C-grunt
Member
Both of my grandfathers were in WW2. They were a large driving force of why I joined the Army myself.
My Grandpa (on my father's side) served in the Army in India and Burma. He served as a MP/security soldier for air bases they were building to bomb the Japanese forces in China and mainland Asia. He was injured in a typhoon, when the building he was in collapsed and crushed him. He had a lot of reconstructive surgery to one of his legs and didn't walk for over a year.
His main issued rifle was a M1 Garand. Though he didn't want to carry it as he found it too heavy. He wasn't a large man. I posted a funny story in another thread about him trying to get out of carrying the Garand. What did smaller soldiers do?
My Papa (my mother's father) Served in the Marine Corps during WW2. He was on many of the islands but saw the bulk of combat on Peleliu, where he was involved in the beach landings. He has some pics from the battle which I unfortunately do not have at this time. He spoke very little of his time in the Marines and only ever told me two main stories. The first was that he was part of the body burial teams after the battle and had to bury many many Japanese soldiers. The second story was how they would get strafed by the Japanese planes. They had concrete bunkers to hide in, but one time the bunker was way over packed. He was the last one to get to it, so he could only stick his head and shoulders in. He joked that "the Japanese were going to shoot my butt off".
The only other thing my Papa would talk about is that he was issued a 1903 Springfield rifle. He had a fondness of that rifle
A few years back I decided I wanted to buy a Garand and a 1903 to add to my collection. Something to kind of honor their service. Unfortunately both had passed away before I came up with this idea.
I bought a M1 Garand about a year ago. It a mid 1950s model that has been factory refurbished and has a new stock from the CMP. 1903s have been hard to come by the last few years unless you want to spend a bunch of money. Luckily last week I arranged a trade with a local friend and was able to pick up a 1931 year 1903 Springfield that is in excellent shape. It has a High Standard 11-44 barrel and Im assuming a refurbished stock as it has very little wear on it.
Now once we get some decent weather here in Phoenix Ill take these old war horses out and run them through their paces.
M1 by chase, on Flickr
M1 by chase, on Flickr
20210617_154942 by chase, on Flickr
My Grandpa (on my father's side) served in the Army in India and Burma. He served as a MP/security soldier for air bases they were building to bomb the Japanese forces in China and mainland Asia. He was injured in a typhoon, when the building he was in collapsed and crushed him. He had a lot of reconstructive surgery to one of his legs and didn't walk for over a year.
His main issued rifle was a M1 Garand. Though he didn't want to carry it as he found it too heavy. He wasn't a large man. I posted a funny story in another thread about him trying to get out of carrying the Garand. What did smaller soldiers do?
My Papa (my mother's father) Served in the Marine Corps during WW2. He was on many of the islands but saw the bulk of combat on Peleliu, where he was involved in the beach landings. He has some pics from the battle which I unfortunately do not have at this time. He spoke very little of his time in the Marines and only ever told me two main stories. The first was that he was part of the body burial teams after the battle and had to bury many many Japanese soldiers. The second story was how they would get strafed by the Japanese planes. They had concrete bunkers to hide in, but one time the bunker was way over packed. He was the last one to get to it, so he could only stick his head and shoulders in. He joked that "the Japanese were going to shoot my butt off".
The only other thing my Papa would talk about is that he was issued a 1903 Springfield rifle. He had a fondness of that rifle
A few years back I decided I wanted to buy a Garand and a 1903 to add to my collection. Something to kind of honor their service. Unfortunately both had passed away before I came up with this idea.
I bought a M1 Garand about a year ago. It a mid 1950s model that has been factory refurbished and has a new stock from the CMP. 1903s have been hard to come by the last few years unless you want to spend a bunch of money. Luckily last week I arranged a trade with a local friend and was able to pick up a 1931 year 1903 Springfield that is in excellent shape. It has a High Standard 11-44 barrel and Im assuming a refurbished stock as it has very little wear on it.
Now once we get some decent weather here in Phoenix Ill take these old war horses out and run them through their paces.
M1 by chase, on Flickr
M1 by chase, on Flickr
20210617_154942 by chase, on Flickr