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Posted 11 months ago
WinterWolf
(48 items)
I posted these lighters before last year when I was listing items under another handle (long story there). Anyway, here they are again.
I bought my first Zippo (left & middle photo) at the Base Exchange at Phan Rang Air Base in Vietnam in the summer of 1967. It was engraved for me by a local Vietnamese sidewalk vendor in the village of Top Chon. A buddy of mine in the welding shop soldered the Philippine 50 centavo piece onto the reverse side for me. I carried it and used it every day until the hinge started to get sloppy. Zippo fixed that for me, free of charge, and they gave me a new insert which was never used. They also returned the original insert.
The second Zippo (right hand photo) I bought in 1973 when I was stationed at a remote radar site located in Kotzebue, Alaska, up on the Arctic Circle. This one also received heavy use; you can see that all the paint has worn off of the Squadron Emblem. This unit still has the original insert. It would likely work with a new flint, but I have not smoked in many years.
Zippo LightersThe Zippo Manufacturing Company was founded by George Blaisdell in Bradford…
Military and WartimeMilitary and wartime antiques and memorabilia includes an enormously wide v…
Thank you for the acknowledgement. It was my honor to serve, both in Vietnam and for 20 yrs. in the USAF.
The rest of the "fear no evil" phrase that I used to see was "..... for I am the meanest S.O.B. in the valley" - not abbreviated, of course LOL
Thank You for your service and let me add "Welcome Home". I sure you didn't get that, back then. :-)
Thanks Kerry -- I appreciate that
Welcome home soldier ! Maybe our paths crossed during Nam if you were ever injured . Love all my nam guys that I took care of as a Nurse ! Glad you made it back and Thank you for serving the country .
Manikin / AR8Jason -- Thanks for the belated welcome. My tour was July '67 to Feb '69 so it's been a while. Manikin, I was one of the lucky ones; never had an injury, never even slammed my finger in the door or got a splinter. Every time we had a rocket/mortar attack at the barracks area I was working on the flight line & vice versa. Had a fly crawl in my ear once though - about drove me nuts for a while LOL.
Nice to see a real one-- so many fakes of these out there!
When you have time, I'd write down the particulars on it and keep them together (unless you still use it).
scott
So glad you came out with no injuries and a fly or insect in ear is common and can make you half crazy till we get it out . But at least that is a quick fix :-) I guess you didn't need me and that is good .