Old Man's Corners

[Oscar]

Speaking of old men - I am well out from that title but am reminded that age is a number.

Many years ago jumping into my twenties I was attending a wedding and us young guys found a table we were looking to occupy.

Then come this entire ramble of old men - 60s and 1-3 70s looking surly - one of them remarked annoyingly “Give me some space son - cant you see elders behind you”

They coughed and coofed their way onto this table - some with walking sticks - struggling with the steel chairs with some of is helping with those and these fellows settled down.

We has to settle for standing a few meters away having our chat while these old men discussed politics & properties.

Now this being a wedding in a particular part of Pakistan there was dancing expected.

What was not expected was us including the old men see this rather buxom but well figured slightly street extra makeup and under dressed girl come in with another 20s guy.

We saw - and the old men saw.

Then there was some shuffling towards the center of the venue and stage - and a spotlight and song chorus began.

“I wanna dance for you baby!!”

And this dancer came in

While we all raised our eyebrows at this

Our jaws dropped when all of these “old men”
Who were wheezing and giving the impression that their time was near

Suddenly all got up - and either started brisk walking, dragging those same heavy steel chairs they could not move earlier

All the way to the front of the dance stage…
and I think I heard “Look at that delicious thing!”

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

A closer view of the old launching ramp:



I can't tell you how much time I spent on the water.

 

[Davey Crockett]

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

The brig USS Niagara in its home port of Erie, PA:



Niagara was Commodore Perry's flagship during the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.

The battle of Lake Erie was fought in the headwaters off here:



Above is Put-in-Bay, which is near present-day Toledo and actually closer to Port Clinton, OH.

That is the location where the American Navy defeated the British which allowed for the recapture of Detroit by the Americans as well as control of Lake Erie for the remainder of the war.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

First the photo, and then the story:



This is Camp Perry, OH. Another place I've spent a lot of time and should be this summer but unfortunately not.

Camp Perry is an Ohio National Guard facility. It's claim to fame? The post is the only one named after a naval officer. You guessed it. Commodore Perry.

When the Army was looking for a suitable site for the establishment of the Ohio Army National Guard headquarters, this site was deemed the most suitable. It would allow for small arms as well as artillery training into Lake Erie. All of the ranges face north or north east to allow for rounds to impact into the water.

Since the National Guard during peace time is a part of the State and a lot of funding coming from the state, the State of Ohio Legislature agreed to the Army's request on once condition: the post be named after Commodore Perry. The Army, who sometimes I think should have been the crayon eaters instead of the Marines, balked. Their reasoning was logical. Commodore Perry was a Naval officer, this is an Army post.

The Legislature, as well as the governor said "yeah, that's nice. But y'all don't understand. The Battle of Lake Erie was fought just offshore here. So either it is named after Commodore Perry or you can go look elsewhere."

The Army thought about it and wisely changed their minds.

Some more claim to fame:

Camp Perry was the temporary home for the Italian members of the Afrika Korps. It was there they took a break from spreading fascism for a few years. Ironically, Toledo has a huge Italian population now. Many of the old POW huts still exist today though just as many have either been refurbished or removed due to decay. I spent some summers in those huts.

Camp Perry was also the home of units of the 37th Infantry Division. Those units happened to be deployed to the Philippines at the time hostiles broke out between the US and Japan. Survivors of the surrender participated in the Bataan Death March. The old chow hall, which has long since been torn down after major damage from a nor-easter, was named the Bataan Chow Hall in honor of them. I ate many a meal in the chow hall and took the time to read all the history that had been posted on the walls.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Friday nights. Drive my Camaro to the football game, meet up with friends. Go cruising. Hang out in front of the hardware store on main street. Police will be nice and tell us to go home just after 11:00pm. No one ever pulled over or arrested.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Classmate.


Deborah Ochs took Olympic bronze in Seoul in 1988 with the USA recurve women’s team. A former national champion, she also won individual silver at the Pan American Games all the way back in 1983.

Her competitive drive has never really gone away. She returned to the international field at the first World Archery Masters Championships, held in 2018.

“Why am I here? It is a world championships. And I’ve been here before, at the 1989 world championships (also held in Lausanne). That was the last international I shot. I was shooting recurve in ’89, but I’m shooting compound now,” she explained.

Like many here, she returned to archery after a break, in her case to have a family.

Competitive masters group growing in US says Olympic medallist Ochs

Deborah Ochs won an Olympic team medal 30 years ago.

www.worldarchery.sport

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

More on Camp Perry:



On the map, only Viale Range was formally marked. I added the labels for the other three rifle ranges. I've spent lots of time on them.

Viale goes to 1000 yards. Young to 800 yards. Rodriguez to 600 yards. Petrarca IIRC goes to 300 yards.

All four are named after members of the Ohio National Guard. All four members were Medal of Honor recipients. Posthumously.

Young Range should be of particular interest to some of you. It is named in honor of Rodger Wilton Young. You might be more familiar with:

"Shines the name, shines the name of Rodger Young."

Editing to add: the jetty! The jetty is still there. It was used heavily during the war for moving men, equipment, and supplies in to / out of Camp Perry.

 

[Davey Crockett]

The new highschool was finished just before my junior year. At the time, third largest HS building in Michigan, costing $25 million.

 

[Fatman17]

Classmate.

View attachment 133612
Deborah Ochs took Olympic bronze in Seoul in 1988 with the USA recurve women’s team. A former national champion, she also won individual silver at the Pan American Games all the way back in 1983.

Her competitive drive has never really gone away. She returned to the international field at the first World Archery Masters Championships, held in 2018.

“Why am I here? It is a world championships. And I’ve been here before, at the 1989 world championships (also held in Lausanne). That was the last international I shot. I was shooting recurve in ’89, but I’m shooting compound now,” she explained.

Like many here, she returned to archery after a break, in her case to have a family.

Competitive masters group growing in US says Olympic medallist Ochs

Deborah Ochs won an Olympic team medal 30 years ago.

www.worldarchery.sport

I was a amateur archer. Used to go to Golden Gate Park in SF and put up a few balloons and try to burst them from 75 yards. It was a good relaxing pastime. Try to find some pics.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Archery was a PE elective when I was in HS.

Rather than use the school-issued equipment, I used my own.

 

[Davey Crockett]

I was a amateur archer. Used to go to Golden Gate Park in SF and put up a few balloons and try to burst them from 75 yards. It was a good relaxing pastime. Try to find some pics.

1980, when I was 15, bought a Camaro for $750. Junior and senior years, enjoyed picking up my neighbor Susanne and her girl friends before school. They were all smoking hot.

We all went to Central Michigan University in the fall. Guys on campus wanting me to introduce them to my home town friends.

Before Christmas, Dawn found her husband and was a few weeks pregnant. Her husband was a successful tradesman in town. Good prospects. Dawn was the smart one.

 

[mythbuster]

The only natural harbor on Lake Erie:

View attachment 133594

Presque Isle State Park.

Someday, long after we're all gone, Presque Isle should be down around Buffalo.

Ah my lake Erie ...... there was a British race Philly named lake Erie.....she always used to win by a nose or a head ....I made decent chunk of money betting on her .

 

[Davey Crockett]

Ah my lake Erie ...... there was a British race Philly named lake Erie.....she always used to win by a nose or a head ....I made decent chunk of money betting on her .

Remember the hydroplane races?

Watched them on the Detroit River.

 

[Davey Crockett]

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