How do you mark your bumper?

[Lex_Ordo]

For those of you that have restored your trucks...

Did you mark your bumpers with the same markings that came on the truck whether you bought from GL, or private?
Or
Did you mark your truck with another units identification? Ie, your units ID if you were in the service.
Or
Did you make your own number up?
Or
Did you leave it off entirely?

Just curious, as I am trying to decide what to do.

 

[gunboy1656]

When my truck comes home this week, I will find out the original unit it came from....BUT it will get the markings for the truck I drove while in the Army.

Me personally I dont like the ones without the bumper numbers.

 

[drgreg]

I have done some of option A, B & C. All of the markings that I have done, if not original, have some meaning.

 

[sak00]

I marked mine with my old unit numbers.

 

[ida34]

My old unit markings. 101ABN 5/8FAR C* my deuce is C19

 

[AceHigh]

My old unit markings. It has put me in touch with some other vets that probably would not have made the connection without seeing it.

 

[GoHot229]

My old unit markings. 101ABN 5/8FAR C* my deuce is C19

Hopefully now I'm understanding this correctly, but on your bumper from the front of the truck looking at the bumper ......now correct me if I'm wrong, but it should be......
__________________________________
[ 101 ABN ^^^^^^ 5/8 FAR C ]
______________ _____________
Thing is theres a bunch of us out there that are too dense or just cant grasp the bumper lettering or getting sporadic insufficient information on the placement of the letters and which side what went on ?? I supose you could fake it but well if I had the answer and correct display sequence, then thats how I would do it, and I think most of us would too.

 

[emr]

I use the number of the truck for the unit number, my m925 says M925 for the number the M818 will when done too, My deuce is current desert tan and the sideways V for this conflict so that truck has the local units info on it,,,,since they have been there 2 to 3 times.

 

[paradeduty]

Here is a question for you then -

If the trucks that you have :

were never issued to a unit (original paint from '68 with only TP & Fuel Tank Stencils) - so no orig unit markings there.

or- truck was already restored/repainted so no info there.

and to complicate the matter - I have been in more than a few parades and car/truck shows etc. over the years and on many occasions I have been approached by very well intentioned folks who assume that either I am or have been in the Military.

Although I have had family members who have served, I myself have not.

I collect/show the trucks because I wish to pay respect and thanks to those who have/are serving as well as that I just like the heavy, do anything, tough American-Made Iron.

Years ago, when I first began participating in parades, many of the other guys who also brought vehicles would dress in military gear for the parade.

Now, many of these same guys had served (some in Vietnam) and this made total sense and I was proud to accompany such men.

But I found myself being the recipient of many "thank-you's", etc. which I had not earned.

At first I tried to explain that I just appreciated the trucks and the history involved with them so that credit and thanks could properly be given where difinitely due, but I found that this had more of a negative effect (especially for the past vets who were sometimes extremely moved at seeing the trucks again and that they had not been "forgotten").

So, now my wife and I usually dress patriotically but not in "uniform". We took the 5-ton to a parade in town this saturday and everybody just loved the truck (and its meaning I suppose).

I don't want to ever be thought of as "playing soldier" which in my mind reduces the signifigance and importance of what (real) soldiers have done and are doing.

The point of all of this bable is that I have held off of putting any markings on my trucks because it might lend a little too much credibility to my (non) service (much like the military clothing).

I love the authenticity the truck markings render. Do you think that I am being a little over-cautious? If I am, without any previous markings and no previous service to draw on (let alone the knowledge to understand what markings would be appropriate - Many guys who have served do know and if I make a mistake it might be more of an insult than no markings at all).

I really liked Damon's markings on the HEMTT (DMA251 I think) which I think were his site ID. But I think PARADEDUTY would look pretty silly on the front of a truck! (just kidding).

Food for thought - What do you think???

 

[DUG]

My bumper is marked with paint of the smaller trucks who got in my way..........................

 

[Carl_in_NH]

One of our Dalmatians - Phillip - marked the bumper on my truck. He marks everything around here.

 

[Bill W]

PD
I'm in the same situation as you., I usually get a veteran to drive with me in parades.

LEX
My M-37 was sandblasted before I bought it so any unit marking were long gone, so I got creative and used my birthday as my hood # ( putting a 20 in front for 3/4 ton ) and on my bumpers were my vehicle model/year and "USC 4/59" was United States Citizen April 1959 ( I got carried away and put 2 stars on instaed of one )

 

[2Deuces wild]

I went with the ones that came with the truck

 

[kurtkds]

I went with the ones that came with the truck

Ditto

 

[emr]

Here is a question for you then -I am or have been in the Military.

Although I have had family members who have served, I myself have not. had not earned.

I don't want to ever be thought of as "playing soldier" which in my mind reduces the signifigance and importance of what (real) soldiers have done

You are also a patriot, doing what is right with the best intentions, Interestingly, The Hobbiest Is doing what is needed to keep this history alive, As for all the Vets doing it , It is just that much Better. Pick a period that would be correct for your truck and run with it , i chose to make my own symbaols and mark my truck so i could say that is what this truck is and point, dressing period correct is a costume for many of us, And as said here, is done with all the right reasons, I dress mostly just in neat kacky and club T shirt to support the parades, since I have not served, but there have been times i have enjoyed wearing period correct shirt and pants with the truck when it was lookin good, and always say it like it is.We are preserving History, and are proud to be a part of it, and after all who does not LOVE a M9ilitary vehicle...

 

[deuceman51]

I actually bought my old truck that was from my NG unit. Its the same one thats in my avitar and I had to save the old girl.

 

[TIGERFANS2]

I'm thinking 3428th Student Sq. , only because it means something to me and it's my truck.

 

[Lex_Ordo]

Thanks for the great input!

My Canadian 1/4 ton trailer was never issued, so it did not get assigned to a unit and had no markings on it at all. Even internet searches couldn't help me locate info on markings, so I chose to not add any US, or CDN.
That said, I did add the No STEP, and TP30 to the fenders along with the trailers Serial # for general stenciling purposes. Just enough to dress it up.

For my M35A2, I have decided that even though the truck bumper marks look awesome, I will leave them off since I do not want to represent the unit that the truck came from, and since my service is not military, I have no unit to call my own.
Originally, I did make and stencil on a set of marks that represent my service, but they are not military, and I just made them up for myself. Now, I think the truck should be plain since the markings are not real, and since I have no military service to draw upon, plain will sit better with me.

 

[Sundance]

You might want want to contact a family member or friend who served and use their unit info. I'm sure they would appreciate it. That's my plan at least.

 

[Trailboss]

To this point, I have been leaving the most recent markings on them. If I repaint to the period OD paint from the late 60's, I may research a Vietnam period unit marking.