From: cldavies@nyx.cs.du.edu (cindy davies)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Snipers at Stalingrad
Date: 26 Jan 93 18:24:53 GMT
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
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In article <C18IzG.Mpx@rahul.net> phil@rahul.net (Phil Gustafson) writes:
>>In sci.military, conversation turned to snipers at Stalingrad,
>>with no mention of exploding dogs:
>>
>>In article <C15y9p.K44@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>,z_kupkams@ccsvax.sfasu.edu writes:
>>
>>>    Also, John Denver ( Yes the Singer ) was a sniper in Vietnam, and I believe
>>>that he had 70+ confirmed kills. 80 to 100 does sound reasonable for
>>>Stalingrad.
>
>We are skeptical folks here at afu.  Mostly friendly (pace Bill and snopes),
>but skeptical.  When someone makes a bizarre allegation like this, we ask
>for documentation.
>
>This one sounds like bullshit to me.
>
>Phil "Now, why isn't that an afu motto?" Gustafson
>-- 
>|play: phil@rahul.net
>|work: (Under Construction)              | Phil Gustafson 408-286-1749      |
>|         Opinions outside attributed material are mine alone.              |
>|        Satirical matter is not necessarily identified as such.            |

After careful examination of the published record, I submit
that John Denver's father may have been a sniper, and/or JD 
himself may have designed a library which might have sunk had
it been built.  

But as for John Denver as sniper I second (third whatever) the BULLSHIT.
Denver, John  Current Biography pg 108 1975.

The older of the two sons of Henry John and Erma Deutschendorf,
John Denver was born Henry Hon Deutschendorf Jr. On December
31, 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico, where his father, a lieutenant
colonel in the Air Force, was temporarily stationed.  Because of
Deutschendorf's military career, the family moved....(early life of
hjd deleted) After graduating from Arlington Heights High School
in Fort Worth, Texas Denver enrolled at Texas Tech University in
Lubbock to study architecture.  To help defray expenses ... (early
musical career hjd deleted)  By the middle of his junior year, his
singing career was taking up so much of his time that his grade
suffered.  Acting against the advice of his parents and friends he
dropped out of school to concentrate on his music.  With his three
guitars and his architectural equipment jammed into his old
Chevrolet and $125 in his pocket, he headed for the West Coast.
In Los Angeles, Denver got a job as a draftsman and began making
the rounds of the intimate clubs in his search for work as a singer. 
Eventually he was hired as a "warm-up" man at a popular local
night spot.  Impressed by Denver's ability to hold a restless
audience's attention, a producer from Capitol Records asked him
to cut a demonstration record.  At the producer's suggestion the
singer changed his surname to Denver "Because of the
connotation of the mountains."  "I guess he thought
Deutschendorf wouldn't fit on a record label," [Denver quoted by
the Denver Post March 10, 1974] 

In 1965 Denver went to New York City to audition as the
replacement for the Chad Mitchell Trio as the replacement for
Chad Mitchell, who was leaving the group to become a solo
performer.  ...To his surprise {Denver's} he was hired as the lead
singer of the renamed Mitchell Trio.  ...  (Much more about
Denver's career etc... but nothing about military service.
--

TNSTAAFD -- There's No Such Thing As A Free Dog.

cldavies@silver.sdsmt.edu        cldavies@nyx.cs.du.edu
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban