So here's my questionnaire... 1. My name is Mike Dean, so my screen name should be pretty easy to figure out. 2. I'm 45 years old, and it was my father who got me into WWII history. (He is an accomplished amateur historian regarding the war.) Growing up in the 70's and 80's WWII wasn't the ancient history it is to kids today; it was something that directly affected a lot of people's lives who were as old or just a little older than than I am now. Many of the adults in my life had personal stories about their lives during the war years. 3. I've lived most of my life in north Georgia, less than an hour away from the site of Camp Toccoa. I've never run Currahee, but I've certainly hiked it, camped nearby, etc. 4. I am interested in all aspects of the war. I particularly like learning about the Pacific theater and what life was like on the home front and in Axis occupied territory. I always love hearing or reading the direct accounts of those who served. 5. I've done a bit of WWII video gaming, but I wouldn't call myself a hobbyist in that area. 6. I am also a WWI history buff, and I enjoy 1920's and 1930's history as well. For me it's a sort of total package of interest...WWI - WWII and everything inbetween. 7. My father is part of an effort to restore Camp Toccoa, which I will detail elsewhere on the forum.
Welcome to this fine forum. Owen I believe "dawg" is southern twang for dog and the mascot of UGA (University of Georgia)
He is a graduate of the University of Georgia (UGA). The mascot for the sports teams is the Bulldogs and they informally refer to themselves as the Dawgs I asked him if he was an Engineer, which is one way of asking him if he is a fan of his instate rival, Georgia Tech, aka known as the Yellow Jackets and the Rambling Wreck (I won't get into that one). My reference to "the barn" is a dig at our instate rival, Auburn University. It has a veterinarian school as well a good engineering school and we refer to it as the barn, as play on the name of the school if you pronounce it with an exaggerated Southern accent (Aw-barn - Auburn). We also call it the Cow College because of the good agricultural schools there. They also have equally derisive names for us. Auburn and UGA have old, bitter football rivalry, but not as bitter as the Alabama\Auburn one. The annual football game between the two is call the Iron Bowl because for years it was played in Birmingham, AL, which used to be known for its steel mills. Talk about odd mascots, etc. The University of Alabama is know as the Crimson Tide, but is a good 300 miles or more from the ocean. The on-field mascot is an Elephant and pachyderms figure heavily in the team logos and what-not. Our "battle cry" of sorts is "Roll Tide!" We say it at kick-offs, first downs, greeting a fellow fan, celebrating a victory, etc. Auburn is the Tigers, but they have an eagle that flies out onto the field before each game. Their battle cry is a "War Eagle" and use the term in a similar manner as we do "Roll Tide." So, you will see both an eagle and tiger in their team logos. College football is big business in Alabama and the rest of the South, although as I get older, I am losing interest in it.
Welcome Mike. Even though I am a northerner (We are...Penn State), my son went to Clemson, so I'm a little southern. Glad you are here. I'll have a look at your Toccoa thread. Sounds interesting.
