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Aloha,   Here's the rest of that Iranian Hostage Crisis Ace Novelty USS NIMITZ 1980 Gonzo Station cruise from my collection.                        

Hello Rhodesia:   You are correct that your Commando underwent a re-barrel event after the end of WW2.  Your barrel is easily identified as a post-war barrel as it has the CT abbreviation for Connecticut rather than the CONN abbreviation used on the original WW2 barrels.  The difference in the appearance of the Parco-Lubrite finish on the barrel as compared to the rest of the revolver is further evidence of a re-barrel.   All Commandos were manufactured during World War 2.  While a handful were shipped in the immediate post-war period those were all guns made during the war and held in Colt's inventory.   The Commando had its own serial number range.  Your serial indicates that it was likely made in the first half of 1943.  About 50,000 Commandos were made with the great bulk being 4 inch guns.  It is likely that your revolver was made as a 4 inch gun and received the 2 inch replacement post-war.  Author Charlie Pate indicates that "several thousand" 4 inch Commandos received this treatment.   The Ordnance Department's shell and flame insignia on the upper left side of your revolver indicates that it was inspected and accepted by the Department's inspector at the Colt plant.  It is not related to the re-barrel event.   Further information specific to your particular revolver can be obtained from Colt Archives.  Here is the link:  https://coltarchives.com/archive-letters/  I believe that the current pricing for an Archives letter on the Commando is $80.   I hope that information has been helpful to you.   Regards, Charlie  

I served on the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) from April 1979 to April 1983.   During my first deployment we left Naples Italy on January 4, 1980 and transited around Africa to the Indian Ocean to what was termed "Gonzo Station". We returned to Norfolk Virginia on May 26, 1980 after 144 continuous days at sea.   On April 12, 1980, our 100th continuous day at sea, we were each served two cans of beer on the flight deck.   The first photograph is the flight deck during this "flight deck picnic" as seen from the island. The second photograph is me and a friend sitting on the flight deck holding our open cans of beer (I am on the left with the dark hair and the scruffy beard). The third photograph is the actual beer can I was holding, which I still have on my book shelf. The fourth photograph is of a patch I bought in the ships store commemorating the occasion.  

And 

Interesting knife, sadly I have no info for you. Do you happen to have a source for one more of these? I’m always looking for knives new in the wrap or in mint condition.   Best regards, WB

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_1902_Army_Officers'_Sword   M1902 officer’s sword

So I have identified all but two ribbons.  I hate to ask but can any one identify the two circled ribbons?   Thank you in advance.

. Hi Bryanj,   I read regularly that dishwashers and how to load them are the biggest cause of marriage disputes, and I have personally witnessed some of these disputes nay even arguments whilst visiting people . . . . . . so stay away from dishwashers, and the person loading sharp knives into them.    Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 20 March  2O26.   …