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Old 11-15-2010, 11:53 AM
45forme 45forme is offline
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Location: KS
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I was at Quantico for OCS and TBS from 5/74 to 2/75. During TBS, I got to visit Mrs. Van Orden at her home. Her husband had been an Ordinance Officer in the Corps (then deceased) and her son was either a Major or Lt. Col at the time and shooting on the Marine Corps rifle team IIRC. She knew everybody in the business (called Elmer Keith "Beetle Brow" and had great stories). She loved to entertain young 2nd Lt.'s that had a love of guns/shooting--I think that we reminded her of her husband and son. She showed us the original evaluation that her husband had done for the Gov't on the S&W Model 39 when they were considering it for issue to aviators--she claimed that that's how they came up with the name "Evaluators" for their company. She was a grand lady. I haven't thought of her for years---thanks for bringing up fond memories!!
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