Several years ago I was on hollyday at my cousins in Winnipeg, Canada, and my uncle had the great idea that to find militaria, I could go over to the local Legion, and ask thevets if they had any spare items to give me.
Me, my uncle and my cousin went to the local legion, that was the "Fort Rouge Legion". My cousin and me were just kids, and very impressed when we saw a sign saying entry was forbiden to minors. Most of the people that were there were not vets, but just relatives of vets who were playing cards and drinking beers and didnt look very friendly. We managed to find the only WW2 vet who was there, and I told him that I collected WW2 items, and asked if he had any old souvenirs to spare.
His name was John Miscavitch, and he said that he had been in Normandy soon after D-day, driving a "Kangoroo", and didnt have anything to spare. But then, as we talked, he remembered that he had a german "bayonet".
"Come back tomorrow" he said, and I will give it to you.
The next day, he brought me into the parking lot of the legion, and this dagger was hidden under the matt in the back of his car. He told me he had taken it from a dead SS soldier in Normandy. When I asked more questions, he seemed bothered that I was interupting his card game.
I went back to that legion a few years later, to ask more questions to Mr Miscavitch, but found out he had since died.
I am realy not much of a dagger guy, but this (or any) gift from a vet is defenetly a keeper, and also a very nice childhood souvenir: a bayonet changing into an SA dagger! To say the truth; back then I was disapointed it wasnt realy just a bayonet, as I like combat stuff; not parade stuff.
Me, my uncle and my cousin went to the local legion, that was the "Fort Rouge Legion". My cousin and me were just kids, and very impressed when we saw a sign saying entry was forbiden to minors. Most of the people that were there were not vets, but just relatives of vets who were playing cards and drinking beers and didnt look very friendly. We managed to find the only WW2 vet who was there, and I told him that I collected WW2 items, and asked if he had any old souvenirs to spare.
His name was John Miscavitch, and he said that he had been in Normandy soon after D-day, driving a "Kangoroo", and didnt have anything to spare. But then, as we talked, he remembered that he had a german "bayonet".
"Come back tomorrow" he said, and I will give it to you.
The next day, he brought me into the parking lot of the legion, and this dagger was hidden under the matt in the back of his car. He told me he had taken it from a dead SS soldier in Normandy. When I asked more questions, he seemed bothered that I was interupting his card game.
I went back to that legion a few years later, to ask more questions to Mr Miscavitch, but found out he had since died.
I am realy not much of a dagger guy, but this (or any) gift from a vet is defenetly a keeper, and also a very nice childhood souvenir: a bayonet changing into an SA dagger! To say the truth; back then I was disapointed it wasnt realy just a bayonet, as I like combat stuff; not parade stuff.
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