FrankUSMC
Well-known member
- 1,559
- 30
- 48
- Location
- Newport, NC
True story about combat rims and our"Greatest Generation".
About 15 years ago, I picked up a nice 1943 Ford GPW Jeep. It came with the wrong tires and rims. I had some WWII jeep combat rims to put on it, but they were not in the best of shape. They were rusted out around the valve stem area, were water was trapped, and rotted the area out. What was I to do?
Enter, our greatest generation. MGySgt. Hopfer. He joined our beloved Corps in June 1941, and called it home for the next 30 plus years. He was awarded the Purple heart on Guam, and the Bronze star on Iwa Jima. He served in the Korean war and pulled two tours in Viet Nam, plus he is the best dammed welder you will ever find. He took my combat rims apart, wire brushed them for a couple of days with a wire brush. He cut the rust areas out and hand made new panels to put in, with holes for the valve stems. Welded every thing back in. That was over 15 years ago, and the combat rims, to this day, are still straight and true.
But, hold on to your gear shifters, theres is more to this story!
One day, I was talking to MGySgt Hopfer, about his fine welding of my combat rims, and I showed him an article in a Military vehicle magizine on WWII jeep combat rims. The arthur of the story told about the care and how take apart the combat rim, plus what to look for while working on one. The story went "if a combat rim is damaged or rusted out, DO NOT use it. As it can not be repaired."
After reading how a combat rim could not be repaired, the old Marine handed me back the magizine. he looked at me and said. "What branch of the military was that guy in?" I replied "I think he was in the Air force".
MGySgt. Hopfer, shook his head slowly and said..."Boy, they sure SPOILED him..."
God bless the Greatest Generation.
Sorry for the long and true story.
One of the few, Frank
About 15 years ago, I picked up a nice 1943 Ford GPW Jeep. It came with the wrong tires and rims. I had some WWII jeep combat rims to put on it, but they were not in the best of shape. They were rusted out around the valve stem area, were water was trapped, and rotted the area out. What was I to do?
Enter, our greatest generation. MGySgt. Hopfer. He joined our beloved Corps in June 1941, and called it home for the next 30 plus years. He was awarded the Purple heart on Guam, and the Bronze star on Iwa Jima. He served in the Korean war and pulled two tours in Viet Nam, plus he is the best dammed welder you will ever find. He took my combat rims apart, wire brushed them for a couple of days with a wire brush. He cut the rust areas out and hand made new panels to put in, with holes for the valve stems. Welded every thing back in. That was over 15 years ago, and the combat rims, to this day, are still straight and true.
But, hold on to your gear shifters, theres is more to this story!
One day, I was talking to MGySgt Hopfer, about his fine welding of my combat rims, and I showed him an article in a Military vehicle magizine on WWII jeep combat rims. The arthur of the story told about the care and how take apart the combat rim, plus what to look for while working on one. The story went "if a combat rim is damaged or rusted out, DO NOT use it. As it can not be repaired."
After reading how a combat rim could not be repaired, the old Marine handed me back the magizine. he looked at me and said. "What branch of the military was that guy in?" I replied "I think he was in the Air force".
MGySgt. Hopfer, shook his head slowly and said..."Boy, they sure SPOILED him..."
God bless the Greatest Generation.
Sorry for the long and true story.
One of the few, Frank
