The Planet's time machine

[JBoisson]

Cool topic
I'd have to agree to only go with Dan Morton's preconditions of fitting in and surviving...
otherwise, I'd love to have seen California the way my Great-Great Granddad did, a famine refugee with a gold pan and a bowie knife winding up a wharfrat/longshoreman on the Barbary Coast... to see Babe Ruth's called shot against the Cubs, to have been at Candlestick (instead of at work) when Dwight Clark made 'The Catch.'
On more painful days...
a Cuirrassier at Waterloo
an archer at Agincourt
a Virginian or North Carolinian on 3 July 1863
a Minnesotan or a Mainer on 2 July 1863
a Wisconsanan on 1 July 1863
a Paratroop on D-Day
a Dauntless-jockey at Midway
the bombadier on the Enola Gay
and last but not least a Supreme Court Justice November and December 2000

;-D
John

 

[Johan]

On reflexion, if the question had been "if you could go back in time and choose your own death", in that case I'd opt for a ride along with the Chasseurs d'Afrique and General Galifet at Sedan on September 1st 1870 - madness, but what a hell of a way to die ...

And then of course I'd also wear that lovely uniform ...

 

[quang]

Funny how revealing the answers to this simple question can be about one's tastes, psychology and... political inclinations. :lol:

OK. here's one more try. I'd take the place of Fred Noonan aboard the Lockheed Electra and fly into the sunset (and the Pacific Ocean) with Amelia Earhart.

If you gotta go, make sure you do it in style!

Q.

 

[Anders Heintz]

I would definately live and follow Alexander The Great through out his expeditions and adventures and at same time take some advice from the great Aristoteles!

Another thing would be to live with the Cheyennes when they were still a free and powerful people.

Woodstock would also be a hoot!

Last but not least I would have made sure that I would have been born in the states so I could be flying an Apachie in Iraq 2003-2004.

 

[Le Lancier]

This is turning out to be quite a thread. One that plunges deep into everyones dreams. Funny that most seem to prefer eras of war. As a soldier for the last 25 years, one who has been to Bosnia, and Timor, among other places, and in the name of my brothers in Irak. The last place I would want to be, is anywhere, in any age, near a battlefield. Once you've tasted one or in my case, seen one, you never want to see another, amen!!!

Francis

 

[mikec55]

Good point, Francis. Personally, I'd ask the time machine operator if I could attend a Roman orgy but with my luck, he'd misunderstand, think I said attendant, & I'd be assigned as towel boy in the vomitorium :angry: .

Mike

 

[Jason W.]

My main interest in military history has to be it's material culture-what the soldier looked like on campaign. So, armned with a few camera's and LOTS of film I would like to journey to any place and time, during the 19th century, to any American or European conflict and start snapping pic's ...Enough to satisfy my wants but not too much to piss off some 19th century grunt and make him take a "celebirty" swipe at my camera.

Funny, I have this image of me going back in time being dressed like Dennis Hopper's character in "Apocalypse Now". :lol:

 

[Le Lancier]

LLLLoooooLLLLL Towel boy in the vomitorium :lol: :lol: :lol: That's a funny one Mike

 

[Lou Masses]

I would like to have been at Notre Dame on December 4 (?), 1804. Would also have liked to been at the New York Stock Exchange with $10,000 in my hand on the day a certain Mr Gates was making an IPO.

 

[Billhoran]

January 22, 1879 - Isandlwana, Fugitive's Drift AND Rorke's Drift. In the USA, Appomattox Courthouse at Lee's surrender.

Bill

 

[fsdesimone]

Originally posted by mikec55@Nov 17 2004, 09:17 PM
I'd be assigned as towel boy in the vomitorium :angry: .

Mike

Heh, that's funny. But for what it's worth, a 'vomitorium' was simply an exit or passageway in an amphitheater or arena. There weren't really rooms for vomiting... I think that kind of just happened wherever you happened to be after eating unfortunately. :lol:

Lou: I like your idea!

 

[Joe Hudson]

Being Army , I still would have liked to see the rasing of the flag at Iwo Jimo and to be at Little Round Top with Chamberlain.

Joe

 

[Robin]

Francis

I have thought about this reply, it aint about the battlefield its about the atmosphere and the men. Standing with US or British Paras before they loaded onto their rides in June 1944 looking at the faces, seeing the different emotions listening to the chatter, the odd nervous smile, hands smoking shaking cigarettes. The Gung Ho type bragging about what hes gonna do. The veterans with stern determined faces. People encouraging each other. Each looking round knowing some aren't coming home, also all knowing it might be them but secretly thinking it won't be me.

I would like to know if Roman armies, wellingtons army and alot of other armies to see if this was the same. I think one or two more of the membership are vets here of this and that conflict. I don't know if we have any WW2 vets. Like all figure modellers I think we celebrate the men that do it not what they do.

Thats why I would like to go to Wellingtons Day and with my grandad well just to be with him when he did something the world still talks about see what he was like that day.

Best wishes

Robin

 

[Pete_H]

Originally posted by Robin@Nov 19 2004, 01:43 AM
I don't know if we have any WW2 vets. Like all figure modellers I think we celebrate the men that do it not what they do.

Robin - thank you so much for those thoughtful words. I wholeheartedly echo your sentiments.

As for myself, my deepest admiration to the "greatest generation" - the WWII generation - arises from a personal connection. My grand-uncle was a paratrooper in the 82nd. Airborne - Sgt. Ruben Romero. I was particularly close to him growing up and was blessed to hear so many of his stories (should read "first-person accounts"). He shared with me his experiences of being one of the original "jumpers" in the US Army, as well as his jumps into North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Normandy, and Nijmegen, not to mention his time on the northern edge of the Bulge and his journeys into Germany (he was one of only four of his original company to survive the war unscathed).

I would love to hear from any WWII vets who frequent this forum as well. In the meantime, there are many online forums out there that are frequented by WWII vets. One that comes to mind is Mark Bando's "Trigger Time" - http://www.101airborneww2.com/ This site is frequented by such "famous" vets as Don Burgett (author of four of the best WWII first-person accounts like "Currahee!", "The Road to Arnhem," and "Seven Roads to Hell") and Joe Beyrle (co-author of "The Simple Sounds of Freedom." The only U.S soldier to fight on both the western and eastern fronts). There is also the "Wild Bill Guarnere" forum - www.wildbillguarnere.com

I mention these sites, which I frequent on a daily basis (if anything but as a lurker since I don't have a thing to contribute but much to gain from these sites), because we should all take advantage of the waning moments we have to not only thank the generation that has given us so much and asked for nothing in return, but because we are witnessing the passing of an astounding - and quite possibly the greatest - moment in modern history (at the rate of 1500+ US WWII vets per day). God knows that one of the greatest moments in my life came after watching "Saving Pvt. Ryan" in the theater and thanking a veteran of the 29th. Infantry Division whom I had the greatest of fortunes to sit next to during the movie for all he gave so I can sit there.

Okay, sorry for ranting. Back to "painting little men."

Cheers!

 

[Pete_H]

Okay that too :lol:

 

[Le Lancier]

To Robin,

Don't get me wrong. Of course, painting military and historical figures is a definite dedication to those who wore the uniform and fought for what they believed was right. The bravery, skill and soldiership of the men who fought throughout the ages is not being questioned here. I was just pointing out that it seemed peculiar that most would want to see, feel, and experience battles of the past, with all the horror, suffering and hardships the act of war delivers.

My admiration for the combattant is solid and true. I do not judge the fighter for he is not the initiator of the fight. He sacrifices his flesh and blood on the battlefield in the name of his country, for ideals he believes in. wether they be good or not. I paint little statues of soldiers because I enjoy it, and also because I honour these brave souls.

Robin, I'm not writing this to give you the illusion that I am frustated in any way by your comments. No no no, I truly value your opinion. However, IMHO, the fear in the eyes of all men facing the eventuality of their death, whether they be veterants or not, was probably identical throughout the ages. I'm just saying that it's peculiar that one should wish to witness the fear, horror and resignation of a soldier, minutes before he faced battle. I know I'd ratter check out other things than that.

Cheers
Francis

 

[Johan]

Originally posted by Le Lancier@Nov 20 2004, 09:49 PM
I'm just saying that it's peculiar that one should wish to witness the fear, horror and resignation of a soldier, minutes before he faced battle. I know I'd ratter check out other things than that.

... If you allow me, I 100% agree with that, Francis, and I respect you for what you say.
And although I admit to showing some warped predilection for suicidal cavalry charges in dashing uniforms that took place long ago , the place where I really would like to go back to is the summer of 1992.
Just to see if things could have worked out differently ...

Ah well ... c'est la vie .