Every WW2 jeep had a unique USA Registration number painted on its hood. The War Department went to great lengths to keep this useful information out of the hands of domestic spies. See for yourself how well it works: "Can You See This Top Secret Number?": https://youtube.com/shorts/-zLOXbmmioU Watch our full restoration show, ShopTime™ https://portrayal.tv New episodes every Thursday!
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My grandpa’s records were in that fire. I tried to get his service records but I got a letter saying that all his documents were probably destroyed in that fire.
The same 1973 fire destroyed my military records even though I didn't enlist until 1981 .
That fire was at Jefferson Barracks. My Dads records were destroyed also. He was a veteran of Korea. He finally received his veteran benefits Five years before his death in 2020. One designation on his DD214 allowed him to receive his benefits.
I served in Berlin in the 80's. We used to change the vehicle markings and numbers to confuse the Russians.
That's how they get rid of veteran files= no benifites! Rember after 1st war...govt called in national guard to quell veteran protest?? Ww1 vets didn't get benifits due them...even in Vietnam samo samo.took me 52 yrs just to get a hearing aid! ...govt would rather have you dead; then pay any vet his benefits
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When I was young in the mid 1950's, I remember seeing many people driving around in Willis Jeeps, civilians as well as enlisted military.
Panting over the blue is SO Army lol. I was only aware of personnel records being burned in that fire (my father's were), I had no idea that equipment records were also stored in St Louis. I learned something - gonna be a good day.
My Dads records were destroyed also. But I bet he new the secret. He was a Jeep Mechanic. 305th AAOM.
I never knew what the side numbers were for. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍
My father's records were also destroyed in that fire. He was in the navy and served on the J.D. Edwards a destroyer escort in the pacific theater. We also lived in St.Louis Mo.
I'm a military history buff. I love stories like this. Pretty cool 😎
Manufacture em again!!!😊
I would love to have one of those jeeps
My Dads records were destroyed in that fire. He was a walking military experiment.
It’s 2026 and I want one of those jeeps. No computer, no fuel injection, no problems. They need gas and spark and they just run.
When I was a kid in the early 90s, I lived near Slapton in Devon, where the US rehearsed for D-Day, and the site of the infamous Exercise Tiger incident. I knew a chap who's family farm had been requisitioned in 1942 or 43, and when they returned after the war, the Army had left one of these behind in a barn. It was used as an on-farm utility for years, until the fella I knew (who's name escapes me now...🤦♂️) used it to drive to school sometimes...👍🙂
I absolutely love how ingenious people were all throughout the war, to the smallest things like painting serial numbers a certain color so it wouldn’t show up in pictures. It constantly amazes me how above and beyond people thought about things.
Now my father would love to see how that turns out.He has passed the Colonel is now in a better place😊❤
That fire in missouri was exactly the same as the titanic