UPDATE: A reader named Jim actually served on the USS Slater. He spotted this post from 2013 and had some insights into the real history behind the USS Slater jeep:
I was pursuing the many facets of ewillys when I found a page with our jeep (the USS Slater jeep) ! I got a good laugh when I got to the last picture of it (the plaque).
This is why:
First, this is our jeep a number of years ago in a parade.
Way back when, some “idiot” member of the board thought it would be an idea to auction off the jeep. No one knew what happened to it after that. Then, several years ago I went on a hunt for it. I found it! Where? The Chrysler Traveling Museum”! Apparently, the auction winner had sold it. (to a museum?)
Then, in the picture on eWillys I see on the plaque (last pic below) where it says “This particular vehicle was owned by the US Navy and served on the USS Slater”(during Korea).
Well just to correct their version of history, during the Korean War the Slater had already been given to Greece where she served for the next 45 years in the Hellenic Navy! DE’s (Destroyer Escorts) did not usually have jeeps. because they couldn’t fit them onboard!
My search for the jeep got me to Chrysler and I emailed them. Not that I would expect them to give it back, but…. Then I get this email back:
The funny thing is all this is happening just months after the posting on your site in October of 2013! I especially like how a so-called “historian” believed how it came to be!
Well, according to this letter they were still touring the country in 2014 (which answers your “where is it now” question from 2013)!
When I am finished with my jeep and she is all lettered up as the USS Slater jeep, I think Chrysler may have a little competition!
Ciao for now,
Jim
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Originally Published 2013:
Joe shot these photos back in May of 2005. He writes, “I visited this DiamlerChrysler Corp. traveling exhibit in Virginia Beach, VA back in 2005, photographed it and posted the story on the G503.com website back then. (when the ewillys.com concept was but a dream for sometime in the future.) I’ve included the link for you to read as background and to share with your readers. I found the follow-up comments by other G503 members the most interesting based on their expert knowledge/experience of the subject.”
Anyone know if they still run the traveling exhibit?
http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=105&t=61931
the first Jeep shown is not an m38.
Doug, YES, exactly what I was going to say and you beat me to it. Look like two entirely different Jeeps. The top Picture looks to be a CJ3A, notice the headlights and parking lights.
Precisely why I questioned “sold to a museum?” (the brain cobwebs prevent clarity of expression these days). I don’t believe they are the same jeep either. But, what the real mystery is, why they would letter it up the same way which was was not “mil-spec” (even the red “shore patrol”)! My guess is they saw a picture of our jeep back then and copied it as “historically correct”! Just more “re-written history”! Especially where they stated it had served on the USS Slater! Another observation was, “that’s a scene from “Band of Brothers” as the background! Another irony is that I am acquainted with one of the actors that starred in that mini-series and I see him in that pic! The last time I spoke with him I kidded him about “Army vs Navy” and then his picture winds up behind that jeep!
Many minor differences between the two Jeeps. One wiper verses two, battery box on cowl, wheel style/size, roof brackets, (shore patrol) letter sizing… Let’s just say M38 verses CJ. This M38 has the 15 inch CJ5 wheels
Just to be clear, Jim wasn’t saying the jeeps weren’t the same or identical jeeps. He just wasn’t sure where Chrysler got the idea that the M-38 served on the ship.
IN WW2 — THE NAVY DIDNT HAVE JEEPS — MY POPS WAS THERE , PEARL HARBOR — USS ENTERPRISE , USS HORNET CV8 — BATTLE OF MIDWAY — BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS — ETC — A HERO — A HEROS HERO !! — TOUGH AS NAILS — SHORE PATROL — MEAN AS SNOT !!! — BEAT YOUR BUTT GOOD , JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT !! — POPS SAID THEY STOLE ARMY JEEPS FROM THE GI ARMY GRUNTS — THEN CHANGED THE NUMBERS — POP WAS SO TOUGH , HE JOINED THE NAVY AND COULDNT SWIM !! — HAHAHA ?? — SOMEHOW GOT OFF THE USS HORNET WHEN IT WAS SUNK AND LIVED ANOTHER 75 YEARS !! <– THATS A BAD MAN !!! — OH , AND POPS TOLD ME ONCE THAT PARKWAY CONVERSIONS WERE NAMED AFTER THE WILLYS OVERLAND PARKWAY ASSEMBLY PLANT , TOLEDO , OHIO.
Vernon,
1) The Navy didn’t have jeeps? You might want to do some research on that one.
2) As we’ve discussed, the EVIDENCE regarding the Parkway name suggests it was the other way around. But, if you have some evidence for your claim, I’d welcome it.
Dave,I figured that was the case .:)
DEAR SIR — I FORGOT TO ADD THIS — MY POPS GREW UP NEAR TOLEDO , OHIO , AND KNEW PEOPLE THAT WORKED AT THE WILLYS PARKWAY PLANT — HE JOINED THE NAVY INSTEAD OF WORKING THERE — AND , OF COURSE THE NAVY DID HAVE SOME JEEPS , BUT THEY WERE NOT MUCH GOOD AT SEA ? — THE GPA JEEP LEAKED OR SEEPED — ANYWAYS , THE LOGICAL ANSWER TO THE PARKWAY CONTROVERSY IS THAT WILLYS NAMED THE CONVERSION AFTER THE WILLYS OVERLAND PARKWAY ASSEMBLY PLANT — THANKS AGAIN AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK .. SPOCK