Combat impression of the Hard Case Boys

[yellowhammer]

wlittle said:

Another thing to help improve ones appearance is to purchase trousers or a jacket that's too large or small. There are many photos showing trouser legs rolled up several inches, sack coats hanging loosely or Frocks straining at the buttons and short in the sleeves. We all like a nice fit but not everyone managed to secure a good fit from the bundle.

Yeah, the consensus was that there were only 2 sizes instead if 4. Either too big or too small....

[Timothy Arnold]

I wanted to say something about this discussion......

I think that there are two types of dirt on the skin.... there is that which can be easily washed off, and that which is stuck deep in the wrinkles and pores of our skin.

People with a green thumb like Charles may understand this. Also, most military veterans at least remember something like that from basic training if not war. I know from personal experience, that the deep penetrating dirt, or grime, is very hard to get out. I also remember in Kuwait when we were cleaning our gear, and our bodies, getting ready to come home. The dirt didn't want to come out of my skin. It took scrubbing and scrubbing with modern soaps, and such. That is the dirt that one should want to portray the veteran on campaign, not dirt smeared all over...

Good times...

[Timothy Arnold]

Oh come on.....

[Riley Ewen]

I agree. Let's not take showers for at least a few months before events.

[Preston Todd]

I'm sorry Riley, I thought that you already weren't taking showers 3 months before events...............

[charlesheath]

Dirt is your friend.

My 1957 Ford tractor (yes, the one that sounds like a marching band percussion section when idling) has the typical hard rubber steering wheel of that era. The rubber is starting to rub off on my hands and believe me it takes days for that black stuff to wash out of pores and wrinkles. Gotta love it.

Heck of a mowing machine. It looks better than the 1980 vintage 72" John Deere mowing deck I drag behind it. Some sheet metal and some angle iron might help with that.

Boiled sack coat makes a savory broth. Did I mention that?

[Riley Ewen]

Good job Preston, that's why I agreed! Jebus. Actually, I altogether stopped bathing except for the occasional face-wash, just so I could get that authentic, grubby, hippie, down to earth feel that I have.
On the more serious side of things, you southern boys could make a mud-pit in your back yard and crawl around in it near-naked and after a shower or two you'll still have that dirty feeling that Tim describes.

[charlesheath]

I say Riley is a candidate to wake up with a mackerel in his knapsack. What say ye?

[Riley Ewen]

Sorry, beat you from the get-go. My knapsack already has a Mackerel in it.

[Timothy Arnold]

Riley, we've already done that.... actually its the ditch on my property... it has rain water on occassion, good times is where its at homies...

[charlesheath]

I just realized Riley wants to get naked with Tim in a mud pit, and then Tim says "been there, done that."

[Timothy Arnold]

well shit... there goes the cat... and the bag is ripped to shreds...

now combat impression will just equal vets getting naked with cadets in mud pits... that's the best way that I know of

[charlesheath]

I can remember something very similar to that and being on the receiving end of dang nasty letter from a brigadier general.

Seemed to be a bovine aspect, too.