My name is Mike and I hail from Western Australia. I bought my CJ-3B a couple of years ago. It had been partly restored. The Willys had spent much of its life on the beach carting bait for a professional fisherman, then on a broad-acre wheat farm. The body was pretty good and I have been restoring the mechanicals since then gearbox, transfer case rebuilds, complete new parts for steering, brakes, suspension, the list goes on! I use it every week to run around town and during winter it is the only four wheel drive I have that can get around my 350 acre farm block. Yesterday was ANZAC Day in Australia, where we commemorate the Australian and New Zealand forces landings at Gallipoli and the subsequent terrible battles there and elsewhere during WW1. It is a National Holiday of celebration and remembrance throughout Australia, at Gallipoli (Turkey) and through areas of France where Diggers fought, such as the Somme. My Willys was in the parade at my home city, carrying three ex-servicemen (we call them Diggers). They were veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. It was a very proud moment to be part of the 99th celebration of ANZAC Day.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Mike Butcher
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Great 3B! My little sister lives in Vic, I truly enjoy your country. I’m a Gulf War Vet working on a ’43 GPW for the same purpose, to help commemorate the brave men who came before me in the defense of my country. When completed, it will be used in parades and at MVPA (Military Vehicle Preservation Association) events. Thank you for supporting veterans!
HI — I am from Australia as well great to see you helping out the Diggers on ANZAC DAY in the Perth march. I went to the Melbourne March It takes 3hrs to pass a given point. It was a very sunny day which makes it all the better. A friend drove my Jeep in the parade I have done so for the past 14 years but as I am recovering from a accident I could not this year.
RON
Mike, I might add the name AMERICAL came from a combination of the names American and Calidonia. The Vehicles were marked with this Division marking. ( AMCAL) and the division was eventualy assigned the numeric of the 23rd Infantry Division. We are a proud group of Veterans.
Mike, thank you for the posting. I’m a Vietnam Vet. who did my R&R in Sydney and almost moved to Australia when I got out of the service. I served with the AMERICAL Division that was formed up and was commisioned in the New Caladonia in WWII. AMERICAL was the only US Army Division that had a name before a number was assigned. I’m working on a 1942 Ford GPW Jeep and will be using it for Veterans day parades also. I’m sharing your photos with my Veteran buddies, Thanks again.
Very Cool Mike !! nice 3B too !!!