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 (1939-1945) WWII
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bilagaana
Anaheim CA USA
Posts: 1
Joined: 2023
Is there such a thing as a "stove pipe pack"?
5/4/2023 2:58:44 PM
My father, Roy T. Petersen, enlisted in the USMC prior to WWII, was present at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack (on shore at Pu'uloa Point, "teaching the swabbies how to shoot"), as an orderly accompanied Admiral Pye when that officer relieved Admiral Kimmel as CINCPACFLT, was wounded on Guadalcanal, served in combat in Korea and eventually retired as a 1st Sergeant after twenty-five years active duty. He was Old Corps, for sure. As might be expected, he didn't talk much about his experiences.

Recently, to my surprise, I found among some family papers a very general timeline of his life and career, handwritten on legal pads. It was probably something he did at the behest of our mother, as something to leave to his sons. His handwriting is problematic and the entries very cursory. I've been trying to transcribe the document to clarify and expand on it where possible. I plan to send it and his small collection of photos to the USMC Archive Branch, who have expressed an interest in these materials.

Among the entries regarding his basic training at MCRD in 1940 is a section that reads:

64 started. 5? grad? Drill – rifle, general orders, bayonet. Tents south of the Grinder
'Stove pipe' packs, 03's assign & kept. No swimming or PFT

We believe Roy meant that 50+ graduated out of the 64 who started. The following line starting with 'Stove pipe' could either refer to the previous line regarding the heating in the tents south of the Grinder (parade ground) and is unrelated to the following word 'packs', or...and this is my question: Was there such a thing as stove pipe packs?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
OpanaPointer
St. Louis MO USA
Posts: 1800
Joined: 2010
Is there such a thing as a "stove pipe pack"?
5/4/2023 3:10:56 PM
Put a comma after pipes'?
DT509er
Santa Rosa CA USA
Posts: 1365
Joined: 2005
Is there such a thing as a "stove pipe pack"?
5/4/2023 3:26:43 PM
Quote:
We believe Roy meant that 50+ graduated out of the 64 who started. The following line starting with 'Stove pipe' could either refer to the previous line regarding the heating in the tents south of the Grinder (parade ground) and is unrelated to the following word 'packs', or...and this is my question: Was there such a thing as stove pipe packs?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.


Most likely the reference to "stove pipe" meant mortars, its a rarely used term these days but popular during WWII & Korea. Used as a badge of honor, and rightfully so, by mortar-men.

Dan

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"American parachutists-devils in baggy pants..." German officer, Italy 1944. “If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.” Lord Ernest Rutherford
OpanaPointer
St. Louis MO USA
Posts: 1800
Joined: 2010
Is there such a thing as a "stove pipe pack"?
5/4/2023 4:00:30 PM
Googling "Stove pipe pack" may be helpful. If they were housed in tents they'd need a stack, or "flue" for the heating stove.
OpanaPointer
St. Louis MO USA
Posts: 1800
Joined: 2010
Is there such a thing as a "stove pipe pack"?
5/4/2023 7:05:50 PM
The stove pipes rolled up to make less volume. Everybody was supposed to have a section in their gear.

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