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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2017 3 B Dinner to raise funds for M ILITARY H ERITAGE C HRONICLES — YYFAP summer programs The Yachats Ladies Club is inviting the community to attend and support a fun pulled pork fundraiser dinner to benefit the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program (YYFAP) summer programs. The YYFAP is well- known in its community for providing enriching activi- ties for the children and fam- ilies in the Yachats area while also creating opportu- nities for children during the summer months. The dinner will be served Saturday, June 17, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the YLC Clubhouse, 286 W. Third St. in Yachats. The benefit dinner will include: Pulled pork sand- wiches with coleslaw and a dill pickle, baked beans, potato salad, apple-sauce cake and choice of coffee or tea. The cost for the dinner is $15 at the door. To-go din- ners will be available as well. The Yachats Ladies Club is a service club for South County women now in its 90th year. Women interested in creat- ing fundraisers for the com- munity while enjoying them- selves are invited to inquire about membership by calling Sandy Dunn at 541-547- 3205. FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS /S IUSLAW N EWS ❘ @S IUSLAW N EWS Let me Showcase your property. Brian Jagoe Principal Broker 541 999-1314 Hwy 101 #1701 – Sellers plans have changed giv- ing you an opportunity to own almost an acre of land in Florence for less than $40k. This property is just north of Heceta Water District, and is the second lot back from the highway easing the traf- fic noise. $39,900. #2500-15435912 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 Technology advances of WWII B Y C AL A PPLEBEE Special to the Siuslaw News It has been said that some- times war can be the mother of necessity. While that can be said of each and every military conflict in history, WWII perhaps has likely resulted in some of the most significant advancements of our society. Advancements in aviation, medicine, communication, tactics and logistics, and even food came out of WWII. And especially transporta- tion. Aviation was certainly advanced from the war effort. Legendary aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang, B-17 Flying Fortress and B- 29 Super Fortress were a result. Helicopters were first developed during WWII but didn’t really see service until the Korean War. And jet powered airplanes also first Now Open! memory m emo or care services errvi es there's no place like home 5292 Harvard Avenue, Florence OR 97439 Tours Daily For more information call: 541.997.5002 Or email: saw action in WWII, although on the Axis side of the conflict. Logistical advances in warfare resulted from WWII as well, such as strategic bombing practices as well as phenomenal production practices that resulted in the home-front cranking out munitions, planes, vehicles and many other items at record levels. For example, 276,000 airplanes were pro- duced by the United States alone. Having marked the 73rd anniversary of D-Day just last week on June 6, I viewed one of my favorite movies of that epic effort, “Ike,” produced by A&E for television — something i watch each year (at least once). The logistics of the largest seaborne invasion in history are a prime example of the advancements in logistics that came out of WWII. Communication advances included enhancements in radar; medical advances included enhancements in the use of plasma; even food advances brought us M&Ms candy. But possibly one advance- ment in transportation needs out of WWII overshadows all other creations born out of the war — the birth of the Jeep. Seeking a replacement for the cavalry horse as military tactics also evolved, the Army Quartermaster Corps produced specs which they thought would result in a perfect vehicle for recon- naissance and personal transportation to replace the horse. They invited 135 dif- ferent auto manufacturers to submit bids and prototypes, but only two responded: American Bantam Car Company in Butler, Pa., and Willys-Overland in Toledo, Ohio. American Bantam Car Company was an upstart firm coming out of the ashes of a failed attempt to estab- lish a small-car market here in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. One of the efforts they tried for finding a niche mar- ket for their little car was to offer some vehicles to the Pennsylvania National Guard in the late 1930s for consideration as a light reconnaissance car. So, they probably had a leg up on the competition when they started their pro- totype — but they also relied on good ole American inge- nuity by utilizing off-the- shelf parts already in stock. Virtually at the last minute, or at least on the last day, the American Bantam Car Company delivered their prototype to the Army Quartermaster Corps at Camp Holabird, MD, for intensive testing. As the process moved forward, refinements and changes were made and additional units were ordered for more extensive testing. Eventually, the Army real- ized that Bantam’s produc- tion capabilities would not be able to meet their antici- pated production volumes. So Willy’s continued with its prototype, and the Army eventually talked Ford Motor Company into also participating. Despite having designed and produced the original concept, with the production constraints of Bantam, they were eventually dropped from the contracts after delivering just shy of 3,000 vehicles, but continued on with other war effort con- tracts (such as the “jeep trailer,” as well as other armaments for the military.) Both Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Company went on to produce the original WWII Jeeps for the military through mid-1945, with Willys producing approxi- mately 348,849 units and Ford producing approxi- mately 277,878 units. In later years as the mili- tary sought to enhance the original design, both compa- nies, or at least in Willys- Overland’s case, successor companies, would later pro- duce other jeep vehicles such as the M38 of Korean War era and the M151 (Mutt) of Vietnam War era. After WWII, American Bantam Car Company went on to manufacture a variety of other steel products but never entered the automo- tive industry again, and eventually faded into obliv- ion in the mid-1950s. Ford Motor Company wasn’t interested, at the time, in continuing Jeep pro- duction, and went back to their own passenger car and truck efforts in post-war years. Willys-Overland realized the importance and potential of the Jeep vehicle that came out of the collaborative efforts of the war, and even before war’s end had started re-designing both the vehi- cle as well as uses for mar- keting and, in late 1945 and into 1946, began manufac- turing the now famous CJ2A — both for the American market as well as overseas. Despite the success of the little Jeep, Willys-Overland as a company wasn’t without troubles and, over the years, the Jeep brand was owned by a variety of parents including Kaiser, AMC/Renault, Chrysler, Daimler/Chrysler and now Fiat Chrysler. Over the years, numerous models of that original mili- tary reconnaissance vehicle have been manufactured by a number of companies — right up to today's variant — the KJ and KJU models, which includes a four-door model. To celebrate both the birth of the Jeep in WWII as well as the iconic Jeep it has become in the 76 years since, the Oregon Coast Military Museum is hosting an event Saturday, June 17, called “Jeep Junction.” Sponsored by Banner Bank and Johnston Motor Company, come see exam- ples of military Jeeps from WWII as well as subsequent war eras, vintage CJs and up to current production Wranglers at this “Jeep- only” show and shine at Johnston Motor Company. Kick some tires, visit with enthusiastic Jeep owners and learn why we say, “It’s a Jeep thing.” And if you’ve watched “Ike” recently like I did, you can ask me if the Jeep in the scene where Patton arrives at Ike’s European headquar- ters is a Willys or Ford. There is a difference! You can learn more by visiting the OCMM website at www .oregoncoastmili- tarymuseum. com or visit the museum, which is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is at 2145 Kingwood St. in Florence. PHOLQGD#QZUH͇HFWLRQVPFFRP Nurse Practitioner Owned and operated Secured Environment Resident Centered Medical Care Florence re here esses a in s u b munity ese com rvice needs. h t g in now ur se relax, k with all of yo o t y s It’s ea to help Call the Siuslaw News to Join Our Senior Directory 541-997-3441 BRADLEY BERG Glenada NWR ATTORNEY Wills - Trusts Probate 1932 Pine St. Suite B-3 Florence, OR 997-8114 n wr w r e f l e c t i o n s m c . c co o m nwreflectionsmc.com SPRUCE POINT Spruce Point ASSISTED LIVING Assisted Living 375 9th Street • Florence 997-6111 541-997-6111 Best For Hearing 2285 Hwy. 101, Florence 997-8866 D EADLINE FOR P RESS R ELEASES I S E VERY M ONDAY AND T HURSDAY BY N OON . E MAIL P RESS R ELEASES @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM .
