Tag Archive for: 74yearold

The decade-long, $6M effort to put a 74-year-old WWII boat back to water

This is relevant, promise.

NEW ORLEANS—Among the reasons Seinfeld continues to resonate nearly 20 years later, the show seemingly had a joke for every situation. And when it comes to Tom Czekanski, director of collections and exhibits at The National World War II Museum, that joke comes from an episode titled “The Andrea Doria.” Oddball neighbor Kramer has a lingering cough, but rather than visit the doctor, he has a better idea—a veterinarian.

“I’ll take a vet over an MD any day,” Kramer tells George. “They gotta be able to cure a lizard, a chicken, a pig, a frog all on the same day.”

Within his unique professional world, Czekanski is the vet. His role at the WWII museum involves acquisitions and restoration no matter what vehicle in the cornucopia of war land, air, and sea craft happens to be on the day’s agenda. Whether putting an engine in a Sherman Tank from Chicago (via Chile), buying a C-47 Plane off eBay, or confirming free shipping for a Stuart Tank bought online, Czekanski serves as the point person.

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Technology Lab – Ars Technica