A VTR. This thing is a wrecker on tracks. It was designed with the intention of servicing the M113 personnel carrier. I hated this tracked vehicle. The powertrain configuration was an 8V71 detroit with a transfer and transmission.
You could never extend the boom. I have seen many a use while changing out M113 personnel carrier engines and transmissions. I prefer the 800 series 5 ton wrecker any day.
I remember one day while stationed in Hanau, Germany. We were conducting field training at a site called Campo pond. I was leaning on a steel guard rail and noticed a vibrating that startled the hell out of me. I jumped off and looked down the length of the rail. This VTR was chewing off that same rail. the driver was oblivious.

By the time I got him off that guard rail he must have eaten 40 foot.

The Venerable M151A1 Jeep.

I must of replaced more than my share of engines and transmissions in these things. As far as transportation they weren't designed for the soldier in mind. Combat gear always competed for room. Always cold and wet. Developers and the Army had better opinions.

Steering those at a breakneck speed of 45 MPH on the Autobahn was always a touchy thing. I remember when convoys were conducted. A long line of slow moving trucks would clog up the Autobahn. In an Army convoy there was always a jeep in the front and usually one at the rear with a radio. I always felt sorry whenever one of the Germans plowed into and killed the commander and driver of this little M151A1 Jeep. They never had a chance. On this type of vehicle I first learned how to time a gas engine. Learned how to bend pushrods as well. By the time I built up some experience after those two years were up I could swap out the engine with a new one under an hour and fifteen minutes with another good mechanic.

My unit fought to keep one of the last remaining M151A1 jeeps in Europe. I would go with a buddy of mine and gauge weapons from Kaserne to Kaserne. We never seen any more of these on the Autobahn. Just ours. A Kaserne is a Military post. A maintenance unit had to gauge weapons in all units it was responsible for. Verifying the serviceability of each M16, M2 50 cal and M60 machine gun. You name it.

How we used money back in the day vs now.

I went in the Army in 1981. Every payday we had to form into a line. Step up to a pay officer. Salute and recive our cash. Walk over and turn it into travelers checks just incase it got lost. I remember earlier than that the American express commercials. Travelers checks. If you lost them You got your money back. Well I lost them in the Airport as a private and didn't bother to fill out the check stubs. I wonder how much money American express made off from the public.

In 1988 between stints in the Army I met up with a guy who would buy travelers checks and sell them off for half price. His reasoning was the same. He would then claim the loss. What a crook.

Back in the day it was hard enough to cash a personal check if you were out of town. If they didn't know you then you were out of luck. I once went to my own bank who refuse to cash a check I received because I already signed the damn thing and not in front of them. I pulled my money out of that bank. I was 24 years old.

I went back into the Army. Sure pay stopped problems. It was a way to pay soldiers through electronic transfers. I remember a guy flushing another's paycheck down the toilet during my first tour. Another time a soldier had his paycheck intercepted by someone in the financial system and cashed. He never seen his check. He got a copy of the cashed version and showed me. He was singing the blues for sure. Sure pay stopped all kinds of problems.

Electronic transfers nowadays created a few more issues for some. I researched for lost money. Found out that my brother was owed some. I notified him and he was grateful and He collected. Last week I did the same for another, a coworker.

Electronic transfers are like speech. It vaporizes the second it leaves your mouth. Write it down and record it.

Now you can pay your bills online, tranfer money between banking institutions and pay bills. Its archaic to write a check. When I was a teenager I Must have written a boat load of checks. As more than a few of us can remember We bounced then like rubber balls. Speaking about fiscal responsibilities and kids. Start a prepaid card for your kids and do it whilt they are young teen. they will appreciate the master card logo. Learn how to manage money and you can track their expenditures right online. USAA is one of the few institutions that will allow the program. Do it.
I am a member of a bank that is slow as mollasses when it comes to transfers. Paying another member through online transfers sucks. I go online and pay into her account. They write a check and mail it to her address. Stupid is as stupid does. their excuse is just before you hit the send button you will be able to see when it transfers. I let them know this is 2010. Deer in the headlights.
I will be removing my business. They know that as well.
Back to the availability on how we spend it?. Cash is still king but it is easier to access.

How we used money back in the day vs now.

Politics: One of the few ways I can explain it.

The elected serve those who elect them. The problem is that politicians have been targeting those who have no money while at the same time spending hell out of something that is not there. Doing it at a frightening pace.

I can explain it the only way I know.

In Washington State were I was stationed in the service.

In 2002 a 1,200 foot long, 60 foot wide, and 10 foot deep logjam in the Deschutes River threatening to seriously damage 22 properties. Homeowners were going to lose their homes.

Thurston County officials spent more than $100,000 to figure out that it would take another two months and $1.6 million to clean up the mess. The homeowners pulled together to clear the logjam. Knowing the county decided that was too much to spend on private property. Those homeowners spent $8,000 and unclogged the river in less than three weeks. They were able to keep costs low because many services were donated. They were given a free hydraulic permit and found a jail work crew to clear a roadway, a local logger who was willing to donate his time, and a local church to cut wood for low-income families. For some reason the county couldn't find a way to use these low-cost solutions. Maybe they didn't look very hard. But maybe there's no incentive when they're writing checks from someone else's account.

That's right folks your elected representatives seemed to have lost touch with people. Thurston County sent in a consultant at a price exceeding $50,000 if I remember the news. Just to go over there and look. Assess the cost and report back. There was a stuffed shirt with a tie who accepted that assessment and told those homeowners "sorry we can't help you" The homeowners claimed it was the county's responsibility to clear the logs. Legal wrangling ensued.

Those homeowners were losing homes because the water was backing up. They did the job for $8,000.00 instead of One Million Six hundred thousand dollars plus the assessment cost.

A damn good lesson for a politician.

The tax base is still paying the bill but dwindling as a voting base. Don't lose touch with your constituents. Most often the only time we see you is when you need a vote. Your funding for municipalities will dry up because we who pay these taxes will vote with our feet.