UPDATE: 1st Sgt. Dwayne Farr

[highlandtide]

Dave where do you get your info? I would love to share the source so that we can keep the info here accurate.

I know of a couple of folks who went out of their way to get the right sizing so I would love to be able to verify what you said about the kilts fit.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I'd like to add one clarification to the article on the site. Utilikilts did not send 1stSgt Farr a kilt. They intentionally avoided using it as a PR stunt. The UK that 1stSgt Farr received was a gift provided by a large group from the membership of the Yahoo Utilikilts group, and due to a great degree to the efforts of a few who went to the trouble to contact the 1stSgt, get appropriate sizing, acquire MARPAT material, and get a custom Survival kilt made.

As far as I know, our Survival was the only kilt actually made in the 1stSgt's size, which is why it is the only one he is seen wearing in any pictures.

Well.. that's a fine "how do you do?"!!!

Point one... yes the gift was an OUTSTANDING effort by the guys on the UK boards. The time, effort and originality was incredible. I'm still trying to see where what is posted above mentions anything about UtiliKilt. By the way, the owner's a friend of mine.
Point two... there's not ONE kiltmaker that DID do this as a publicity "stunt". You may not have meant to sound like that, but it obviously did. Again, virtually all the kiltmakers are friends of mine.
Point three... the sizing that was acquired by others came DIRECTLY from the man and was confirmed through the military. Those who truly cared enough, shared the measurements that they had and made sure that they were right.
Point four... if this response sounds a little irritated, then it should. The entire venture was done as a "thank you" to one of our Servicemen, and was never a contest of "who had the best kilt" or "who can get a picture of him in a kilt". It was done by (what's usually) a very close-knit, supportive and proud community.

[highlandtide]

Thanks Jimmy.

I did change the part that said Utilikilts sent him one.

I hope Dave didnt mean to sound as condescending as he did. But I do agree that he sounded irritated that the info wasnt accurate.

I have tried to report accurately so if anyone has any more info let me know. Back up your sources too.

[Dave]

Well.. that's a fine "how do you do?"!!!

My apologies. I definitely came off somewhat abrupt. It certainly wasn't my intent, but I was a bit frustrated, after the considerable discussion about why UK wasn't doing it, to have it attributed to them.

Point one... yes the gift was an OUTSTANDING effort by the guys on the UK boards. The time, effort and originality was incredible. I'm still trying to see where what is posted above mentions anything about UtiliKilt. By the way, the owner's a friend of mine.

Thank you. The original article did, in fact, state that Utilikilts had sent 1stSgt Farr a kilt.

Point two... there's not ONE kiltmaker that DID do this as a publicity "stunt". You may not have meant to sound like that, but it obviously did. Again, virtually all the kiltmakers are friends of mine.

My point, obviously not clearly, was that UK had not sent one, specifically to avoid the appearance of a publicity stunt. Certainly no other manufacturer has claimed that as their reason for doing so. But your response is as biased as you assumed my original statement to be. You are no more psychic than I.

Point three... the sizing that was acquired by others came DIRECTLY from the man and was confirmed through the military. Those who truly cared enough, shared the measurements that they had and made sure that they were right.

My final sentence quite obviously tainted my message, and I regret that. It is, in fact, hearsay, as evidenced by the "As far as I know" qualifier. My only evidence is chit-chat amongst the participants that most kilts arrived much too large for the 1stSgt.

Point four... if this response sounds a little irritated, then it should. The entire venture was done as a "thank you" to one of our Servicemen, and was never a contest of "who had the best kilt" or "who can get a picture of him in a kilt". It was done by (what's usually) a very close-knit, supportive and proud community.

I could blame a "bad week" but won't. I was irritated by an erroneous article, then frustrated that I could find no way to contact the author directly, compounded by the delay in the site getting the authentication e-mail to me. That all came out in a rather acidic post that I should have let sit for a time and then re-edited after I'd cooled off.

I hope everyone will accept my apologies. My sole intent was to point out that the 1stSgt's Survival kilt was a joint effort by a group of UK customers, not the company itself, and to defend Utilikilts pre-emptively against inference of "heartlessness" as it had justifiable reason not to send a kilt itself.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I hope everyone will accept my apologies. My sole intent was to point out that the 1stSgt's Survival kilt was a joint effort by a group of UK customers, not the company itself, and to defend Utilikilts pre-emptively against inference of "heartlessness" as it had justifiable reason not to send a kilt itself.

Dave... all is right in "kiltland". I too will apologize for getting "miffed". On the Yahoo UK Board, I've followed the discussions (as a Workman's Kilt owner) and am proud of what was done.

I honestly didn't think that anyone from that group would intentionally say something negative about the venture... and you've proved that right!

Welcome to XMarks! Let's start this over!!!

[GMan]

Dave,

Those things happen. GLAD that you are here

[Dave]

From the AP wire:

Farr drew attention when news reports said he was searching for a kilt with a desert camouflage pattern. A Marine official later wanted to know his size because people were offering to make kilts for him. Farr eventually received six kilts and wore each one in Iraq - while off duty.

Well, my sources were at least a bit inaccurate. That's what I get for flying off the handle over hearsay, I suppose.

"The kilt is not to be worn in battle," Farr said with a chuckle. "It wasn't `Braveheart.' We weren't doing Hollywood out there."

It seems the 1stSgt needs an education about the Ladies from Hell. (Yes, yes, I realize he would be out of uniform, but he laughs off the idea of fighting kilted.)