R. Doug Wicker — Author | Stories of Mystery and Adventure

May 25, 2026 · 10:38 am

The Meaning of Memorial Day

Normandy American Cemetery, France

Honorably discharged veterans of the military are frequently thanked on this day for their service to their nation. And although we are grateful for the thanks, veterans would like to remind you that Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day and also known as Remembrance Day to our Commonwealth Cousins) is the time to celebrate military service both past and present. Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of a grateful nation.

Overlooking Omaha Beach, Normandy

Memorial Day was originally conceived as Decoration Day in the immediate wake of the Civil War, and it formally commemorated the horrendous loss of life experienced by both the Union and the Confederacy.

Statue Titled: The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves Normandy American Cemetery

The true meaning of Memorial Day has been all but obscured since Congress changed the date of observance from May 30 to the last Monday in May so as to create a three-day weekend. Now, unfortunately, it’s seen more as a quasi National Barbeque Day and the unofficial First Day of Summer. As a result its true meaning has been obscured to many.

M4 Sherman Tank on Utah Beach

Veterans Day suffered a similar fate – moved to the fourth Monday of October – but in this case Congress acknowledged the dilution of that holiday’s true meaning and moved it back to its hard date of November 11 a few years later. Congress really ought to do the same with Memorial Day. To me, that’s a much more solemn occasion deserving of even more respect than Veterans Day.

German Gun Emplacement Overlooking Pointe de Hoc

In April, 2012, I had the solemn privilege of walking through some of the battlefields of the D-Day Invasion in Normandy, France. It was a pilgrimage I had wanted to make since I was a youngster of nine sitting in a darkened theater at an Air Force Base in Ohio watching the classic film The Longest Day. The pictures I took that cold day in April are what you’ve been experiencing throughout this blog.

Pointe de Hoc, Normandy

Below are a few more reminders of what we commemorate on this solemn occasion. Included in those photographs are the markers for Medal of Honor recipient Brigadier General Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt, Jr. who died just five weeks after he led the landing at Utah Beach, and his younger brother 2nd Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt of the 95th Aero Squadron (Pursuit), who also fell on French soil just two days shy of twenty-six years earlier — during World War I. They are two brothers separated by two World Wars reunited a quarter century later in hallowed ground in Normandy, France.

Normandy American Cemetery, France

Normandy American Cemetery

Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Normandy, France

2nd Lieutenant Quentin Roosevlelt

Cambodia – Siem Reap and the Golden Temple Residence

Golden Temple Residence, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Time to begin another long series on yet another lengthy trip. Over the coming months I’ll be showing you our forty-day Southeast Asia adventure, which began in Siem Reap, Cambodia via Singapore on 1 November 2025. From there we ventured on to Bangkok, Thailand, then returned to Singapore for a two-night stay before embarking on a 14-night cruise. That cruise took us to Penang and Phuket, Thailand; Hambantota and Colombo, Sri Lanka; Cochin and Goa, India; finishing up in Mumbai, India. After disembarking in Mumbai, we began an extensive 17-day exploration of India. That tour took us to Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra, Chennai, and finally to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) before heading back to Singapore for two nights. So, as you can see, we have quite a lot to cover here on the blog over the next several months.

But before I get to the fascinating antiquities in and around Siem Reap, Cambodia (such as Angkor Wat), I’m going to do something I seldom even consider. I’m going to show our incredible accommodations here and, on Wednesday, I’ll show you the traditional Khmer dances we enjoyed at this resort’s restaurant during their weekly dinner show. Yes, we were that impressed with this five-star resort — the Golden Temple Residence on Angkor Night Market Street near Sok San Road and almost directly across from the Golden Temple Boutique, which is another five-star resort falling under the same ownership. Not only were the accommodations superb and the restaurant wonderful, but the location was also perfect. We found ourselves less that ten minutes’ walk from Siem Reap’s Art Center Night Market and other major shopping areas.

When you arrive to the Golden Temple Residence and pass through the nondescript outer wall, you’ll stroll past the pool (above) and into the entrance leading to the main lobby:

Before we take a look at our room, let’s focus once more on that pool:

We’ll head to the restaurant in a moment, but for now it’s time to show you our fantastic room:

After visiting the room, Ursula and I headed back toward the lobby and stepped into the adjoining restaurant:

Golden Temple Residence restaurant (reception area visible through the opening on the left)

Here you’ll find a restaurant that caters to local cuisine, which you can see at this menu link. If that’s not to your liking, however, restaurants featuring more western-style foods are nearby. But when in Cambodia….

Wednesday’s article returns us to the same restaurant, but this time for a dinner show featuring traditional Khmer dances.

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Fun Firearms Friday: Smith and Wesson Revolver Week — Uncommon S&W Model 36-1

Smith and Wesson Model 36-1 in an uncommon configuration

You may have noticed over the past few years that I’ve developed a bug for older Smith and Wesson revolvers, and this week only serves to put an exclamation point on that observation. Military Monday featured a World War II S&W Victory, which was derived from the existing L-Frame S&W M&P (Military and Police). Magnum Wednesday highlighted a “no-dash” example of the S&W Model 57, an N-Frame chambered for the fascinating, versatile, and, in my opinion, underrated .41 Remington Magnum. Today’s Fun Firearm Friday belongs to an uncommonly configured S&W Model 36-1. Taking a look at the photograph above, can you see what makes this an unusual configuration? We’ll get to that in a moment, but first a bit of Model 36 History:

S&W Model 36-1; firing pin integrated into the hammer

The S&W Model 36 began life in 1950 as the “.38 Chiefs Special,” a smallish, concealable revolver with a five-chamber cylinder built on Smith’s new J-Frame. In the late 1950s, Smith and Wesson transitioned from model names to model numbers. For instance, the 1935 “Registered Magnum,” which was renamed the “.357 Magnum” in 1939, became the “Model 27” in 1957. That same year Smith and Wesson dropped the “M&P” name in favor of “Model 10,” and the “Chiefs Special” became the “Model 36.”

Model 36 was Smith’s answer to the Colt Detective Special, a compact, six-round revolver normally configured with a 2-inch/51mm barrel and a rounded butt. And there’s your clue as to what makes this particular Model 36 somewhat unique — it sports a 3-inch/76mm barrel and a square butt rather than the 36’s usual 1.875-inch/48mm barrel and round butt configuration. The stainless-steel version of the Model 37 is designated Model 60, and I acquired a “Ladysmith” version of that pistol five years ago (for my article on that revolver, see: Revolver Week — Ladies’ Day with a S&W Model 60-7 “Lady Smith”). Here’s a comparison of these Model 36/Model 60 configurations: the long-barrel/square butt variant (left) and the more common short-barrel/round butt:

J-Frames — S&W Model 36-1 (lower left) and Model 60-7 “Ladysmith”

And if the J-Frame looks familiar with a round butt and 1.875-inch barrel, you may be getting old, as in, old enough to remember the original Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980). The Model 36 was Steve McGarrett’s sidearm of choice for the first seven seasons of that series. It’s also the gun you saw being loaded during the original Five-O opening credit sequence.

S&W Model 36-1 with 3-inch barrel and square butt

The serial number on this particular Model 36-1 puts it in the 1976-1977 range, with the high number indicating to me that it was made in mid to late 1977. As with all Smith and Wesson revolvers, you’ll find the serial number stamped on the butt, and this one also has the serial number, minus the letter prefix, pressed inside the right-side wood grip panel:

Serial number also located inside the right grip panel

I’ve covered this particular Smith and Wesson anomaly before, but I’ll repeat it here for those who are new to this blog. On Smith revolvers you’ll also other stamped numbers. One, of course, is model number, including the engineering change number, on the frame beneath the cylinder crane. Looking at the photo below reveals this to be a Model 36, engineering change 1 (hence: 36-1). “No-dash” Model 36/Chief Specials were made from 1950 until 1966. Change 1 ran from 1967 through 1982, when the S&W phased out the pinned barrel. For a primer on “no dash,” “pinned,” and “recessed,” see: Smith & Wesson Revolver Lesson/Quiz — What do “Pinned,” “Recessed,” and “No-Dash” mean?

S&W model and engineering change numbers — “36-1”

But there’s another number you’ll find stamped on older S&W revolvers, and this stamp is frequently confused by novices for the serial number. It’s not. It’s the assembly number, and that was used internally by Smith to ensure matched parts stayed together during the hand fitting and assembly stages of production. About the only thing these numbers were good for once the gun left the plant is to tell you if you’re looking at an all-matching example, which is worth far more to a collector. On this Model 36 you’ll find the assembly number on the frame beneath the left-side grip panel and on the cylinder crane (also called the “yoke”) directly across from the model/change number stamp:

… with the matching assembly number on the cylinder crane

I mentioned above that Smith began transitioning away from their pinned barrels in 1982. Since this Model 36 dates to 1977, the barrel should be pinned, and it is:

S&W “pin” on the upper frame to the right of the cylinder

So, what did that pin do? And what makes a pinned S&W more valuable to collectors? On most revolvers the front sight is an integral part of the barrel, and the barrel is screwed into the frame. See the potential problem here? If the barrel is screwed in too much or too little, the front sight blade will be canted either left or right of center, which is impossible to compensate for if the revolver has a fixed rear sight. Smith solved this potential dilemma by machining a notch into the top rear of the barrel forward of the threads and drilled a hole through the upper frame. The barrel was threaded into the frame until the barrel notch aligned with the hole, at which point a pin was pressed through the hole and across the notch. Modern manufacturing processes and tolerances made this expensive added touch redundant, and it was eliminated along with Smith’s recessed cylinder chambers. But the mystique of “pinned and recessed” Smith and Wesson revolvers remains strong among collectors to this day.

Pin as seen on the left side (upper right)

If you read my article on pinned and recessed Smiths, then you know not all S&W revolvers had recessed cylinders. That costly feature was reserved for Magnum chamberings (see Monday’s article on the S&W Model 57) and rimfire models (such as this prewar S&W K22 “Outdoorsman” made on 1 September 1938: Fun Firearm Friday — Collectible 1938 Smith & Wesson K-22 ‘Outdoorsman’. Since the Model 36 only came in .38 Special, which is a non-Magnum round, this gun shouldn’t have recessed chambers, and it doesn’t: