Matchbook Memories
Remember when you could get matchbooks of all kinds on base or post? There were some colorful, some olive drab (not like we didn’t have enough of that to wear), and some said what you were all about.
My Mom loved to collect matchbooks. A very good friend of the family, a US Marine Colonel, loved to collect all kinds of bottles - mostly ones holding alcohol. A trade started that lasted a life time.
I remember stories of what Colonel Benedict went through during WWII. I remember his HUGE bushy eyebrows! 
And I remember how kind he was and how much he and his wife cared about my Mom and Dad, and our whole family. Their conversations would go on for hours when they came over for dinner.
Colonel Benedict passed many years ago. I remember going with my Dad to their house in “The City” to help his wife get the old Impala running so she could sell it. And, we walked through his old study, and I saw all the bottles and trains he collected. I could still hear his booming voice and his soft grip when he’d shake my hand - he didn’t want to crush my hand ya know!
Here’s a little something from a box my Mom left me after she passed this year. So, in memory of Colonel Benedict, and my Mom, a little USMC Officers’ Training Corps matchbook:
I’ve got TONS of these. I’m gonna drop them on ya, every so often. If any of these “strike” a memory, or make you think of someone you know, drop me a note!
TAGS: Fix4RSO, Milblog, Military, USMC, Memorial, Matchbooks
September 1st, 2006 at 8:43
I can’t wait for these! Matchbooks used to be such a cool window on to the culture…
I have a small collection of matchbooks gleaned during my post-USAF travels with EDS… My favorite “small treasure” is the matchbook from the Michigan Governor’s Mansion, obtained during a post-project reception Governor Blanchard (gov of Michigan, ‘83 - ‘91) threw for the project team, a mix of state govt employees and EDS’ers. That matchbook is fairly rare outside of MI, I’d wager.
Ya just don’t see matchbooks all that often any longer. Another casualty of our politically correct times, I suppose. {sigh}
September 5th, 2006 at 18:54
That is a great post FIX… Absolutely great…
September 6th, 2006 at 9:50
Hey Buck! Yeah, I know, the anti-smoking nuts have pretty much killed a part of Americana. I’ve got a ton of these, and some didn’t scan well. I might have to see if I can take a digital photo and then post that instead.
Hey Fred! Thanks - and I was thinking of you when I posted this first matchbook! USMC! Colonel Benedict was a Marine Colonel and gunner on a huge ship. Boy, did he have some stories - and a REALLY loud voice.
My Dad said it was ’cause the guns were so loud, he could barely hear.