The GMC CCKW

The CCKW during its Career in the US Military was known as the "Jimmy", "Deuce" is the slang that "Dudes" speak, it is a true sign of the generation gap between those that were around and those that never had true exposure to the old GIs that operated and rode in the CCKW. Real CCKW operators will know the difference. Deuce became popular in the 60s much like the word "track" the modern slang for tank.

Can't see a problem with what they are called as I am sure that they were called a thousand different things by thousands of different people.

Here in England during WW2 the GI's also called them 6 bys........

I will modify my statement. In order to be familiar with the term, one would have to be over the age of 60 to have first hand experience with the term and to have met those who were associated with those trucks in the service. In the 50s and 60s, the army was still saturated with WWII vets and the same was true in civilian life as their experiences were still fresh in their minds. As time passes there are fewer and fewer persons to relate first hand to the term Jimmy, and the new terms tend to proliferate.Many participants who enjoy this site are new to these old trucks and are eager to absorb all they can in order to gain experience as fast as possible, these new words just sort of stick.The term Deuce and a half was still a rarity in the army in the early 60s. Note the use of the word "Carby" , where in Hell did that come from, and other terms used on MV websites. Face it, there is a new generation involved and with that , history slowly changes into figments of the imagination. There is a term called "Brown Boot Army" it relates to those who served before the 60s, and with the thinning of the ranks of those who can lay claim to that era, new terms pop up and grow like weeds. History,if we are not careful also changes. I see this happening all the time, I am into WWII Army Air Force history, and grew up at our family business at the main gate to Dow Field, listened to a lot of hanger flying in our shops, restaurant, and office. I heard the tales over and over from WWII heroes, and Aces who were there, and then started seeing their tales appear in the great aviation books of the 50s thru 90s. Sadly the stories are changing in the new WWII Aviation books, as those who were there are thinning and the new authors add a little spin to their version of history. This is an MV site, so I will not go on, but will add that the WWII Army history suffers the same fate.

In following with this theme, sometimes we have to utilize current terms iun order to communicate with those that are willing to learn about the trucks. I can use the term Jimmy and that means something totally different to younger people than the WWII term applied to the CCKW.
As we old guys look into the terms we used, we have to realize that terminology has changed. Example, the word Gay. I recently used an old Betty Grable movie in my class termed the Gay Divorce. The students were confused until I explained how the word gay used to be used.
If they want to call my truck a Deuce, that is OK with me, if they understand what we are talkiing about.
It is amazing how I have had to change my terminoligy since I became a teacher 20 years ago.

About 25 years ago didn't GMC tag the name plate "Jimmy" on to their version of the full size Chevy Blazer.

As I remember it was a disgusting vehicle and did not reflect the "honor" to which the original 'Jimmy' vehicle should have been bestowed.

Bill

History should be strictly adhered to. Lest we forget.
The Army taught me something in their training philosophy, "the Student did not fail to learn-the Instructor failed to teach".
I am grateful that I grew up among the "greatest generation" and listened to their experiences first hand.
What is neat is that current GI trained mechanics are short on experience when it comes to CCKWs, much in the same way I am lost when it comes to a HEMET or M-1 Abrahms.

History should be strickly adhered to but if you are failing to reach the audience then one must change the presentation. I have no problem with the term Deuce and a half in regards to the Jimmy, after all it is a 2 1/2 ton truck, and of course the GMC version of the Chevy Blazer was named the Jimmy by GMC. This gets confusing to younger people unless one explains the history and differences and the use of the name.
Sometimes a teacher has to take the time to explain the circumstances and place into context what the situation was at that time and bring it into context so that the audiance can understand and appreciate the history lesson.
You can call it a CCKW, which has little or no meaning to most people. You can call it a Deuce and a half, because it is a 2 1/2 ton truck, but that is a more current term, but will have meaning to a lot of more current military people. You can call it a 6x6 which covers CCKW,s , or you can her a Jimmy which was the correct WWII term for the trucks we all love so well. Terminology is a By Choice thing made by the people that make that choice.

A couple of years ago I had a sign on my CCKW so that it could be identified by the people along parade routes when we took part in them. It simply read. " 1943 Jimmy"
As I drove past the reveiwing stand, the announcer loudly said , " Now we have a 1943 truck named Jimmy."
I knew then I needed to change my signs as I could not educate the entire population of San Antonio as to what I was driving.

I know what you mean as I used to use the word "Horsey" to my son when he was 2 or 3 years old and we spotted a horse. He is 26 now, a college grad. and an eloquent speaker. I will call him to see what they are called now. I guess when I next visit the local HS JR ROTC to give my little history of Army Transportation I will have to kind of , you know, like man, this , uh, deuce, uh, truck, you know, is , you know, the wheels of the old, you know, Army your old man, or gramps rode in. Yes, like, you know, like, that guy Radar used to ride in. Thats right, MASH, that show where those Army Guys all talk back to their superiors. Got it, and I will end the session by getting them to consider a hitch the Armed Forces.

BTW
I used to do this with three live vehicles, my MB, CCKW and M-114 APC with the .50 on it and still get pleasant remarks from the parents of those High School students, many of whom are now combat veterans. -Betcha didn't know I own an APC.

Don't forget that somewhere in your talk you have to use the term "word" (while at the same time holding out your thumb, index finger, and pinky finger....I have no idea what it means but I see kids doing it every where) and "bling-bling". ( I think that has something to do with taxes).

The purpose of this thread is twofold, to be educational, and to be controversial, it gets you talking. As for me, I practice what I preach,(using correct nomenclature) that is what made Army honor students 45 years ago, and if one practices PM (Preventave Maintenance) by the TM , and in the manner the Army intended, their MV will run more or less trouble free as that is what the Army intended. It ain't cheap, but there are fewer disappointments.
I have fun with the school kids, once you get their attention you end up with a captive audience, and they listen to every detail. I used to substitute teach High School Automotive Class, and had no problems as long as you got their undivided attention. Take a Tank to school and the Class it is visiting becomes the envy of the school. Having your own kid as part of the class went a long way to building some self esteem and taming him.

I have always refered to my cckw's as either deuce and a half, deuce, or cckw. I have an additional problem now that I have the crane cckw. It use to be that I could say to my wife I am taking the deuce, or cckw, but now that Annie is on the road, well I have had to adapt.

I can't call the crane cckw just the crane, as I have a tracked crane too... So what I have done to simplify my nomenclature is to refer to them as:

- Cargo deuce or cckw (the one with the M32 gunmount)
- Annie the crane (as opposed to the TD9 crawler-crane)
- The Kompressor (or Mr LeRoi to fellow cckw'ers)
- The tanker (750 gal AC refuelling tanker)
- The shopvan
- The Korean War deuce, cckw (newest one I have, cargo w/w and hard top)

Then we have the 6 Chevys and multiple trailers of the same type......

I agree with Doc. You call the truck what is convenient to you.
Joel, it is commendable that you are willing to take the time to go talk to the students. My students love guest speakers, mainly because they get tired of me. Keep up the good work.

The trick is to motivate them, and you will get the best out of the worst.

Thanks Joel. Being a teacher I always value advice from others that will make me a better educator. I teach 6 periods a day of juniors and seniors and for the most part most are successful. But then I am lucky. I teach at a school for military brats and they have a different attitude towards life than most other students. My wife teaches at one of the inner city high schools here and every day is not only a fight for their attention, some times it is a fight for her very life. No teachers ever stay after dark at her school. It is too dangerous. If they do, they have the school district police officers walk them to their cars.

My kind of school.
The trick is to teach them fun stuff, automotive and mechanical arts is a good place for kids to express themselves, nothing makes a student happier than to take home something made or fixed with their own hands and show it to their parents. If I taught History, I would send them home with little tidbits on what old honest Abe really did to start the Civil war. History get drab and sometimes a little truth in learning , makes things interesting.