Kenny Smith | A remarkable thing happens …

family / maps / memories — Comments Off
22
Dec 14

70th anniv – My great-grandfather’s war

This is the 70th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s service in Europe, and we’re following along what he did through this map I made some time back. Tonice was a combat medic in the 137th Infantry Regiment, which fought in the 35th Division. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion. This is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level.

So, then, for Dec. 22:

The 2nd Battalion arrived at Remering from Neunkirch. The 1st Battalion cleared into the town of Grundweiler. During the day an ordnance check was made and all ordnance items and several 50 calibers were tested for anti-aircraft defense.

The Regiment received more replacements, which helped raise the strength of the units. Eight officers and 220 enlisted men were received.

The 35th Infantry Division was ordered to move by combat team to Metz sometime during the day.

The 137th Infantry Combat Team, less the 219th FA Battalion, moved northwest toward Metz and its new assembly area, and, going through St. Avold, Boulet, and Metz, arrived at its destination, Moulins.

There isn’t an update in the unit history for December 23 — they were moving off the line and resting, primarily — so we’ll return to this on the 24th. You can follow along at your own pace on the map, however.

This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. These markers are rough estimates of locales and are meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.

photo / weekend — Comments Off
21
Dec 14

What were you wearing?

The fashion isn’t that different. Our shoes haven’t really changed at all. But as soon as my grandfather dropped the 1992-1993 Sears catalog in my lap today, we all knew we were going to make fun of it.

(I like that I have this reputation in the family now.)

So I sat down with the book and we looked through 1,600+ pages and laughed and remembered things we’d seen or similar things we owned. We got about two hours of fun out of this. And then I took about three dozen pictures and put them on Twitter. Here are some of them now.

Feel free to raise your hand and shout out when you see something you know. We all lived this together.

“We ruffled this white cotton broadcloth shirt to make it softer, more feminine.”

That’s a direct quote by the way. There was nothing in there about the broad hips look, which informed much of the Clinton era, I’m sure.

This is also a quote. Please note the punctuation “Cotton denim shorts updated with a relaxed fit…and longer legs you can roll up!”

Previously, I had thought that this length would be suitable to avoid the on-rushing tides of bad 90s sitcoms. But, I’ve now learned I need to roll up my jean shorts a few inches more. Thanks, Sears!

This garment-washed skirt is “an integral day-off piece!”

The belt, the catalog tells us, is sold separately.

Scientists have searched for decades now, but this is the incontrovertible proof of the moment when the ’80s ended:

Now, the original photo doesn’t cut off those nice ladies at the knees, but those outfits are made of Dacron polyester. As you know, in this, the more enlightened 21st century, fire marshals have rules against that much hazardous material on one page.

Sears, where flight attendants shop. Or were they still stewardesses then?

This style is coming back. These styles always come back.

Somehow, this is still on sale in Alabama. (A friend noted that her mother had it.)

No. No, it does not. “This on-the-go jumpsuit works from 9 to 5 and beyond.”

The same might have been said about that idea even then.

Models are asked to give a sense of confident, self-assuredness. She could not pull it off. See why.

The 1970s lingered a long time, like two made-up ladies lingering over coffee in flannel gowns.

They are liable to reappear at any moment you relax your guard, as well. We must remain ever-vigilant.

I promise I’m not just picking on the ladies, I’m also criticizing the children. This adorable kid is probably about 23 now. You know this picture came out a lot in The Teen Years.

Proof that, in the 1990s, toddlers could read.

Of course you might get a visit from the state for that sleeping setup today.

“Hey ladies … ” Somebody made this kid do it, but when you pop the collar on your denim tuxedo …

Speaking of someone made him do it … Gentlemen! Time to argue you never liked any of this stuff.

Before Good Will Hunting there was this. And these shirts. Jason Bourne has amnesia and is mortified.

Maybe it isn’t Matt Damon, but if this guy is interested in stunt work, and a different wardrobe …

“I enjoy starting fires by hand and wearing purple turtlenecks. No, I don’t coach LSU basketball.”

Not a good look for you, pal.

“Make yourself at home while I slip into something more comfortable…with contrasting piping…”

The ’90s, when working men looked like catalog models. Simpler times.

“I will never regret this workout.”

Every 1970 fear monger’s vision: people walking out of showers without having gotten wet.

“Six of the bridesmaids canceled. What am I going to do with all of this material?”

…

“I know!”

“Wicker. For when you need to burn your home. For insurance purposes.”

“So you just want us to sit here and be monochromatically awkward? Can do.”

“A drummer in a metal band you’ve never heard of, Sears catalog reader, says these drums rock.” These will run you $900.

And while I wish I could “Where are they now all of these people, Craig Kasin here is the only one with a name in the book.

He pops up in two or three bands that have some devoted followers, but not what you’d think of as mainstream “This is our pitchman!” success. The last reference I see is to a 2003 project Kasin was tied into with the old Nitro bandmates in a new group. But I can’t even determine if it got off the ground.

Perhaps if he was banging Royce pro drums …

In the ’90s, magazine visual editors thought, people are going to microwave their turkey!

Before we wrap this up, let’s at least be fair one time. They did get a lot of things right. The cover, for example:

Finally, while I flipped through more than 1,600 pages — this catalog was Amazon — I did not find this one at the end.

If it was placed on the inside back cover, though, it would have been worth it.

It would have been completely worth it.

And as soon as the model took that off, the “Inspired by Healthco” line was never worn by anyone, ever again.

Want more? Check out #92SearsCatalog.

family / history / maps — Comments Off
21
Dec 14

70th anniv – My great-grandfather’s war

This is the 70th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s service in Europe, so we’re moving through this map I made of Tonice’s time as a combat medic. Feel free to click around in the other thumbnails to catch up or read ahead.

Tonice was attached to the 137th Infantry Regiment, which fought in the famed 35th Division. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level.

So, then, for Dec. 21:

The 137th Infantry received orders that it would be relieved and was to assemble temporarily in the vicinity of Frauenberg, Habkirchen, and Neunkirch until ordered to move to an assembly area.

In the morning the 1st Battalion continued its defense of the Regimental sector. With a heavy artillery barrage, the enemy launched a heavy counterattack on the 1st Battalion positions. This attack was repulsed with heavy enemy losses.

The 2nd Battalion delivered harassing fire on all known and observed enemy targets.

The 3rd Battalion moved to its new assembly area in Richeling. The Regimental CP moved from Neunkirch to Remering. The Special Units cleared into Ballering at 1500.

The Battle of the Bulge was a hard, demanding, scary environment for most everyone. But there would be some rest coming up for these particular men in the next few days. Be sure to stick around for that.

This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. His quiet choice means that these markers are rough estimates and are meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.

Auburn / football / memories / video / Vine / weekend — 1 comment
20
Dec 14

Things I produced today

I posted my first videos to Vine today. Yes, I am behind.

I try to experiment with about every third MUST HAVE web craze. Skipping a few here and there tends to keep the pressure off. Some of those things will be gone before we know it anyway.

But Vine is proving it has staying power, and people are now talking about “How we can do more with it than just six second jokes.” That suggests an audience maturation, too. When it has more than one accepted use, I figure, might have think of some useful way to use it.

My first idea, was to use Vine as teasers for the video I shot yesterday. If you saw that, you already met the $120 Russian tortoise.

And you also saw the ~~rabbit~~ guinea pigs:

They’ll all catch up eventually, I’m sure.

We purchased neither. We did, however, get cat litter, in such amounts as to be valued at the equivalent of the per capita gross domestic product of Burundi. By the time you pick up pounds 85-126 your hands can sting in the cold winter air. But then that dog walked by and I thought “Establishing shot!”

And the puppy had no camera sense. Don’t look at the camera, dog.

Anyway, that was yesterday. Vines today. I have contributed, then, 12 seconds to the insatiable appetite of the Internet.

OK, fine, I contributed this too, on Twitter. As you know I collect Gloms, the Auburn yearbook. I was scanning a few more for the continuation of the covers project and was putting them away. I opened the back cover of the 2011 book to this picture.

A student took this photo, as did a lot of other nearby photographers, I’m sure. The versions you usually see make you wonder what he’s looking at as he turns. Maybe it was her. Here’s the play:

The line they put with that photo now has, I think, several extra meanings.

So I have put all of that on the web today. Also, family events and holiday events began today. Steak, chocolate cake, listening to people talk about cars and so on.

That turtle is rather captivating, right?

family / history / maps — Comments Off
20
Dec 14

70th anniv – My great-grandfather’s war

This is the 70th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s service in Europe, so I’m bringing back this map I made of Tonice’s time as a combat medic. He was attached to the 137th Infantry Regiment, which fought in the famed 35th Division. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level. We do know it was very, very cold that winter.

So, then, for Dec. 20:

The 1st Battalion was attacked repeatedly during the day, and Company B had two companies of SS troops infiltrate into its positions. This attack took place in the neck of the woods. The attack was held off by one squad of B Company until one friendly tank was brought up. Several enemy tanks made sorties toward the 1st Battalion positions, but direct fire drove them off.

The 2nd Battalion remained in position on the high ground near the woods and improved their positions during the day. Companies F, E, and G, in that order, were on the line. The Battalion received heavy enemy artillery fire on the ridge during the period. During one two and a half hour period, 1,000 rounds of artillery and mortar fire fell on the ridge and portions of the woods held by the Battalion.

The 3rd Battalion remained in Neunkirch and continued its reorganization and training for replacements. The Battalion was also placed on alert status.

This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. These markers are rough estimates and are meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.