Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web5204.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.85]) by tyner.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id titmk3.4mb.37kbi5q for ; Tue, 19 Jun 2001 00:52:19 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010619045218.29102.qmail@web5204.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [64.12.104.13] by web5204.mail.yahoo.com; Mon, 18 Jun 2001 21:52:18 PDT Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 21:52:18 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 368 To: MPCGram@yahoo.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii ============================================== MPC Gram ============================================== Covering the Entire World of Military Numismatics ----------------------------------------------- Series 002-Number 368 Monday,June 18, 2001 A Personal Short Snorter Story By Bill Murray I have read with interest references to Short Snorters. Mine, long lost and sadly so, contained only three notes, but some interesting signatures. The exact date of its Inception, I'm unsure, but it was in late 1942, early 1943. I was a passenger on board a Gooney Bird from Milne Bay, British New Guinea to Port Moresby. When we landed, I had to await transportation and was taken by the crew (pilot and co-pilot) to an officers' club near the strip. They asked if I had my Short Snorter. I not only did not have it, I didn't know what they were talking about. They then proceeded to tell me that you were "authorized" one (maybe not their words, but close) when you had crossed an ocean in an Army aircraft and if you didn't have yours to show, you bought a round of drinks. I said,"I haven't crossed an ocean in an aircaft," and they responded, "You just did. Order up." I did not think following the coast of the Coral Sea off new Guinea for 200 miles or so constituted "crossing an ocean," but I was a ground pounder in their club, so I ordered up. Since then, I have seen and heard many reasons for joining the the "Short Snorter" fraternity, and am convinced the real reason behind all of the various stories, is purely and simply, free drinks. My first bill, as is often the case was a $1.00 U. S. It was shortly followed by a 10 Shilling Australian note, a Ductch New Guinea, 1 guilder, and oddly enough that was the end of my Short Snorter. What happened to it I don't know, but the signatures included MacArthur who signed it at a conference I attended and Dick Bong, the first American Ace to exceed Rickenbacker's aircraft kills and ended up with 40 kills of Japanese aircraft before they took him out of combat for his protection only for him to die in the U. S, test flying a P-80. One more Short Snorter story for you. The End in RVN and Evidence Notes By Trung T. Nguyen On April 21, 1975 my family and I were in the American compound inside Tan Son Nhat Airport waiting to be airlifted out of South Vietnam. Things were very calm. We all knew that the fall of Saigon was near, but no one panic. We were among the very first to be evacuated from South Vietnam. Early in the morning that day all the able bodies were employed for one task: destroying documentation by burning. We emptied cabinet after cabinet of paper and burned them in the back of the compound. I carried bags and bags of paper out to the ongoing fire. The work went on until late afternoon. We were evacuated via a C-141 at sunset to the Philippines. I am willing to bet that there were a few MPC evidence notes among the burned bags. Wish I knew. =============================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- To say that it was a great Memphis is to be redundant. I was at Memphis one and all but four since then. The ones that I missed were because I lived in Germany or because of grave family illness. Every one has been great. There is so much to report that I am sure that the Gram will be full of reports of finds and fellowship for days if not weeks. Heck, I could go on for weeks myself. I hope that every Gramster who was there will send a report. Certainly those at the M2C2 meeting will have things to say. =========================================== Mail Call ---------------------------------------------------- Dear Editor, Just so the gramsters know the current plan is to offer Leo Mays MPC collection at public auction in Chicago at the CPMX show at the end of Feb. 1st of March. I assume it will be either Thursday or Friday evening and I am currently working on adding to this sale. I have much of Ruth Hills material that was allowed to be sold by the estate including POW chits, Concentration camp scrip, all kinds of chits from everywhere, propoganda material that is amazing to me, as well as lots of things I have even sorted, I am looking for the RIGHT STUFF to add to this sale to make it the best ever. I will need help though and Fred has promised to catalog what he knows and Joel Shafer will be in charge so Neal can't be far behind the scenes. I am totally new to this but as a gramster said I do know how to treat you. I expect that this will be a weekend to remember if I get my way. Lyn Dear Gram, The attendees of the M2C2 meeting held at the Memphis received a MPC GRAM Series 011 specimen $2.00. I would be most appreciative if those who received a note to let me know the color of the overprint, serial number, position number, AND if possible scan the note with a UV lamp for the underprint face and back (if there is one). David coinman@rochester.rr.com Dear David, Are there no secrets? Editor Dear Gram, Regarding the Leo May collection, are we gramsters privileged enough to view the collection electronically, i.e. scans? Best regards, Trung T. Nguyen Dear Nguyen, Hopefully Lyn can report on your question. I am sure that the entire auction will be viewable on line, but it may not be until Jan or so. I just do not know. Editor Dear Editor, First, thanks for the GRAM. Why it took me so long to find it I'm not sure, but now that I'm hooked, I may some day try to pick up all the back copies I do not have on hand. Bill Murray Dear Bill, Thanks for the letter and the article (above). Possibly you know some other poor souls who would like the gram but are not receiving it. We would love to send them trail subscriptions! Editor ================================================ Departments --------------------------------------------------- WWII numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar 2001 --------------------------------------------------- Not only does the scholarship fund have an official identity but also has a bank account! Any further donations should be paid to the order of "Military Numismatists Scholarship" and sent to: Military Numismatists c/o Marcus Turner 8103 East US Highway 36 Suite 163 Avon, IN 46123 THE UPDATED LIST OF SCHOLARSHIP BENEFACTORS 3/22/01. These folks have generously provided money or material to finance scholarships to the ANA WWII Numismatics seminar. Your contributions will help promote collecting WWII material and be greatly appreciated. Many donations were received at CPMX and MPCFest. David Amey, Mr. Anonymous Donor, Mike Cummings, Sue and Keith Bauman, Ed B., Doug Bell, Tom Denly, Continental Coin Invensor, Inc., Denly's, R. A. Medina, Harold “MPCKid” Kroll, Leo "Paymaster" May, Mrs. R.C. Matherne, Bill McNease, Marv Mericle, Mel and Jeremy Steinberg, Marcus Turner, Larry Ski, Guido, Fred, PK6, Joel Shafer, World Wide Ventures, Pam West, John and Nancy Wilson, Neil Shafer, W. E. Yanchick, Mark Watson, Al Glaser, Phil Goldstein, Rod Hardy, Wesley Hardy, Gary Hicks, Jack Lippincott, Ian Marshall, Kevin Maloy, David Seelye, Nick Schrier, Elmer Smith, Dan Swartz, Tom Warburton, Dick Freyser, Tim Kyzivat ==================================================== Post/Base Exchange (PX/BX/NEX) Dump your dupes! Your classified advertisement for items for sale will be run here for free. Send your ads to the gram. This service is for everyone, most humble dealer or most advanced collector. The point is to make the gram more interesting. Send in a list of items for sale and we will list them here in the gram. In all cases confirm your order via email first. FOR SALE Your items for sale will be listed in the Gram for FREE. Send your listings now. You items for sale support the gram by making it more interesting for everyone! Italian AMC replacements 1943 1 Lira BEP EF 1943 1 Lira BEP EF expedient Specimen 1943 2 Lira BEP UNC 1943 2 Lira BEP A.UNC expedient Specimen 1943 5 Lira BEP UNC 1943 5 Lira Forbes UNC 1943A 5 Lira Forbes UNC 1943A 5 Lira Forbes UNC expedient Specimen 1943 10 Lira BEP VF 1943 10 Lira Forbes VF 1943A 10 Lira Forbes UNC 1943A 100 Lira Forbes EF 1943A 500 Lira Forbes VF repaired 1943A 1000 Lira Forbes VF graffiti 14 pieces $15,000.00 including registered mail shipping. coinman@rochester.rr.com WANTED Collectors may submit lists of items wanted for their collections for listing here. Dealers and collectors who have these items are then encouraged to list them or sale in the above section. This is a trial, if you like it, send your list. =================================================== Staff: publisher and editor: Fred Schwan - fred@papermoneyworld.com; assistant editor - Phil Goldstein IWANTMYMPC@aol.com Tuesday columnist Joe Boling – JoeBoling@aol.com Thurski columnist Larry “Ski” Smulczenski – ski@papermoneyworld.com critic: Harold Kroll - MPCKid@papermoneyworld.com; index manager: Ed Beaman webmaster & technical advisor: Doug Bell - (Wiz): doug@papermoneyworld.com; The Boss: Judy Schwan ===== MPC Gram is published by BNR Press and papermoneyworld.com as a free service to the community of military money collectors. Your suggestions, criticisms, complaints, editorial contributions, letters, and even praise are very welcome. The entire contents including linked illustrations are copyright protected by the publishers. In the case of contributors, the copyright is protected on behalf of the creators. Please send all correspondence regarding the gram to MPCgram@yahoo.com. Thank you very much for your participation. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Spot the hottest trends in music, movies, and more. http://buzz.yahoo.com/