool!

[CarlC]

No more trees!!!

[trapin]

Awesome. A big thank you to your father as well. The only relative I had that served in WWII was my Uncle Frank who died about 15 years ago. He was a ball-turret gunner on the famous B-17. He was shot in the leg and it was messed up and gave him many problems throughout his life. He always said he wished they would have just cut the damn thing off. He served 2 years of service. Used to love listening to his stories.

[John Wright]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/11/B25YankeeWarrior10oClock-1.jpg

The B-25 could carry 4000lbs of "dumb" iron bombs.




This B25 reminds me of a place nearby where my kids and I go hiking...Sharp Top mountain(Peaks of Otter), in Bedford County, Va.
http://goodrow.us/B25.html
http://www.libertyhouseinn.com/b25crash/index.htm
http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/hiking/7778.html

[shmoov69]

Awesome Carl!! Tell your pops thanks in a BIG way from me and my family!! He is a REAL man!! Awesome you get to (AND do) do that with/for him!

I just read this story about a local man that survived the death march. I remember driving or riding by this practically my whole life, good to know the story behind it.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201011110377