Pic Found - New Minichamps Abrams

[Mr. Football]

I finally found a pic of the new Minichamps Abrams (other than the prototype pic everyone's using with the upside down barrel). I ended up finding this pic on Ebay Germany:

[Mr. Football]

http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/CharlieCoScarf/page11.html

Here's some background info about the actual tank the new Minichamps Abrams is modelled after:

Dear Mr. Wyrick,

I found your web page a few months ago and I wanted to write you to share some information. My father, Roger Fritz, was a Lieutenant in C Company 1/52nd Inf.1970 - 1971. I am happy to see that so many of you who served our country in Vietnam are still reaching out to each other. Although my father passed away since his return from the war, I am still very interested in learning about his past and the people he served with.

I have a significant request for you and the members of C Co. 1/52nd Inf. I am now also a 2LT like my father. Currently, I am an Abrams Tank Platoon Leader in the 4th. Infantry Division at Ft. Hood. As a matter of coincidence (or maybe not) I also am in Charlie Company (3rd Platoon, C 1/67th. Armor). Because of my position I have the honor of naming my tank with any word or phrase that starts with the letter "C". I would be honored if you would allow me to name my tank "Charlie Scarf". The name "Charlie Scarf" will be on the gun tube. I can't think of a better way to honor and remember my father and all the soldiers of C Co. 1/52nd. Inf. Sincerely. Jeremiah Fritz

Jeremiah,

Your request is granted for naming your tank the "Charlie Scarf", this is a great Tribute to your father and all who served in Charlie Co. 1/52nd Inf. through out the Vietnam War. Terry Wyrick

Mr. Wyrick

Thank you for granting me this favor. Here is a quick update on where I am at. As you may know from the news the 4th. Inf. Div. received deployment orders in January and we quickly loaded our equipment on ships bound for Turkey. Attached is a picture of my tank "Charlie Scarf", waiting to be loaded at the port in Beaumont, TX. Since that time the Division has been waiting at Ft. Hood for orders to go. As you may know, Turkey did not allow us to use their land and the Pentagon finally made the decision to send us to Kuait. I will leave in roughly a week.

I want you and everyone who served in 1/52nd. Inf. to know that I am honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to my father and the men of Charlie Company. "Charlie Scarf" is a constant inspiration to me. Thanks so much for your support and best wishes to all the men and their families. Sincerely, Jeremiah Fritz

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The Story of "Charlie Scarf"

http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/CharlieCoScarf/

ORIGIN OF THE CHARLIE SCARF

July 12, 1969 Charlie Co. 1/52 Inf. detonated a 105mm pressure type mine buried in ground. This resulted in 4 KIA (killed in action) and 26 WIA (wounded in action)

Later in July while on patrol in the Vinh Loc 2 area off LZ Stinson (formerly LZ Buff) a bolt of black silk cloth was taken from a VC (Viet Cong) tax collector. Someone in the company suggested using the material to make a Memorial Scarf to be warn, paying Tribute to the Fallen Grunts of the July 12th booby trap. The material was sent back to Charlie Co. Headquaters at LZ Bayonet and a scarf 24"x24" was made and a 3" red "C" was added making the Charlie Co. Scarf. The Commanding Officer of the 1/52 Inf. authorized the Charlie Scarf to be warn as part of Charlie Co.'s daily uniform.

The VC & NVA (North Vietnam Army) looked at the Charlie Scarf as a direct slap in the face as the material was to be used for making their black pajama uniforms. The VC & NVA in return put a reward or bounty on all Charlie Co. Grunts, if a VC or NVA Soldier could wound or kill a Charlie Co. Grunt and get his Charlie Scarf then that VC or NVA Soldier would be rewarded with a new bicycle.

Charlie Co. 1/52 Inf. and the Charlie Scarf made the October 24, 1969 issue of the Life Magazine when some members of Charlie Co. used their Charlie Scarf as an armband to show their support of the massive antiwar moratorium in the United States. On page 36 is a picture of two members of Charlie Co. wearing their black armband.

The Kansas City Times, Saturday October 18, 1969 published an article also about Charlie Co. and the Charlie Scarf armbands. The article was titled "Charlie Company Does Its Job, Thinks Hard About the War"

[tanktracks]

Thanks Mr. Football for the pic and info...this is a must have and next on my shopping list!