End of a Research Information Era

[m75]

Sad to say, but the US Army has decided that continued publication of the "PS Magazine" will cease this Fall, after a run of around 75 years.

I have seen variations of Half-Mast, Connie and Bonnie over the years since 1973, and really appreciate the work that Ken "Mutt Guru" has provided to G838 readers when packaging the CDs he made available, CDs that captured all of the nuances that the Army placed into the hands of M151 drivers and wrench-benders alike.

Not only has that PS information kept the trucks rolling, they likely contributed to the drivers safety and continued mission accomplishment through the updated information that was in a format designed for easy understanding and implementation.

Here is the PS article, providing the news:
https://www.psmagazine.army.mil/News/Ar ... ernization.

Thanks again to Ken for capturing the information we need to "keep them rolling". Remember the closing phrase in each PS issue: "Would you stake your life on the readiness of your equipment, right now?"

[rickf]

Interesting that Halfmast did not mention Connie's sidekick, the black girl, whose name I can't remember right off the top of my head. I vaguely remember Blade and no idea who Chloe is.

[Mr. Recovery]

Interesting that Halfmast did not mention Connie's sidekick, the black girl, whose name I can't remember right off the top of my head. I vaguely remember Blade and no idea who Chloe is.

Her name is Bonnie. "read the note in the inbox"

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[rickf]

If you look at the pics in that final notice link Bonnie is an Asian girl. Definitely NOT the same one. Bonnie just does not ring a bell.
I am going to dig out Kens PS CD he sent me years ago and see if I can find one of her with a name attached.

[glcaines]

Bonnie was not Asian. I joined the Army in 1970. Connie was a blonde and the black soldiers complained so they added Bonnie, definitely black. I remember when Bonnie was added.

[rickf]

I had added this to my last post but it apparently did not go through. Bonnie WAS correct.

Master Sergeant Half-Mast McCanick—Typically just called Master Sergeant Half-Mast. In Army Motors Half-Mast was kind of a goofy-looking mechanic. Some say he started out as a sergeant (E5), but from the beginning his art shows three stripes up and three rockers down, a sure indication that he’s always been a master sergeant. Over the years, MSG Half-Mast has become the magazine’s most iconic character, most often its “face” and voice and always the one who responds to Soldier inquiries.

Connie Rodd—Connie started as a corporal in Army Motors and Eisner brought her along to PS Magazine. She was originally a brunette but became a blonde bombshell for PS. Eisner said he patterned her after the actress Laurel Bacall. In the 70's, congressional oversight changed her image from bombshell Soldier to extremely knowledgeable civil servant.

Bonnie—Bonnie was added as an African-American companion to Connie Rodd in 1970. No one at PS has ever heard her last name. Like Connie, she went from bombshell to civil servant in the 70’s.

Private Joe Dope—Joe had an image to match that of another comic strip contemporary, Sad Sack. Dope was featured in many posters and the center-spread pages of PS called "Joe's Dope." He was bumbling, clumsy, and often useless. He represented what not to do when it came to preventive maintenance. Over time, he faded from the magazine, replaced with more positive representations of Soldiers, though he's made a few nostalgic returns.

Private Fosgnoff—Joe's pal appeared in Issue 3, August 1951. He finished his Army hitch in October 1955.

Master Sergeant "Bull" Dozer—first appeared as the PS construction equipment expert in April 1955 but is now retired.

Sergeant First Class Macon Sparks—The PS staff decided that if male Soldiers had bombshells like Connie and Bonnie, then female Soldiers deserved a good-looking hunk. So Sparks showed up with his Clark Gable good looks. He was a communications expert. He joined the team in 1978 but was transferred out in 1993.

Sergeant First Class Windy Windsock—Windsock was an aircraft expert that served with the magazine from the 1950s through 2002.

Sergeant First Class Pablo Hablo—Hablo was a nod to Hispanic Soldiers, but not as effective as originally hoped. He arrived in 1993 but his days at PS were short-lived.

The Online Warrior—The O.W. arrived to help PS explain computers and logistics management. Like Max Headroom, he existed only in computer monitors. He retired in 2010.

Sergeant First Class Benjamin "Rotor" Blade—Blade is another aviation expert. He joined the staff in September 2003 and still serves today. Like Bonnie, Blade is African-American.

Cloe—PS’s latest character replaced Online Warrior and is a young, energetic expert in all things digital or related to Army automated logistics systems.