My true name is Steven Henry McGarthwaite, my handle is "PARNELLI"
I have told this true story many times in my life, but there is always someone who has never heard the story....so here is how it goes!
My Basic Training Drill Sergeant Srader was unable to pronounce my last name so he gave me a handle usin my initials (S. H.)
1969, I Corp, Viet man. I inherited a 1948 Dodge 3/4 ton military vehicle from the Korean War era. Trouble is the engine block is cracked, and there are no replacement parts for a 1948 Dodge 3/4 ton military vehicle!
Went on a Scavenger Hunt, at the local junk yard where all military vehicles end up after getting hit by a RPG or blown up by a land mine....
Where I found a Ford Civilian Sedan that has it back end missing, but under the hood I found a functional 289 cu in V8 & transmission.
Did some other modifications to my 1948 Dodge while installing the Ford V8, Operation Officer, wanted to go a a test drive in my Military Psycho- Hillbilly 3/4 Ton. When the test drive dropped the Major off at the Operation Center Building and when inside with the Major. Operation Sargent looked up from his paper worked, and asked....
"Sir: How was the test drive, Sir!"
Major replied; "Sergeant McGarthwaite should not be allowed to drive nothing but an Army Tent Stake, he think his name is Parnelli Jones!"
Next morning when I went to the motor pool for motor stables, someone had stenciled the word "PARNELLI" on the radiator of my 3/4 ton.
Ever since that day my handle has been "Parnelli"!
I had the only Military Vehicle in Vietnam that could travel at speed close to 120 mph....my speedometer only went up to 55 mph, so I had to do time trials on the main road between mile markers.....
Last edited by Steven McGarthwaite; 05-19-2011 at 03:18 AM.
"Everyone you meet in life, give you happiness! Some by their arrival, others by their departure!" ~Parnelli