Who is the Editor of Olive-Drab.com?

In 1998, Olive-Drab.com was started by Chuck Chriss. Chuck has been a "military groupie" since 1945 when he visited his father at bases during World War II. An avid pack rat, Chuck has a vast personal military library and extensive collection of militaria, the source of many of the photos and much of the historical information on Olive-Drab.com. Many of these items are quite unusual today, having been obtained in the 1950s and 1960s.

In 2009, Olive-Drab.com was acquired by Olive-Drab.com LLC, a Wyoming Limited Liability Company. Chuck continues as the Editor.

Chuck Chriss, Editor, Olive-Drab.com, with M37 owned by Frank Suarez. Photographed at the M*A*S*H commemoration, 23 February 2008. Chuck is holding an MRE (Menu No. 7, Chicken with Salsa).

Today in WW II: 9 Jul 1940 Battle of Calabria [Battle of Punta Stilo, the toe of Italy] fought between the Italian Royal Navy and the British/Australian Royal Navies, 30 miles [48km] east of Punta Stilo. More ?

9 Jul 1943 US-British invasion of Sicily begins [night of 9-10 Jul].
9 Jul 1944 British and Canadian forces capture Caen from the Germans, a critical post-D-Day objective in Normandy, France.
9 Jul 1944 US forces reach the northern end of Saipan, finding thousands of Japanese civilian men, women, and children who commit suicide by leaping off the cliffs rather than be captured.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Biographical Notes

Military vehicles: Chuck drove a Dodge WC52 weapons carrier as an Allegheny National Forest summer ranger in 1958, along with CCKW cargo and dump trucks. He was a Charter Member of the MVPA in 1976 (then MVCC) and is still active with member number 547C. He has owned several restored military vehicles, including an M151A2 jeep and a Dodge M37 3/4 ton truck, while assisting on many others, especially with M-series electrical components.

Military firearms: Chuck has owned an M1911A1 pistol, M1903A3 rifle, M1 Garand rifle, M1 Carbine, AR15 rifle, and a dewat M3A1 grease gun. He has been trained by U.S. Army instructors and held a Federal Firearms License to trade with other collectors in surplus weapons, ammunition and accessories.

Surplus and Militaria: Chuck made a point of visiting Army-Navy Surplus stores and surplus vehicle dealers all across the U.S. starting in the 1950s when these businesses were at their peak. No business trip or vacation was complete without a visit to the best surplus barn or army truck dealer in town. When eBay opened, he was one of the earliest to use it to buy and sell militaria. Over the years the collection has waxed and waned, including uniforms, web gear, personal equipment, radios and telephones, weapons accessories, knives and bayonets, manuals and documentation, and many other things.

Chuck worked at the Pentagon as a civilian during the Vietnam War and has been a computer software and digital communications contractor to DoD and the Intelligence Community. He held a Top Secret security clearance and has visited many of the most important U.S. military bases and installations.

To reach Chuck, you can use the Contact Olive-Drab.com page or send email to Chuck at Olive-Drab.com.