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Posted: 6/15/2012 5:55:27 PM EDT
[#1]
It's about time!
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Posted: 6/15/2012 5:58:23 PM EDT
[#2]
A little trivia.
He was carrying this model knife 
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:00:36 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/forsale/34-1.jpg a randall? |
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:03:10 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
Quoted:
A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/forsale/34-1.jpg a randall? Yes. One I had never seen. A model 8-4 trout and Bird knife. |
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:04:43 PM EDT
[#5]
He earned it.
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:05:40 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Quoted:
A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/forsale/34-1.jpg a randall? Yup; Randall made knives were also NASA issue; namely, the Model 17 "Astro", designed by Astronaut Gordon Cooper. Two of them are in ther Smithsonian. BTW, that one is the Model 8 "Trout and Bird Knife" |
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:18:20 PM EDT
[#7]
Wikipedia says he was given a DFC and Intelligence Star after his return.
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:27:52 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
Wikipedia says he was given awarded the DFC and Intelligence Star after his return. Respectfully fixed. |
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:29:46 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Wikipedia says he was given awarded the DFC and Intelligence Star after his return. Respectfully fixed. Thank you. 
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:41:40 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted: I always thought people were too hard on that guy. Agreed. He was very heroic, dedicated to the mission. |
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Posted: 6/15/2012 6:48:45 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife a randall? Yes. One I had never seen. A model 8-4 trout and Bird knife. I know what you mean. 
I can't imagine why a person would want to own something like that. 
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Posted: 6/16/2012 5:37:27 AM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/forsale/34-1.jpg a randall? Yes. One I had never seen. A model 8-4 trout and Bird knife. I know what you mean.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7292842144_978c8491cc_z.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7292842400_71f8f4f438_z.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7095/7292842632_476d028b48_z.jpg I can't imagine why a person would want to own something like that.
Beautiful. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 10:36:03 AM EDT
[#13]
Title Fail.
His name is Francis Gary Powers, and both he and his son, Francis Gary Powers Jr., go by "Gary." So your title should say "Gary Powers Awarded SSM." He never went by the name Francis Powers. Some people go by their middle names. If you met R. Lee Ermey, you'd call him "Lee," not "Ron." If you ever go to the Cold War Museum in Vint Hill, VA, and see Francis Gary Powers Jr., walk up and say "Hello, Gary." |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 10:59:59 AM EDT
[#14]
Quoted: Title Fail. His name is Francis Gary Powers, and both he and his son, Francis Gary Powers Jr., go by "Gary." So your title should say "Gary Powers Awarded SSM." He never went by the name Francis Powers. Some people go by their middle names. If you met R. Lee Ermey, you'd call him "Lee," not "Ron." If you ever go to the Cold War Museum in Vint Hill, VA, and see Francis Gary Powers Jr., walk up and say "Hello, Gary." Just ask Chris Mathews.     |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 11:00:15 AM EDT
[#15]
These are personal pics I took in 2009. There is way more to the story than most know. I grew up with this story as a fundamental part of my up-bringing, considering my dad's work and where we lived, right near Plant 42 in the Antelope Valley.
He also carried this very High Standard suppressed .22: 
Here's his bird: 
I learned in 2009 that the SAM that got him was one of a few specially-constructed and modified SA-2's with additional booster stages. One of my friends' grandfathers worked on the program directly for the Soviet Premier, as they were incensed that the Yankees were flying over their country with impunity, at such high altitude, exposing the fact that their long-range nuclear delivery capabilities were non-existent. They initiated a multiple-approach, highest priority plan to bring down a U-2, and it relied heavily on an active intelligence operation, which some believe even pentrated the base in Pakistan from which Powers launched. Another interesting fact is that Eisenhower had ordered the flights temporarily halted, before he was to the Ukraine for a major and unprecedented visit by an American President to the Soviet Union. The CIA ordered the Powers flight anyway, against the President's directive, and extended the mission profile to an audacious flight plan that would cover the Urals, and keep going until reaching the Murmansk Naval complex thousands of miles away, in northwest Russia by the Finnish border. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 11:20:30 AM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Title Fail. His name is Francis Gary Powers, and both he and his son, Francis Gary Powers Jr., go by "Gary." So your title should say "Gary Powers Awarded SSM." He never went by the name Francis Powers. Some people go by their middle names. If you met R. Lee Ermey, you'd call him "Lee," not "Ron." If you ever go to the Cold War Museum in Vint Hill, VA, and see Francis Gary Powers Jr., walk up and say "Hello, Gary." Just ask Chris Mathews.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjqvgAmgOoM
They need the full name, huh? Well, then, I would lose for answering "Who was Falcon Scott?"......it's just been always easier for me to remember him that way. _____________________________________________________________________ ("I go by many names."––The Devil, (w,stte), "Phantom of the Paradise") |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 11:31:29 AM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
Title Fail. His name is Francis Gary Powers, and both he and his son, Francis Gary Powers Jr., go by "Gary." So your title should say "Gary Powers Awarded SSM." He never went by the name Francis Powers. Some people go by their middle names. If you met R. Lee Ermey, you'd call him "Lee," not "Ron." If you ever go to the Cold War Museum in Vint Hill, VA, and see Francis Gary Powers Jr., walk up and say "Hello, Gary." Thank you. Will fix title.
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Posted: 6/16/2012 11:34:08 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
These are personal pics I took in 2009. There is way more to the story than most know. I grew up with this story as a fundamental part of my up-bringing, considering my dad's work and where we lived, right near Plant 42 in the Antelope Valley. He also carried this very High Standard suppressed .22: http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/Jan-Feb2009101.jpg Here's his bird: http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/Jan-Feb2009009.jpg I learned in 2009 that the SAM that got him was one of a few specially-constructed and modified SA-2's with additional booster stages. One of my friends' grandfathers worked on the program directly for the Soviet Premier, as they were incensed that the Yankees were flying over their country with impunity, at such high altitude, exposing the fact that their long-range nuclear delivery capabilities were non-existent. They initiated a multiple-approach, highest priority plan to bring down a U-2, and it relied heavily on an active intelligence operation, which some believe even pentrated the base in Pakistan from which Powers launched. Another interesting fact is that Eisenhower had ordered the flights temporarily halted, before he was to the Ukraine for a major and unprecedented visit by an American President to the Soviet Union. The CIA ordered the Powers flight anyway, against the President's directive, and extended the mission profile to an audacious flight plan that would cover the Urals, and keep going until reaching the Murmansk Naval complex thousands of miles away, in northwest Russia by the Finnish border. Very cool. In my post from archives, in op, it mentions the mugs shot down during his capture. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 3:14:01 PM EDT
[#19]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/forsale/34-1.jpg a randall? Yup; Randall made knives were also NASA issue; namely, the Model 17 "Astro", designed by Astronaut Gordon Cooper. Two of them are in ther Smithsonian. BTW, that one is the Model 8 "Trout and Bird Knife" I remember reading that he was carrying a Randall knife, when he was shot down. I just assumed it was his personal property. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 3:17:47 PM EDT
[#20]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/forsale/34-1.jpg a randall? Yup; Randall made knives were also NASA issue; namely, the Model 17 "Astro", designed by Astronaut Gordon Cooper. Two of them are in ther Smithsonian. BTW, that one is the Model 8 "Trout and Bird Knife" I remember reading that he was carrying a Randall knife, when he was shot down. I just assumed it was his personal property. It's very non-tactical as you would expect for someone behind the lines and out of uniform. It's not an astro, btw, so maybe it is his own. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 3:22:33 PM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
Quoted:
A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/forsale/34-1.jpg a randall? Of course. You were expecting a Cold Steel maybe? Jane |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 3:26:58 PM EDT
[#22]
Randall Made sold their soul years ago.
Some of you guys are paying out the ass for nothing more than a stock grind away with a brand name. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 3:39:54 PM EDT
[#23]
Quoted: These are personal pics I took in 2009. There is way more to the story than most know. I grew up with this story as a fundamental part of my up-bringing, considering my dad's work and where we lived, right near Plant 42 in the Antelope Valley. He also carried this very High Standard suppressed .22: http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/Jan-Feb2009101.jpg Here's his bird: http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/Jan-Feb2009009.jpg I learned in 2009 that the SAM that got him was one of a few specially-constructed and modified SA-2's with additional booster stages. One of my friends' grandfathers worked on the program directly for the Soviet Premier, as they were incensed that the Yankees were flying over their country with impunity, at such high altitude, exposing the fact that their long-range nuclear delivery capabilities were non-existent. They initiated a multiple-approach, highest priority plan to bring down a U-2, and it relied heavily on an active intelligence operation, which some believe even pentrated the base in Pakistan from which Powers launched. Another interesting fact is that Eisenhower had ordered the flights temporarily halted, before he was to the Ukraine for a major and unprecedented visit by an American President to the Soviet Union. The CIA ordered the Powers flight anyway, against the President's directive, and extended the mission profile to an audacious flight plan that would cover the Urals, and keep going until reaching the Murmansk Naval complex thousands of miles away, in northwest Russia by the Finnish border. Wait, so the Prez told the CIA to stop flying for a bit, and they told him 'fuck you' and did it anyway? Were there any repercussions? |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 3:45:37 PM EDT
[#24]
My grandfather arrested the Russian spy Abel who was exchanged for Powers.
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Posted: 6/16/2012 3:47:50 PM EDT
[#25]
What did he do to meet the criteria of a silver star?
Getting shot down does not equate to extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 3:48:52 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
A little trivia. He was carrying this model knife http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/forsale/34-1.jpg a randall? Of course. You were expecting a Cold Steel maybe? Jane
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:29:56 PM EDT
[#27]
Quoted:
Randall Made sold their soul years ago. Some of you guys are paying out the ass for nothing more than a stock grind away with a brand name. Wow. That is pretty bold. When did this happen? |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:40:02 PM EDT
[#28]
Quoted:
What did he do to meet the criteria of a silver star? Getting shot down does not equate to extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party "Powers was detained for two years and underwent 107 days of intense interrogations at Moscow’s infamous Lubyanka prison. Though pressured with threats of death, as well as sleep and food deprivation, “Captain Powers steadfastly refused all attempts to give sensitive defense information or be exploited for propaganda purposes,” the medal citation reads." http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/silver-star-sets-the-record-straight-say-children-of-francis-gary-powers-1.180361 |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:44:02 PM EDT
[#29]
Earned it.
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:46:27 PM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Randall Made sold their soul years ago. Some of you guys are paying out the ass for nothing more than a stock grind away with a brand name. Wow. That is pretty bold. When did this happen? I don't own a Randall. I did get a Model 15 for a friend. I always thought they made a great knife. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:48:37 PM EDT
[#31]
Wasn't he supposed to kill himself to avoid capture?
Orders? |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:49:41 PM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
My grandfather arrested the Russian spy Abel who was exchanged for Powers. Eloborate! |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:50:48 PM EDT
[#33]
Quoted:
Wasn't he supposed to kill himself to avoid capture? Orders? That's not a reasonable or lawful order. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:55:18 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Wasn't he supposed to kill himself to avoid capture? Orders? That's not a reasonable or lawful order. During the height of the Cold War and your knowledge can aid the enemy it's not so unreasonable. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 6:57:46 PM EDT
[#35]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Randall Made sold their soul years ago. Some of you guys are paying out the ass for nothing more than a stock grind away with a brand name. Wow. That is pretty bold. When did this happen? I don't own a Randall. I did get a Model 15 for a friend. I always thought they made a great knife. The fit and finish of that which I posted is impeccable. One cannot tell where the guard and blade start and stop. Mine is a 1970's knife. It has had a hard life before I retired it. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:03:35 PM EDT
[#36]
Quoted: These are personal pics I took in 2009. There is way more to the story than most know. I grew up with this story as a fundamental part of my up-bringing, considering my dad's work and where we lived, right near Plant 42 in the Antelope Valley. He also carried this very High Standard suppressed .22: http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/Jan-Feb2009101.jpg Here's his bird: http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/Jan-Feb2009009.jpg Where was the wreckage photo taken? I took this one in 1988 at the Central Army Museum in Moscow:  Quoted: Another interesting fact is that Eisenhower had ordered the flights temporarily halted, before he was to the Ukraine for a major and unprecedented visit by an American President to the Soviet Union. The CIA ordered the Powers flight anyway, against the President's directive, and extended the mission profile to an audacious flight plan that would cover the Urals, and keep going until reaching the Murmansk Naval complex thousands of miles away, in northwest Russia by the Finnish border. Not exactly. Ike decided to personally approve each flight. As a result, Powers took off 15 minutes late due to Ike delay and delay in getting approval from WH to CIA to Powers. Powers flight wass ineed WH authororized. Even without the shootdown, it was scheduled to be the last one. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:04:50 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Wasn't he supposed to kill himself to avoid capture? Orders? That's not a reasonable or lawful order. During the height of the Cold War and your knowledge can aid the enemy it's not so unreasonable. Killing yourself is Hollywood BS. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:05:49 PM EDT
[#38]
A family member of mine (who was in the CIA) escorted him back from Russia after he was released.
Too bad he lives on the western coast, cause I'd like to hear the whole story (if he can tell me ).
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:08:08 PM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
Quoted:
My grandfather arrested the Russian spy Abel who was exchanged for Powers. Eloborate! He arrested him in June of '57 in NYC. My grandfather passed away in the 80's, I was in my teens and never got to talk to him about it in detail. I wish I had. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:10:24 PM EDT
[#40]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Wasn't he supposed to kill himself to avoid capture? Orders? That's not a reasonable or lawful order. During the height of the Cold War and your knowledge can aid the enemy it's not so unreasonable. Killing yourself is Hollywood BS. Exactly. You can't order people to kill themselves. |
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:23:54 PM EDT
[#41]
Wow, I was just telling my son this story a half hour ago. cool.
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:35:00 PM EDT
[#42]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Wasn't he supposed to kill himself to avoid capture? Orders? That's not a reasonable or lawful order. During the height of the Cold War and your knowledge can aid the enemy it's not so unreasonable. Killing yourself is Hollywood BS. Exactly. You can't order people to kill themselves. He was strongly encouraged to kill himself
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:36:31 PM EDT
[#43]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Wasn't he supposed to kill himself to avoid capture? Orders? That's not a reasonable or lawful order. During the height of the Cold War and your knowledge can aid the enemy it's not so unreasonable. Killing yourself is Hollywood BS. Exactly. You can't order people to kill themselves. He was strongly encouraged to kill himself
Now, I can believe that.
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Posted: 6/16/2012 7:43:34 PM EDT
[#44]
Silver Star is well deserved, sad that it took so long to recognize him.
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Posted: 6/16/2012 9:32:21 PM EDT
[#45]
Quoted: Quoted: What did he do to meet the criteria of a silver star? Getting shot down does not equate to extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party "Powers was detained for two years and underwent 107 days of intense interrogations at Moscow’s infamous Lubyanka prison. Though pressured with threats of death, as well as sleep and food deprivation, "Captain Powers steadfastly refused all attempts to give sensitive defense information or be exploited for propaganda purposes,” the medal citation reads." http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/silver-star-sets-the-record-straight-say-children-of-francis-gary-powers-1.180361 According to Power's own book, that citation is an exaggeration or an outright fabrication. You guys really should read it. My guess is that the Silver Star is an apology for all the years that he was suspected by his own government, of being a sell out or a double agent. |
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Posted: 6/17/2012 12:29:35 AM EDT
[#46]
Quoted:
Quoted:
What did he do to meet the criteria of a silver star? Getting shot down does not equate to extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party "Powers was detained for two years and underwent 107 days of intense interrogations at Moscow’s infamous Lubyanka prison. Though pressured with threats of death, as well as sleep and food deprivation, “Captain Powers steadfastly refused all attempts to give sensitive defense information or be exploited for propaganda purposes,” the medal citation reads." http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/silver-star-sets-the-record-straight-say-children-of-francis-gary-powers-1.180361 So under that standard, about 90 percent of those shot down in Vietnam rate it, or almost all the Korean POWs rate it. |
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Posted: 6/17/2012 2:20:56 AM EDT
[#47]
Quoted:
Randall Made sold their soul years ago. Some of you guys are paying out the ass for nothing more than a stock grind away with a brand name. Not looking for a fight here, but genuinely curious; why do you say this? Jane |
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Posted: 6/17/2012 5:37:46 AM EDT
[#48]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
What did he do to meet the criteria of a silver star? Getting shot down does not equate to extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party "Powers was detained for two years and underwent 107 days of intense interrogations at Moscow’s infamous Lubyanka prison. Though pressured with threats of death, as well as sleep and food deprivation, “Captain Powers steadfastly refused all attempts to give sensitive defense information or be exploited for propaganda purposes,” the medal citation reads." http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/silver-star-sets-the-record-straight-say-children-of-francis-gary-powers-1.180361 So under that standard, about 90 percent of those shot down in Vietnam rate it, or almost all the Korean POWs rate it. As mentioned above, I might try and find his book. Wonder if the family lobbied for it. |
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Posted: 6/17/2012 5:48:42 AM EDT
[#49]
Quoted:
Randall Made sold their soul years ago. Some of you guys are paying out the ass for nothing more than a stock grind away with a brand name. Though I dont care much for Gary Randalls pompus attitude he still carries on the shop much as his father Bo did. You have obviously never toured their modest facility as I have. I quit counting at about my 20th visit or so. The guys still do all the work by hand. It is a sight to watch them make one from a raw blank. I have also witnessed them return blanks that did not meet their ctriteria as well. A lot of folks dont realize they are picky about their material and that is another factor in their back orders. Their not inexpensive for a reason. |
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Posted: 6/17/2012 5:55:42 AM EDT
[#50]
Congratulations Capt. Powers. As to the debate about him killing himself? I know what I would tell some one who gave me that order.
That being said Im sure the thought crossed his mind. |
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