THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 11, 1995 TAG: 9508100155
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA A. MYERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
H. LINDSAY BOONE JR. wasn't even born when the U.S. captured Iwo Jima in 1945.
But as a child, Boone was spellbound by reruns of the 1950 John Wayne movie showing U.S. Marines raising the stars and stripes on the small volcanic island.
He was entranced, too, by the stories of World War II veterans who invaded the shores of Normandy or bombed enemy aircraft carriers in the Battle of Midway.
The fascination lasted a lifetime for Boone, who now at 45 has found several ways to ``relive'' those war years he was born too late to experience. He is a collector of military memorabilia, a re-enactor with the Old Dominion Living History Association, and a member of the Military Vehicle Preservation Society of Tidewater.
``When I was growing up, all the adults were World War II and Korean War veterans, so I grew up with it,'' said Boone, a Portsmouth native.
``And on TV, I used to watch those types of movies late on Friday nights and on Saturday afternoons, so as a kid growing up, I just got hooked on it.''
Though Boone was born five years too late to celebrate the end of World War II, the Smithfield resident wouldn't miss the 50th anniversary of V-J Day this weekend at Veterans Riverfront Park.
Look for Boone in a World War II Army uniform, accompanied by his wife Carole, clad in 1940s nursing attire. The couple buy their vintage clothing from dealers who frequent military shows and gun shows with war-related mementos.
``We have a little bit of Civil War stuff, but a ton from World War II. A ton,'' said Boone.
``Uniforms, insignia, web gear, packs, canteens, holsters, personal items like original tubes of shaving cream, hair cream and toothpaste.''
A collection of similar World War II equipment, photographs and artifacts will be on display under a tent from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the park.
And though it hasn't yet been confirmed, there's a possibility that a 3/4-ton World War II truck with a restored 57mm anti-tank gun will be present to fire a salute during the 7:45 a.m. flag ceremony Sunday.
The Boones will drive to the celebration in their 1943 Ford military jeep - mounted with an imitation 30-caliber machine gun.
``There's another 1943 Ford (jeep) in Portsmouth that's coming, and there are some Korean War-type vehicles that are in our military vehicle club that are coming, too,'' he said.
Boone bought his jeep about three years ago from a fellow club member who lived in Virginia Beach. It is valued at about $6,000, he said.
``Henry Ford really didn't want to build jeeps,'' said Boone, ``but everybody was crossing over, making all kinds of stuff for the war. You've got to realize during World War II that companies that were making typewriters were now making guns.''
Ford's jeep was called the GPW, said Boone. The ``GP'' was Ford's designation for a general purpose vehicle with an 81-inch wheelbase, weighing 1/4-ton and having four-wheel-drive. The ``W'' stood for Willys, the company that held the patent on the vehicle.
Boone has no idea what kind of military service his jeep has seen, but others have been successful in tracing a vehicle's service background by researching its hood numbers.
``Sometimes when you start stripping the paint off to repaint your vehicle, the paint comes off in layers and you can find original markings,'' said Boone.
Prior to buying the Ford, Boone owned an M38 Korean War jeep.
``I sold the M-38 when I bought the Ford because I'm more into World War II stuff,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Carole and Lindsay Boone Jr., dressed in WWII uniforms, will drive
to the celebration in their 1943 Ford military jeep - mounted with
an imitation 30-caliber machine gun.
KEYWORDS: WORLD WAR II
by CNB