Military Lighters - All eras all brands

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Yokota57, thanks! I like this colorful version much better than the engraved design. Plus I prefer the Presidential Seal to the Camp David Sign. When you look at them at the same time it becomes more obvious:

 

[yokota57]

27 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Yokota57, thanks! I like this colorful version much better than the engraved design. Plus I prefer the Presidential Seal to the Camp David Sign. When you look at them at the same time it becomes more obvious:

 

+1. How far apart are they in age?

[Cobra 6 Actual]

The engraved/no colors one is 2009, the full color one is 2002, Yokota57. So, 7 years difference.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[Goosenheimer]

Iron Mike!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Exactly, Goosenheimer. The base’s name may have changed but he is the same!

[yokota57]

N.S. Meyer, INC. New York, NY. Not military, but certainly of interest to many in our collecting community. Japanese-made "Penguin" flat.

[yokota57]

US Army / 10th Combat Aviation Battalion "Soldiers Of The Sky". Dong Ba Thin Airfield/Flanders Army Heliport RVN. Japanese-made tall/thin "Vulcan".

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Numbat 1, yokota57!

[mtnman]

5 hours ago, yokota57 said:

US Army / 10th Combat Aviation Battalion "Soldiers Of The Sky". Dong Ba Thin Airfield/Flanders Army Heliport RVN. Japanese-made tall/thin "Vulcan".

Outstanding find yokota, I love the info on the lighter and that's some splendid enamel work!

[yokota57]

US Army / 1st Special Forces Command b/w Vietnam map. Japanese-made "Coronet Rocky".

[jmd62]

I love the quality look of those emblems!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Ditto … what jmd62 wrote!

[yokota57]

4 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Ditto … what jmd62 wrote!

It is interesting that this one was made without the Airborne tab. No evidence that there was one attached to the insignia or the case. I have seen a number of them with the tab attached. Always glad to supply "Eye Candy" for you guys!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[yokota57]

40 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Nice one C6A! What year is it?

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Sorry, yokota57, it is a February 2002 (B 02).

[Jhos71]

Ronson purchased at a swap meet in the 90s. 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Nice one, Jhos71. You don’t see these combination lighter and cigarette holders too often any more.

[mtnman]

I had been looking all over for a desert storm lighter with an inscription and finally found one from a son to a father who was in the fourth Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The MEB specialized in being a mobile reaction force, especially in situations regarding terrorism or hostages or rescue etc. as well as a fully functional unit that could go head-to-head with the best of the enemy. The 4th MEB were active during the Operation Desert Shield build up of the multinational military force in Saudi Arabia just after the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein led Iraq, their light armored units arriving on the USS Saginaw, the LST noted on the lighter.

 

What's interesting about the fourth MEB is that they were pulled away on January 2nd 1991, 2 weeks before the beginning of desert storm.  James Bishop, US ambassador to Somalia, had been very concerned about the situation deteriorating in Somalia regarding the tyrant-led government there by a military dictator. The resistance which had been building in momentum broke out in December 1990, into full scale Civil War.  The somalis In the resistance forces were organized and making progress against government forces throughout The latter half of December 1990. On January 1st ambassador Bishop, who had discerned this was the course most likely to be taken by the Somali people, Called for an evacuation as soon as possible, military lead. 

 

4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade supplied 51 Marines who flew along with 9 Navy seals in two super stallion helicopters in the early hours before dawn, from The USS Guam who was one of the two ships carrying the task force along with the USS Trenton. It was an incredibly eventful rescue with the two initial helicopters bringing the security force having a pipe burst during refueling with fuel pouring all over the Marines in the helicopter who's stuck it out and kept on going. Other ambassadors and staff were calling from other embassies and international institutions throughout the day of January 5th trying to get rescued with the Americans including the Soviet ambassador who The US ambassador Bishop had to pay a Somali major He was in contact with, a large sum of money to pick up the Soviet personnel to get them to the embassy by armed escort. Anyway, 281 people were rescued and a 282nd person was born during the operation!

 

The lighter is a 1990 May manufactured Zippo. Enjoy gentlemen.

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Excellent score, mtnman! Plus your usual outstanding research job!

[yokota57]

1 hour ago, mtnman said:

I had been looking all over for a desert storm lighter with an inscription and finally found one from a son to a father who was in the fourth Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The MEB specialized in being a mobile reaction force, especially in situations regarding terrorism or hostages or rescue etc. as well as a fully functional unit that could go head-to-head with the best of the enemy. The 4th MEB were active during the Operation Desert Shield build up of the multinational military force in Saudi Arabia just after the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein led Iraq, their light armored units arriving on the USS Saginaw, the LST noted on the lighter.

 

What's interesting about the fourth MEB is that they were pulled away on January 2nd 1991, 2 weeks before the beginning of desert storm.  James Bishop, US ambassador to Somalia, had been very concerned about the situation deteriorating in Somalia regarding the tyrant-led government there by a military dictator. The resistance which had been building in momentum broke out in December 1990, into full scale Civil War.  The somalis In the resistance forces were organized and making progress against government forces throughout The latter half of December 1990. On January 1st ambassador Bishop, who had discerned this was the course most likely to be taken by the Somali people, Called for an evacuation as soon as possible, military lead. 

 

4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade supplied 51 Marines who flew along with 9 Navy seals in two super stallion helicopters in the early hours before dawn, from The USS Guam who was one of the two ships carrying the task force along with the USS Trenton. It was an incredibly eventful rescue with the two initial helicopters bringing the security force having a pipe burst during refueling with fuel pouring all over the Marines in the helicopter who's stuck it out and kept on going. Other ambassadors and staff were calling from other embassies and international institutions throughout the day of January 5th trying to get rescued with the Americans including the Soviet ambassador who The US ambassador Bishop had to pay a Somali major He was in contact with, a large sum of money to pick up the Soviet personnel to get them to the embassy by armed escort. Anyway, 281 people were rescued and a 282nd person was born during the operation!

 

The lighter is a 1990 May manufactured Zippo. Enjoy gentlemen.

 

Nice piece of history and great story mtnman! Thanks for posting it. Ichi-Ban !!!

[Thrifter_01]

Recent find today. 1983 Zippo lighter engraved with 20 names for Riley leaving Randolph Service Station. 

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Wow, that is definitely different, Thrifter_01!

[yokota57]

32 minutes ago, Thrifter_01 said:

Recent find today. 1983 Zippo lighter engraved with 20 names for Riley leaving Randolph Service Station. 

 

"Perlene" is the most classic name for a Texan Lady that I have ever seen! Ichi-Ban !!!