Explaining how the gun turret works

[The_Traveler]

I often go to a small country store in a community near where I live, just to get a cup of coffee and talk with the real nice guys who hang out here.
This is one of my favorite men, caught in the process of explaining to me how the gun turret worked on the battleship Indiana where he was a gunner's mate during WWII.
He has retired in the same small community where he lived most of his life.

 

[rlemert]

Guys like this are a treasure!

My Dad became part of a group of mall-walkers that included an Air Force career pilot. Among other things, the guy had flown in the Berlin Airlift. He apparently had some great stories.

(I just regret that I'm at the other end of the country. I do try to stop by and say hello to the man when I'm in town.)

 

[Heitz]

No fair -- tell us the story!!

 

[The_Traveler]

Jay has been the proprietor of the Country Corner Store in Oella, MD for 30 years. He is the single driving force that has made that area into a community. He organizes dances, meetings, Christmas parties and puts out the newspaper and a calendar. Howard has been coming and sitting on this porch or inside the store since Jay took it over 30+ years ago. Going in is like stepping back in time.

More pictures at Zenfolio | Lew Lorton Photography | Sitting Around Jay's Store

More pictures at Zenfolio | Lew Lorton Photography | Sitting Around Jay's Store

 

[tirediron]

That is fantastic Lew!!

 

[The_Traveler]

I have carte blanche to go back.
Sat evening, I'm taking pix at the Cinco de Mayo ball.
These are real nice small town people in a old town embedded in the center of suburbia.
I hope to get to do interviews and pictures of some.

 

[pixmedic1]

holy **** dude.
I transported a gentleman to the ER from the VA nursing home in my work area a few shifts back who was also a WWII navy vet who was on that ship. Its a small world i guess.
he talked about losing some of his best friends in that war. they might as well have been family. so few from that era left, and their stories are so often overlooked and unappreciated by people today. my grandfather passed away last week. he was also a WWII vet, 24 years in the air force (master sergeant). when he retired he went to work for NASA as an engineer working on satellites. He was on the ships they used to track and collect the astronauts when they landed in the ocean after the moon missions. i could talk to him for hours about those days.

as you know, im not overly fond of B&W, but these really hit me at home. especially the first one. it looks just how my grandfather would sit and talk about the war.
great shots Lew. thank you.

 

[Pallycow]

what I like about image number one is how you captured it. Even without you telling us the story he was telling, from the image I can tell he is in the middle of sharing his wisdom acquired over the years in the form of a story. Old folks are cool that way, and I love them for it.

 

[The_Traveler]

He is 92 years old and slowing quite a bit, but the nicest, sweetest guy you could ever meet.
I'm afraid that some day I'm going to show up and he won't be there.

 

[frommrstomommy]

I have to say I'm not really one to appreciate this type of work.. I usually just kind of blank stare the images you post.. lol but I quite enjoy this one.

 

[TATTRAT]

Guys like this are a treasure!

Indeed! Love it!

While living on O'ahu, I spent quite a bit of time getting to know the volunteers at Pearl Harbor, as most of them are WWII Vets. Everyone of them was a gem. Amazingly humble, amazingly awesome, and just really awesome to have the chance to know.

Thanks for sharing, OP!

 

[The_Traveler]

Thanks all.

I have to say I'm not really one to appreciate this type of work.. I usually just kind of blank stare the images you post.. lol but I quite enjoy this one.

So these don't suck as much as my usual posts do?
I guess I'm improving then. :lmao:

 

[frommrstomommy]

Thanks all.

I have to say I'm not really one to appreciate this type of work.. I usually just kind of blank stare the images you post.. lol but I quite enjoy this one.

So these don't suck as much as my usual posts do?
I guess I'm improving then. :lmao:

lol your technical aspect always looks great.. its just the subjects im just like hrm...? interesting people, surely.. just can't figure out why you photograph them I guess. not my cup of tea

 

[duhast]

That's very cool. I work on Battleship Iowa in SoCal, and we have several WWII vets as volunteers, including Bob DeSpain, a hero of the sinking of USS Hoel, DD-533. We also get a lot of guests from WWII. Pick these guys brains as much as you can...

 

[The_Traveler]

lol your technical aspect always looks great.. its just the subjects im just like hrm...? interesting people, surely.. just can't figure out why you photograph them I guess. not my cup of tea

I was just pulling your leg.

I agree that street photography is not for everyone and many people just don't care for it, just as I can't stand most pictures of flowers, mountains, sunrises, etc.
But I am glad you found one on mine that you liked.