This is where you try to paint yourself in a box. That's not going to happen here. Sometimes I wander beyond the lines of a typical copywriter. I dabble in content strategy, search, etymology, branding, research, history, green technology, alternative fuels - and a whole lot more. Hope it's an enjoyable read.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Mass with Altar on Jeep 4x4
Image courtesy of Photos Normandie - Patrick Peccatte & Michel Le Querrac - scanned images from the U.S. National Archives. Part of the Creative Commons.
General Eisenhower in a Jeep 4x4
Image courtesy of PhotosNormandie and National Archives and Administration Records (NARA).
Photo taken on July 4, 1944 in an apple orchard located in Haunville, France.
Jeep Hit by Tornado
Eighty people died from this tornado. You can find out more about this deadly twister here: www.crh.noaa.gov/ict/udall/udall.php
Interesting comparison to a new Jeep Wrangler (JK) that was picked up and tossed 100 feet by a tornado: www.jkowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59514
I cleaned up the background a bit - it was showing some sort of water damage.
This Creative Commons image is part of Department of Agriculture - Weather Bureau Collection. Found in the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. NARA Identifier: 283888
research.archives.gov/description/283888
Jeep - Atomic bomb testing
You can see the shock wave lifting up the dust from the desert as it passes the film crew.
Have to imagine that a bunch of these guys were hit in later years by cancer. It's speculated that John Wayne died of cancer from fallout in the Nevada desert from these same nuclear tests.
Some conspiracy folks will say this is a staged event shot in Hollywood - looks pretty real to me.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Korean Hero by his M38 Jeep
Captain Finley of Hazelhurst, Ga., was assigned to Company F, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He resolutely refused to leave his duty until he finished directing first aid treatment and evacuation of wounded men of his company. A hero to be sure - Captain Finley retired a Colonel in the U.S. Army and served three tours in Korea, a tour in Vietnam, as well as duty in Japan, Turkey and Germany.
Image taken on February 22, 1951.
Image courtesy of the U.S. Army Korea Media Center at: imcom.korea.army.mil
This image is part of the Creative Commons and is cleared for public release. This image is generally considered in the public domain. Not for commercial use.
SC359740 - KOREAN CONFLICT
Jeep M38 used as Altar in Mass
Photo courtesy Nelse Einwaechter of the U.S. Army.
Generals in a Jeep
General MacArthur led the United Nations Command in the Korean War from 1950 to 1951. Eight days after this image was taken, MacArthur was removed from this command by President Harry S. Truman. MacArthur had voiced to the press his critical opinion of President Truman's limited-war strategy.
MacArthur served in the military for 52 years.
From left to right in the M38: Lt. Gen. Matthew Ridgeway; Maj. Gen. Doyle Hickey; and Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief of U.N. Forces in Korea. The specially modified Jeep 4x4 has a bar allowing General MacArthur to stand as he inspected the troops at the command post in Yang Yang, Korea.
The post was roughly 15 miles north of the 38th parallel, April 3, 1951.
Courtesy of Grigg, U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration.
NARA FILE #: 111-SC-365348.
WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 1376
Creative Commons image: cleared for public release. This image is generally considered in the public domain. Not for commercial use.
Courtesy of U.S. Army Korea - Installation Management Command.
QR Codes on Parade Flags?
Friday, November 25, 2011
Jeep Transporting Wounded Soldier
The Medics are carrying two soldiers wrapped up in blankets to keep them warm in the frigid cold. The litters are strapped to a makeshift frame attached to the flat-hooded Jeep 4x4.
This Jeep caravan was part of the 1st Battalion, 334th Infantry Regiment. Image was taken on January 9th, 1945.
Thanks to Kathleen for posting this Creative Commons image from the Otis Historical Archives in the National Museum of Health and Medicine.
Medics in Jeep Ambulance
The versatile Jeep with its flat hood and 4WD traction served as a perfect makeshift ambulance for Medics bringing injured soldiers back from the front lines.
Medics of the 84th Division bring casualties back on their Jeep, near Samres, Belgium. They were part of the 1st Battalion 334th Infantry Regiment. Image was taken January 13, 1945.
Thanks to Kathleen for posting this Creative Commons image from the Otis Historical Archives in the National Museum of Health and Medicine.
Jeep CJ-3A Brush Fire PR image
The caption read: With the forest fires now completely under control, the forester with walkie-talkie on right reports on mopping up operations while a Jeep-powered chain saw is used to cut a burning log. The Jeep will drag unburned logs across a fire lane as water crews extinguish the lat spark in the burned-out area.
Brush Fire Jeep CJ-3A in Action
The caption read: Danger of crown fires, dread of forest fire-fighters, is averted as burning snags are felled in the fire area. With speed the vital factor in keeping the fire small and damage slight, a chain saw, operated by the power of the Jeep engine, is used in cutting down the trees.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Custom Jeep CJ-5 Removable Hardtop
Thanks to Brian Teutsch for posting his image in the Creative Commons.
2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Arctic
Wrangler Unlimited has cleaned up nice with the body matching hardtop and fender flares. The more powerful and fuel efficient engine is the icing on the cake.
Jeep Truck Testing
The Jeep brand had a long history of building pickup trucks. Kind of causes problems when RAM is under the same Chrysler umbrella. Last year there was a glimmer of hope for a Wrangler based pickup truck. Since then, Mopar has released a clever JK-8 pickup conversion kit. The $5,499 JK-8 kit allows owners to do the work themselves with just a sawzall and angle-grinder.
Sales as of September were about 300. Was this a litmus test to see how serious the Jeep community was about a Jeep Pickup? Not sure, but as of September 19, the Jeep Pickup hopes are on hold for a while.
Last word from Jeep CEO Mike Manley on September 19th was that Jeep Truck idea is still a high priority, but that it won't see production until 2015-2016 (if at all). Of course, that may change with Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionni's push increase Jeep vehicle sales internationally. Mid November came news that the Toledo Assembly Complex would receive a 500 million dollar investment with production to begin in 2013.
Copy:
Make sure you're serious.
Before you even consider buying a Jeep Pickup make sure you're looking for a serious truck. Because this one's more than a bed attached to a cab. It's a truck designed and built to outperform the field at the things you need a truck for. That's why we call it The Performance Truck.
THE PERFORMANCE TRUCK WORKS.
It can hold more cargo and haul a heavier payload than comparable 4-wheel drive Ford, Chevy or Dodge pickup trucks. And still gets about the same gas mileage as all of 'em. 16 EPA EST MPG, 21 HWY EST.
THE PERFORMANCE TRUCK GOES.
With 2-wheel drive when you want it and Jeep's legendary 4-wheel drive when you need it. 4-wheel drive that's built in from the ground up, not added on like its competition's.
THE PERFORMANCE TRUCK ENDURES.
95.8 percent of all Jeep vehicles registered in the last 10 years are still in operation today. Another tough performance that Ford, Chevy and Dodge can't match.
THE PERFORMANCE TRUCK WINS.
Jeep Pickups took 1st place in the SCORE Off-Road World Championship, the Mint 400, Baja 1000, Parker 400 and Baja Internacional. Once again outperforming, well, you know who.
All this and a price designed to take on the competition. So why settle for less? Name the terrain. Jeep truck performs.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Jeep Legends Advertisement
Copy:
The legendary Jeep vehicles have been protecting forests, transporting troops, delivering mail, plowing snow, winning races and weathering storms for more than a quarter of a century. Longer than a lot of vehicles have even existed.
They've given American drivers more outward mobility, rugged performance and pure fun than any single car in history. And they've held onto their value like they've held onto their legendary design, transcending passing styles season after season, year after year.
But today's Jeep CJ is more than its famous four wheels driving into the sunset. It's the option of contoured buckets, room for four, carpeting, air conditioning, stereo ... hardtop. soft top, no top at all. And something you'll appreciate every time you drive: more miles per gallon than any 4-wheeler made in America. No other vehicle can meet your demands and desires in quite the same way.
Jeep CJ wasn't born a legend. It had to earn the respect of the world's toughest drivers, and keeps on earning it every day. On wilderness trails and unplowed streets. On the job and out on the town. That's why the legend lives on.
Jeep Brand Niche Advertising - Surfing
There's magic in the idea of surfing. The sound of the surf and the pounding waves relentlessly call you to play in an immersed-in-nature experience. The quest for the perfect break drives many the world over. Forever searching. Looking for a remote spot where your only competition is the wave and not a crowd of first timers. It's about being on top. Mentally checked in. In tune with the wave — it's sound, movement and energy. When it's right, you feel like your dancing on the wave. Your in the flow. And you wonder how you can get that feeling anywhere other than a wave.
For many off-roaders, taking their Jeep 4x4 into the backwoods of America can feel like riding the perfect wave at Waimea Bay Beach. It's kind of like tuning in to terra firma. Like being connected from the head and heart right down through the leg and foot pedals and engine and tires — right down to the earth. Nature calls off-roaders much the same way as the surfers. Boulders, rocks, ledges and logs have a way of talking to you through the bottom of your Jeep 4x4. The off-road skid plates are like sounding boards to the soul. It's kind of like Morse Code from Mother Nature passed on through the trail. The gentle woosh of leaves against the quarter panel. The rocks kissing your t-case skid plate. You've got a special connection to the terrain that, when explained, others just don't understand. That is until they make it out to the trail with you. Put them in the driver's seat. Then their ears come alive, and then, and only then, they understand.
The intangible tie of riders of the rip curls and riders of the rugged rock is the common bond that forms between nature's adventurer seekers. It transcends boundaries, job titles, and equipment. It's about being immersed in nature's backyard.
The Jeep brand has had a long history of sponsoring like-minded people who share the spirit of adventure and freedom. One of the key sports that shares the Jeep spirit is surfing. Ben Skinner is showing the Shaka sign, a gesture of Hawaii that says "aloha", that everything is all right, good vibes and mutual respect. Check out a recent interview with Ben by jeep-people after an Association of Surfing Professionals World Longboard Tour Bear Pro event.
While not everyone has access to the waves or has a longboard made by Ben Skinner, you can go to your local Jeep dealer and have instant access to fun and freedom only associated with a Jeep 4x4.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Jeep CJ-7 All-Weather Advertisement
Great all-weather advertisement for the 1980 Jeep CJ-7 Renegade. Just as true today as it was then. I love the "it has weathered passing styles..." line. Trends tend to lead to forgotten brands. Fads fade over time. You can be confident that the Jeep brand's iconic, purpose-built style will adventure on. A timeless classic.
Copy:
A legend must weather many storms.
Let it snow. Let it drift. Let it sleet. Let the streets go unplowed and let the faint of spirit stay locked behind garage doors till spring thaw.
The storms of winter matter little to the legendary Jeep CJ. It has been plowing snow, getting kids to school, taking skiers to the slopes and weathering storms for more than a quarter of a century. Dress it for work with plow and winch or dress it for play with ski rack and Tracker radials - history's most famous 4-wheeler will get you through in heart warming comfort.
There's room for four. The options of a weather-tight hardtop, high-back soft buckets, carpeting and stereo sound. And something you'll appreciate every time you drive: the highest gas mileage of any 4-wheeler made in America.
The most important thing Jeep CJ can give any driver, though, is a feeling of confidence. Not just because it's been weathering storms longer than a lot of vehicles have even existed. But because it has weathered passing styles for just as long. That's the confidence of owning a legend.
Jeep Wagoneer No Competitor Ad
I was surprised to see the 32 HWY MPG advertised for a 4x4 Jeep vehicle. That is until I read the disclaimer.
"We Couldn't find a competitor"
If you've been looking for a luxury car that will give your family the convenience of four doors, room for five, the elegance of leather bucket seats and flush carpeting, and at the same time let you shift from 2-wheel to 40wheel drive on the fly, there is only one. The all-new trim size Jeep Wagoneer Sportwagon. We know, because it's our business to compare. There is simply no competitor.
And when it comes to 4-wheel driving, there's no competitor. After all, Jeep wrote the book on 4-wheel drive. Start with legendary Jeep traction. Then consider that the new Wagoneer Sportwagon has the highest ground clearance and the highest horsepower per pound of any 4-wheeler in its class, and gives you outstanding mileage. 24 EPA EST MPG / 32 EST HWY.
So, if you're interested in all-out luxury in 4-wheel drive, there's only one stop to make. At your Jeep dealer. Buy or lease a new Jeep Sportwagon - the luxurious Wagoneer or the triple award winning Cherokee "4x4 of the Year."
Use these figures for comparison. Your results may differ due to driving speed, weather conditions and trip length. Actual highway mileage will probably be less.
The all-new Jeep Wagoneer. America's luxury 4-wheel drive Sportwagon.
Classic Jeep Quality Advertisement
The Jeep brand won the Total Quality Award for Best Ownership Experience in 1996. It's come full circle in 2011. According to Consumer Report's the Jeep brand has the highest quality of all domestic auto manufacturers.
They also are the most improved automaker for the past year. In my opinion, the best ownership experience translates directly to high resale value. The Jeep brand has the highest resale value for all domestic brands.
Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited were recently honored by Kelley Blue Book as having the best resale value for any SUV over a 5 year period.
To top it off, the Wrangler just won the 2012 ALG Residual Value Award for the Compact Utility Vehicle.
It all goes back to people wanting to own an original. A true American icon that doesn't go out of style. Built with pride and made to last.
Jeep Cherokee Resale Value Ad
Vintage Jeep Cherokee (SJ) advertisement with seven key reasons to change the shape of your wagon.
The seventh reason: Resale Value is true today, just as it was with the purchase of this classic full-size Cherokee (SJ).
Kelley Blue Book just announced the 2012 awards and the Jeep Wrangler / Wrangler Unlimited came out on top. It is projected to retain 68 percent of its value after 36 months and 55 percent after five years.
This is particularly important as most new vehicle owners are averaging just over 5 years of ownership before trading in or selling on the open market.
So if you're looking for a styling vehicle that will hold it's value over the long haul - look no further than your friendly neighborhood Jeep dealer.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Luv Your Jeep!
I luv, luv, luv this idea. Cynthia Closkey made this clever Chalk Jeep to greet Jeep owners on their way to the World's Longest Jeep Parade event in downtown Butler, PA. Awesome!
Jeep altar at WWII mass service
The Willys MB Jeep 4x4 was often used by chaplains in World War II as an altar. This image from the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum shows Seabees of the 111th Naval Construction Batallion giving thanks after the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France. Navy Chaplains have served around the world with Seabee battalions since their inception in 1942. Chaplains prayed and conducted regular services, using any available area including a ships deck, an apple orchard, a hand-cut hole in a Pacific-island jungle or a makeshift tent for a church. They will use a Jeep 4x4, packing case or ammunition box for an altar, or a helmet for a yarmulke, the top of a mess kit for a paten or a canteen cup for a chalice.
Date: June 1944
Creator/Photographer: 111th Naval Construction Battalion
Collection: 111th Naval Construction Battalion
Rights Info: No known restrictions on image.
Repository: U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Collections Department, Port Hueneme, CA, Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/seabeemuseum
New Jeep Engine Saves Money
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Dogs and Bravery
Special bonds are created between a dog and his handler. Time and time again you'll find dogs displaying acts of courage, heroism, and valor. Many of these dogs go on as unsung heroes. Only to be lauded in the hearts of their handlers. A few are commended in the light of others and receive the honor due them.
The U.S. Census Bureau has an audible story that highlights a distinguished service medal awarded to "Chips" in 1943 for bravery. According to the citation, Chips was awarded the medal for his "courageous action in single-handedly eliminating a dangerous machine gun nest and causing surrender of the crew." Four months later, the medal was rescinded when the War Department issued regulations prohibiting the award of such decorations to animals.
Sarbi, a black labrador retriever, worked in the Australian military as a sniffer dog and received the Purple Cross bravery award for service in Afghanistan.
Buster, a six-year old Springer Spaniel British war dog was lauded for breaking a resistance cell in Iraq and was awarded Britian's highest animal bravery medal.
A very moving War Dogs site and "K-9 Wall of Honor" can be found at uswardogs.org. The dogs of war are special breed indeed.
Photo information (Primary): A U.S. Army soldier with the 10th Special Forces Group and his military working dog jump off the ramp of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment during water training over the Gulf of Mexico as part of exercise Emerald Warrior 2011 on March 1, 2011. Emerald Warrior is an annual two-week joint/combined tactical exercise sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command designed to leverage lessons learned from operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom to provide trained and ready forces to combatant commanders. DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, U.S. Air Force. (Released) Foreign Policy had a great story that led off with this image.
Photo information (War Dog Cemetery): Santa Rita, Guam (Oct. 27, 2006) - Petty Officer 2nd Class Blake Soller, a Military Working Dog (MWD) handler pets the head of his MWD Rico, at the War Dog Cemetery located on Naval Base Guam. Soller is currently assigned to Naval Security Force Detachment Guam to the MWD kennel. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John F. Looney (RELEASED)
Photo information (Wounded Doberman in Jeep 4x4): War dog corporal Kurt receives comfort and first aid on a Jeep 4x4 after being wounded together with his Marine handler. U.S. National Archives.
White House Infographic Jeep Obama
The infographic shows the many different suppliers that contribute to the iconic Jeep Wrangler produced in Toledo, Ohio.
Through the first 10 months of 2011, Jeep is the fastest-growing domestic brand, with sales up 44 percent. At its current rate, Jeep will sell 413,000 units this year, the most since Chrysler's 2009 bankruptcy. But that's still well shy of 1999, when Jeep set its sales record of 554,466.
The original Willys MB "Jeep" 4x4 for World War II was produced in the now demolished Toledo South Assembly Plant. The Toledo Assembly Complex is a World Class facility that is raising Wrangler quality to new heights.
NOTE: The White House needs a proofreader - should be "Continental Structural Plastics" instead of "Conteintal Structural Plastics" for the Hardtop supplier.
You can find the full infographic in the post prior to this one.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
White-House-Infographic-Jeep-Obama
This infographic was released when President Obama visited The Toledo Assembly Complex - where they produce Jeep Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, Liberty and Dodge Nitro.