Member: Harry.Jaaskelainen

Hi Harry, you have a beautiful library!! I'm especially impressed with your books on the Continuation War! It's a shame that so little on that subject has been translated into English.
Steve

posted by rudel519 at 12:41 pm (EST) on Dec 21, 2008

Hello,I came across your profile when I added "Taks!" by Anatoly Ananyev. I am half-Finnish, retired US Army officer. I am interested in the Winter War/Continuation War and Kalevala; working on collecting just about all I can on both topics.

posted by Vagabondbookman at 7:53 am (EST) on May 10, 2008

Harry, since you are finnish, have you heard of a us army SF officer named larry thorne??? he is one of my personal heroes

posted by joe.leong at 8:27 pm (EST) on Mar 7, 2008

This is one half-Finnish fellow, Joeli Hokkanen, from Minnesota and Maine, USA, who does not speak Finnish. However, some years ago I was "adopted" by a remarkable Finn, the late Col. Aito Keravuori. He graduated from the Finnish military academy around 1932 or so, fought in the Winter War way up north, when wounded met his wife who was a nurse at Rovaniemi(?). He came to this country around 1944-45 as one of a group of Finnish officers who became known in the US Army as the "Sixteen Finns." Apparently they were intent on guerilla warfare against the Russians and left Finland of necessity. He became a full colonel in the US Army Green Berets and retired here in 1967, settling in Union, Maine. I had served in the US Marines during the Viet Nam war, and spoke the military language. Of course, he greatly interested me in the Winter War. I also met another Finn, Oscar Sorsa, who was thought to have been instrumental in founding the Finnish Air Force(?). Many things Aito told me come to mind; many are already forgotten.
But, I was interested in the mention of the book on the Finnish Navy. What was it? In English?

posted by koheleth at 5:32 pm (EST) on Dec 12, 2007

Sigh, too bad about this profile. I was hoping to use your cover but with different authors that will not be feasible.

Now I need to get the book on the Finnish Navy in World War 2 you just entered. A fascinating topic!

posted by surly at 9:43 pm (EST) on Oct 29, 2007

Well, I have my copy of Armour in Profile Number 12 in front of me and page two, upper left corner, says 'by Colonel E. F. Offord'. Odd.

posted by surly at 6:24 pm (EST) on Oct 16, 2007

Good question! As the two Profiles cataloged before yours showed Offord as the author, I did not actually go look at my copy. I shall do so tonight.

posted by surly at 8:17 am (EST) on Oct 16, 2007

Yet more armour! Excellent. By the way, are you sure about the author of the profile on the AMX-13? I and another person also have it but the author was E. F. Offord.

posted by surly at 8:29 am (EST) on Oct 5, 2007

I see we also have similar tastes in AFV Profiles.

posted by surly at 11:09 am (EST) on Sep 3, 2007

By the way, are you using the 'reply' option in responding to my missives? Usually when someone replies, I see in on my profile rather than on the sender's.

posted by surly at 1:11 pm (EST) on Aug 22, 2007

You're welcome!

posted by Harry.Jaaskelainen at 4:43 am (EST) on Aug 22, 2007

Thanks for the covers. Much appreciated.

posted by surly at 1:10 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2007

Yes! I think so!
My hobby is collecting submarine books!

posted by Harry.Jaaskelainen at 3:01 pm (EST) on Aug 18, 2007

I seem to have the most in common with you, at least for a non-submariner!

posted by surly at 2:20 pm (EST) on Aug 18, 2007