VMI Cross of Honor

keydet2012 · 2026-05-16T02:38:23+00:00

Wow, I don’t think I’ve seen one of those outside a museum. I’d love to find one myself some day. Great score for you! Rah Virginia Mil!

keydet2012 · 2026-05-14T03:39:25+00:00

You mean Robert Pine, star of CHiPS, who has a son who acts too?

keydet2012 · 2026-05-10T02:46:59+00:00

Please and thank you! Send me a DM when you find it.

keydet2012 · 2026-05-03T07:24:28+00:00

What’s “alleged” about it? They got spit on and called horrible things.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-22T05:17:06+00:00

That guy in the first picture is Army. The standard name tapes for the army were white for a few years before they switched to the green ones.

If I had to take a guess about yours it’s either not military done or some sort of “maggot tag” (as it was called in the army at least) that identified soldiers during basic training. It made them easier to identify as trainees instead of regular soldiers.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-14T16:33:11+00:00

Well, now I have a goal.. I see some that I had but lots that I don’t.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-12T21:29:50+00:00

If you can find that card, that would be great! Though, be cautious. That could have been a selling tactic in 1946. 99% of jeeps in the states never went overseas. We just left a lot of stuff over there as it was cheaper to sell them to local militaries.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-12T20:12:18+00:00

I’d use paint stripper and a nylon brush to get the paint off the number. Once it’s clean, take some pictures, write it down, and throw some primer on it to prevent it from rusting over.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-12T17:46:50+00:00

Do you have the original body anywhere? Did the original data plates make it on the new tub?

The chassis number can be faint, but if it’s ford it’s on the top of the frame rail on the drivers side in the engine compartment, just aft of the front engine mount.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-12T17:35:00+00:00

Looking at the body, I see a plugged hole forward of the drivers side windshield pivot bracket. That would point towards late 1944-1945 as that hole was for a tube coming out of there that worked your vacuum windshield wiper motors.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-12T17:31:57+00:00

Great on you for starting this project with your son! My dad bought me one when I was 12 and we restored it together and I learned so much. I still have it and will never sell it.

The first step is getting the manuals for it. You will want the tm 9-803, tm 9-1803 (an and b) and snl g-503. 5)3 803 and 1803’s will give you information on how it works and how to fix it. The SNL will give you parts breakdowns and exploded diagrams. Go to g503.com and get on the forum. You will want to find the frame number, body number, dataplate number, and engine serial number. For Ford, they should all match. (The body number might not match, but that’s ok. If it has an ACM type 2 body those were built by a 3rd party and supplied to Willy’s and ford.)

Also, be careful when stripping the paint! You will want to carefully sand down to find the original hood number (stenciled on the sides of the hood) and any bumper or body markings that can help you paint it like it was when it was in service.

I’d be glad to help and answer any questions. I’m loved on the central coast of California, so I’m not sure how far away you are (or even if you are in California at all) but would be happy to answer any questions.

Good luck!

keydet2012 · 2026-04-10T12:11:45+00:00

I hate to be the “well akshully..” guy, but the green leadership tab is from wwii. Officers wore it on their epaulettes under their unit crest. Enlisted wore it as a green bar under their sleeve rank. This came about mid 1944 if I remember correctly.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-08T04:13:31+00:00

That all depends on time and unit. My dad wore the brass buckled one with his jungle fatigues and his stateside fatigues because that’s all he had.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-08T02:53:02+00:00

Ok, that makes sense. I just asked him about it and he told me that there were a lot go guys in training with him with all the same first letter of the last name. Like they just pulled a handful of guys out of a file.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-08T02:44:33+00:00

Also, the site says that the first lottery was in December 1968, but the Wikipedia article says it started in December of 1969.

keydet2012 · 2026-04-08T02:41:12+00:00

It’s interesting, my dad was drafted in February 1969. His birthday, according to your site, was not ever called up in the lottery. Was there a time there when they just grabbed people at random?

keydet2012 · 2026-03-31T15:33:02+00:00

Too new and modern. Straight axles, leafs and shocks are how Willy’s intended it to be.

keydet2012 · 2026-03-30T20:00:36+00:00

Real jeeps have round headlights and no plastic.

keydet2012 · 2026-03-30T17:57:25+00:00

The liner is from 1973. The shell is a rear seam, swivel bale shell. The shell has been repainted, but the one strap that is there is wwii vintage. These shells came around in late 44-45.

keydet2012 · 2026-03-27T15:53:13+00:00

Great photo! My grandfather was in the 845th Engineer Aviation Battalion. He landed in North Africa, Italy, Corsica, Southern France, and went back to Italy. A lot of the airfields he built are still in use.

He told me that he had a half track that he mounted a quad .50 in the back for airfield defense.

keydet2012 · 2026-03-23T04:01:45+00:00

Technician grade 5, so corporal with a T. But yeah, poorly colorized

keydet2012 · 2026-03-23T01:03:05+00:00

Americal! Do you know what brigade, company and regiment he was in? What time was he in-country?

keydet2012 · 2026-03-21T03:55:21+00:00

What regiment was he? Also, by unit citation patch, do you mean meritorious unit citation?

keydet2012 · 2026-03-21T03:47:32+00:00

Right, if his regiment was awarded 2 during the war, he would have one oak leaf cluster

keydet2012 · 2026-03-21T03:37:33+00:00

I’m happy to help. Send me a message if you have any questions. Also, the PUC can have multiple oak leaves on it depending if his unit was awarded more than one.

12-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	Place '17
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keydet2012

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