41magsnub
Member
Doh... worked for a minute.
Screw it.. too hard.
Screw it.. too hard.
What is the most stupid thing you saw somebody do with a weapon in the military?
- Thread starter 41magsnub
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tbtrout
Member
Where do I start? One brainchild accidently fired a M203 and it exploded next to the CO's command vehicle. And I have witnessed a cleaning rod shot out of an unloaded M60.
JimmyG
Member
The M85 was the fifty caliber machine gun mounted in the commander's cupola (little turret on the big turret) on the M60A1 main battle tank. On a live fire range I saw a (?20? pound) barrel fly beyond the front fender when a round was fired through it. I still don't think he realizes how lucky he was. Anyway, they cleaned it, inspected it visually, installed it properly, and put it back to use, which may be the second most stupid thing, and to think they happened back to back.
Sonora Rebel
Member
Naval Gunfire...
Place, VNAF Binh Thuy, RVN '71...
LCDR is returning an M-16 to the armory. Pulls the T-handle, ejects the round. Drops the magazine... pulls the "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" (BANG) trigger. Shoots hole thru the hanger roof.
PO3... in his rack (in the hooch) Wakes up to find a large jungle rat at his feet. Slides his M-16 sideways onto his chest... (we slept with 'em... the guns, not the rats) Pulls the trigger... Weapon was on Full Auto... entire magazine was loaded w/tracers.
Shot up and set fire to hootch and end of his rack. Enemy Rat (obvious VC sapper) escaped.
Place: MCAS YUMA, AZ '67...
AO2 on F-8 (Crusader) boresight crew... Fails to remove boresight scope from barrel of MK 12 20mm cannon on Stb side (lower gun). Puts 15 TP 20mm rounds thru the gun. Borescope is disintigrated. Have to wait a day to get another one in from Miramar. (I'm ordered to take over boresight crew....)
Place: USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31, Tonkin Gulf... '65
Ordnance crew is loading AD-6 (A1H) Skyraiders, M3 20mm (percussion fired). Someone... (dunno how) puts about 12 20mm HEI rounds into the ships Tacan antenna on the island superstructure. (Whoops) People lollygaggin' on the 05 level runnin' every which way.
Place, VNAF Binh Thuy, RVN '71...
LCDR is returning an M-16 to the armory. Pulls the T-handle, ejects the round. Drops the magazine... pulls the "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" (BANG) trigger. Shoots hole thru the hanger roof.
PO3... in his rack (in the hooch) Wakes up to find a large jungle rat at his feet. Slides his M-16 sideways onto his chest... (we slept with 'em... the guns, not the rats) Pulls the trigger... Weapon was on Full Auto... entire magazine was loaded w/tracers.
Shot up and set fire to hootch and end of his rack. Enemy Rat (obvious VC sapper) escaped. Place: MCAS YUMA, AZ '67...
AO2 on F-8 (Crusader) boresight crew... Fails to remove boresight scope from barrel of MK 12 20mm cannon on Stb side (lower gun). Puts 15 TP 20mm rounds thru the gun. Borescope is disintigrated. Have to wait a day to get another one in from Miramar. (I'm ordered to take over boresight crew....
) Place: USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31, Tonkin Gulf... '65
Ordnance crew is loading AD-6 (A1H) Skyraiders, M3 20mm (percussion fired). Someone... (dunno how) puts about 12 20mm HEI rounds into the ships Tacan antenna on the island superstructure. (Whoops
) People lollygaggin' on the 05 level runnin' every which way.
Bullseye57
Bullseye
Way back when I was in the service, this E-7 decided to conduct an impromptu weapons familiarization class in one of a base technical school's classrooms. He was a technical instructor at the school and wanted to start a activity marksmanship team. This E-7's shooting and mental skills were shaky at best.
On this fateful day he gathered five students and laid out all the necessary gear and equipment they would need for competing in High Powered Rifle tournaments - including M-14 rifles. He then drew a black marker dot on a whiteboard as a simulated target for dry firing practice. Said E-7 then proceeded to instruct these nuggets on how to properly load an M-14 magazine and charge the weapon by using a bunch of dummy rounds of his own creation. Needless to say, our hapless E-7 actually got a live 7.62 round mixed into his lot of special dummy cartridges. He then loads this magazine with what he thinks are all dummy rounds into the rifle, and proceeds to demonstrate the proper techniques of off-hand shooting. BOOM! The discharged round goes through the walls of two adjoining classrooms, both full of students, and finally stops when it hit a piece of electronic test equipment. All his students were wide-eyed, and so were all the ones in the affected classrooms and pretty much the whole building. Luckily no one was injured in this fool hardy incident but unfortunately the innocent piece of test equipment did not survive the wounds it sustained.
I was ironically instructing a class out on the small arms range for the entire security department, when the base Chief of Police arrives to tell me the story of the incident. "Hey, you'll never guess what E-7 Numbnutts just did?" The Chief could barely contain himself, "He just shot a hole in three classrooms full of students over at the ****** technical school!" He then chortled to me, "The funniest thing about it was, he drew himself a target up on the board - and missed it!"
A Board of Inquiry was held. Poor E-7 Not-so-bright did suffer consequences for his unauthorized little marksmanship class, while not separated for malfeasance, he was Article 15'd, deemed culpable for the incident, and had to personally pay for all repairs to the dearly departed electronic test instrument. Luckily he had enough time toward retirement and once his obligation to the service was paid-in-full, he was "quietly" retired.
The moral to the story was this... "No unauthorized marksmanship classes should be conducted in habited areas," and, "Be sure all your dummy rounds are indeed approved inert teaching aids!
R,
Bullseye
On this fateful day he gathered five students and laid out all the necessary gear and equipment they would need for competing in High Powered Rifle tournaments - including M-14 rifles. He then drew a black marker dot on a whiteboard as a simulated target for dry firing practice. Said E-7 then proceeded to instruct these nuggets on how to properly load an M-14 magazine and charge the weapon by using a bunch of dummy rounds of his own creation. Needless to say, our hapless E-7 actually got a live 7.62 round mixed into his lot of special dummy cartridges. He then loads this magazine with what he thinks are all dummy rounds into the rifle, and proceeds to demonstrate the proper techniques of off-hand shooting. BOOM! The discharged round goes through the walls of two adjoining classrooms, both full of students, and finally stops when it hit a piece of electronic test equipment. All his students were wide-eyed, and so were all the ones in the affected classrooms and pretty much the whole building. Luckily no one was injured in this fool hardy incident but unfortunately the innocent piece of test equipment did not survive the wounds it sustained.
I was ironically instructing a class out on the small arms range for the entire security department, when the base Chief of Police arrives to tell me the story of the incident. "Hey, you'll never guess what E-7 Numbnutts just did?" The Chief could barely contain himself, "He just shot a hole in three classrooms full of students over at the ****** technical school!" He then chortled to me, "The funniest thing about it was, he drew himself a target up on the board - and missed it!"
A Board of Inquiry was held. Poor E-7 Not-so-bright did suffer consequences for his unauthorized little marksmanship class, while not separated for malfeasance, he was Article 15'd, deemed culpable for the incident, and had to personally pay for all repairs to the dearly departed electronic test instrument. Luckily he had enough time toward retirement and once his obligation to the service was paid-in-full, he was "quietly" retired.
The moral to the story was this... "No unauthorized marksmanship classes should be conducted in habited areas," and, "Be sure all your dummy rounds are indeed approved inert teaching aids!
R,
Bullseye
GLOCK19XDSC
Member
There was a FNG on guard duty for the Ground Surveillance Radar (GSR) team along the East German/Czech border around '84. It was the middle of winter and a dark night. A couple of guys wearing what looked like capes walked towards him out of the fog. He pulled back and released the charging handle on his (empty) M16 and started yelling in an attempt to scare them away. They pulled out their pistols and ran towards him in order to keep from being shot by either identifying themselves or by shooting him FIRST.
They were West German Zoll (customs) agents and, fortunately, it was straightened out before anyone was hurt.
Why did he try to charge his weapon, you may ask?
With their cape-like overcoats, he thought they were vampires.
So, imagine a scared kid, watching what he truly believed were vampires coming towards him out of the fog in the middle of the night, pulling and releasing the charging handle of his empty M16, screaming, "Vampires! VAMPIRES!"
No, it WASN'T me!
They were West German Zoll (customs) agents and, fortunately, it was straightened out before anyone was hurt.
Why did he try to charge his weapon, you may ask?
With their cape-like overcoats, he thought they were vampires.
So, imagine a scared kid, watching what he truly believed were vampires coming towards him out of the fog in the middle of the night, pulling and releasing the charging handle of his empty M16, screaming, "Vampires! VAMPIRES!"
No, it WASN'T me!
MT GUNNY
Member
Basic training, Private Garvin, Hand grenade training,
Drill instructer in pit with him ,garvin so scared couldnt throw grenade,
DS carfuly removed it from garvins hands and through it down range,
Dont ask me how but Garvin made it through BT
Drill instructer in pit with him ,garvin so scared couldnt throw grenade,
DS carfuly removed it from garvins hands and through it down range,
Dont ask me how but Garvin made it through BT
xsquidgator
Member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2007
- Messages
- 835
I was a staff instructor at Nuclear Power Training Unit, Charleston SC in 1994, training nuclear operators for the fleet. During my nuc operator training years before we'd had Dept of Energy civilians guard the land-based training reactor plants, rumor had it they were all ex-green berets. They looked like badasses who you should stay away from, and you'd turn a corner in a building on the industrial site and see one of them sitting in a little bunker with a bunch of guns, just sitting there waiting for someone to try and overrun the site. By the time I'd moved up to instructor few years later, the Navy in its wisdom decided to let sailors (not SEALS by any stretch of the imagination, these are sailors who get a kick out of pretending to be soldiers) wear fatigues, carry guns, and guard the plant instead of the highly trained ex-military civilian guys. Bad move.
Sooo, one morning I come into work and go through the lobby (the "quarterdeck" in Navyspeak) of the admin building where you had to go through a metal detector etc kind of like going in the airport. There's a hole in the wall of the guard shack, a nice hole about .45" diameter at knee level. There's another hole the same size on the other side of the room. What happened?
One of these swabbie guards almost blew his foot off with his 45 at about 4am, he claimed he was trying to clear it with it pointed at his foot and it went off, he wasn't screwing around. Uh huh. The guy was truly lucky, the bullet went through his boot in between his toes and the sole of his boot, but he didn't lose any toes.
The command didn't say one damn word about it, just fixed up the holes in the walls, the guards weren't allowed to carry with magazines inserted, and those 50 gal drums of sand for clearing weapons into went up at each doorway. Leave one nuclear valve in the power plant out of position, and there's a Spanish Inquisition until the guilty (and the innocent) are punished severely. Shoot an effing hole in the wall and avoid killing anyone by blind luck, and no one says boo.
Sooo, one morning I come into work and go through the lobby (the "quarterdeck" in Navyspeak) of the admin building where you had to go through a metal detector etc kind of like going in the airport. There's a hole in the wall of the guard shack, a nice hole about .45" diameter at knee level. There's another hole the same size on the other side of the room. What happened?
One of these swabbie guards almost blew his foot off with his 45 at about 4am, he claimed he was trying to clear it with it pointed at his foot and it went off, he wasn't screwing around. Uh huh. The guy was truly lucky, the bullet went through his boot in between his toes and the sole of his boot, but he didn't lose any toes.
The command didn't say one damn word about it, just fixed up the holes in the walls, the guards weren't allowed to carry with magazines inserted, and those 50 gal drums of sand for clearing weapons into went up at each doorway. Leave one nuclear valve in the power plant out of position, and there's a Spanish Inquisition until the guilty (and the innocent) are punished severely. Shoot an effing hole in the wall and avoid killing anyone by blind luck, and no one says boo.
tkendrick
Member
Ft Hood, 1974..Two MP's guarding the COMSEC were having a discussion about that very thing. In an effort to prove he was right, the one convinces his partner, to point his 45 at him and he would demonstrate. He survived, but lost his right arm below the elbow.
Bobo
Member
Didn’t actually see it happen but…
One night while on guard duty at Ft. Bragg in the early ‘60s one of the guys on my watch had charge of an area that contained a number of warehouses. One of the streets on the perimeter was a main egress and exit to the post.
We were each supplied one round of ammo for our M1 Garands, and told not to load it unless absolutely necessary.
Well as many of you know it gets real boring and lonely on guard duty especially at night. You do all kinds of things just to stay awake. Well this guy was dry firing at various objects just for something to do. I guess that wasn’t quite enough excitement so he started loading and unloading his rifle with his live round. About that time daylight was breaking and people where returning to base. One these people was a sergeant walking down the street on the way to work. You guessed it! The guard took aim and pulled the trigger. The sergeant was killed instantly. Next assignment for the guard - a jail cell at Ft. Leavenworth, permanently!
I bet you could also guess the Army’s solution to keep this type of incident from reoccurring…
Yup, no more live ammo on guard duty of course!
As they said when I was in - There’s the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and the Army Way. I think it’s still the same today, some things never change.
One night while on guard duty at Ft. Bragg in the early ‘60s one of the guys on my watch had charge of an area that contained a number of warehouses. One of the streets on the perimeter was a main egress and exit to the post.
We were each supplied one round of ammo for our M1 Garands, and told not to load it unless absolutely necessary.
Well as many of you know it gets real boring and lonely on guard duty especially at night. You do all kinds of things just to stay awake. Well this guy was dry firing at various objects just for something to do. I guess that wasn’t quite enough excitement so he started loading and unloading his rifle with his live round. About that time daylight was breaking and people where returning to base. One these people was a sergeant walking down the street on the way to work. You guessed it! The guard took aim and pulled the trigger. The sergeant was killed instantly. Next assignment for the guard - a jail cell at Ft. Leavenworth, permanently!
I bet you could also guess the Army’s solution to keep this type of incident from reoccurring…
Yup, no more live ammo on guard duty of course!
As they said when I was in - There’s the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and the Army Way. I think it’s still the same today, some things never change.
M1 Shooter
Member
My time in the Army lasted just over one year, and here is why. While doing field excercises, a dumbass who I thought was my friend, decided it would be funny to rip off a full 30 round mag of blanks full auto (we had M16A1's) right next to my ear. I didn't think it was very funny, as it caused a ruptured ear drum, and I lost a large percentage of my hearing from my right ear, not to mention it scared the pi$$ out of me. My Company Seargent and Captain didn't think it was very funny either. I was discharged shortly afterwards because of the hearing loss it caused.
I also remember seeing the cleaning rod being launched by a blank cartridge, but I never did it personally.
I didn't think it was very funny, as it caused a ruptured ear drum, and I lost a large percentage of my hearing from my right ear, not to mention it scared the pi$$ out of me. My Company Seargent and Captain didn't think it was very funny either. I was discharged shortly afterwards because of the hearing loss it caused. I also remember seeing the cleaning rod being launched by a blank cartridge, but I never did it personally.
huntingnt
Member
While I was in Fallon, a Marine CPL and myself were at the police pistol range and he decides throw an old WWII steel pot helmet at the 15yd line. He lines up and plugs it with a 1911 and immediately falls on his ass. I run over to see what happened, and he pulls his shirt off. He already had a bruise about the size of a saucer. After he gets abck on his feet we go down range and pick up the helmet. It had a hole at the edge and you could see the skid mark from the slug as it did a u-turn inside. He bought a lotto ticket that day.
kermit315
Member
haha, what pistol range was that. when we go back for workups i want to go shooting while i am there.
larry_minn
Member
I was told this is a true story. IIRC it was Korea at a guardpost about 4 yrs after (hostilities) ended. They had a glass walled guard hut and were quite a ways back from border. Weapons to be carried chamber empty. 1911
This guard is practicing draw/rack/aim. (with mag in gun) He is useing his reflection as target. As you can guess a Soldier comes up to guard shack for something (I forget why) The guard is just starting his draw/rack/aim and sees movement so adds FIRE. Kills another soldier.
Same person said there was a guy who checked in weapons after shifts. He repeatedly told them to make dang sure they were unloaded and found a way to make sure. He would aim the gun at the person who turned it in and "dry fire" it. Yep one time it was chamber loaded and he got to spend time in prison. (IIRC that person lived)
I was on Camp Ripley when a M-16 was noticed it "went missing" I caused a little trouble. They "searched" my car..... I.E. open trunk/close trunk/glance in window... "you are cleared to go" I had to ask. "Do you know how small a M-16 is?" "You do realize they can be broken down?" My bag is big enough to put half a dozen in with my cloths...
He just stood there so I drove off.
Note I do (hope) it was a drill. That a rifle was not really unaccounted for. Then again I ran across a milatary m-16 about 5 yrs later which supposidly came from Ripley. (in the real world) I got the heck out of Dodge. I didn't know who actually owned it/where they lived/was by myself (and they thought I was ok to show illegal class III stuff to) I was happy to be gone.
This guard is practicing draw/rack/aim. (with mag in gun) He is useing his reflection as target. As you can guess a Soldier comes up to guard shack for something (I forget why) The guard is just starting his draw/rack/aim and sees movement so adds FIRE. Kills another soldier.
Same person said there was a guy who checked in weapons after shifts. He repeatedly told them to make dang sure they were unloaded and found a way to make sure. He would aim the gun at the person who turned it in and "dry fire" it. Yep one time it was chamber loaded and he got to spend time in prison. (IIRC that person lived)
I was on Camp Ripley when a M-16 was noticed it "went missing" I caused a little trouble. They "searched" my car..... I.E. open trunk/close trunk/glance in window... "you are cleared to go" I had to ask. "Do you know how small a M-16 is?" "You do realize they can be broken down?" My bag is big enough to put half a dozen in with my cloths...
He just stood there so I drove off.
Note I do (hope) it was a drill. That a rifle was not really unaccounted for. Then again I ran across a milatary m-16 about 5 yrs later which supposidly came from Ripley. (in the real world) I got the heck out of Dodge. I didn't know who actually owned it/where they lived/was by myself (and they thought I was ok to show illegal class III stuff to) I was happy to be gone.
sacp81170a
Member
SET guard with a maintenance crew on a missile site outside of Cheyenne decided to function check his M-16 while on post. Sat down in the maintenance van and proceeded to step two without remembering step one which is (you guessed it,) remove the magazine and ensure the weapon is clear. Step two, operate charging handle. Step three, selector lever to auto. Step four, pull trigger, leaving four .22 caliber holes in the roof of the maintenance van. Ooopsie.
This next one involves weapons, but not directly. I was one of the sector commanders on my GLCM flight while in training at Davis -Monthan AFB outside Tucson, Arizona. Three days into the 10 day FTX, got a call from the TOC about 2 AM that one of the guys in my sector had two individuals jacked up. Got to the fighting position, asked "Where are they?"
"Over there, Sgt. Brooks." "Where?" "Right there." I tried my best, but couldn't make out anything that looked like people. I finally got down directly behind him and had him walk me visually in to what he was looking at. There were, in fact, two individuals about 40 meters in front of his position with their hands in the air. Problem was, said individuals were of the saguaro cactus species and not humans, yet there they stood, obedient to the commands of my alert sentry with their arms outstretched.
This next one involves weapons, but not directly. I was one of the sector commanders on my GLCM flight while in training at Davis -Monthan AFB outside Tucson, Arizona. Three days into the 10 day FTX, got a call from the TOC about 2 AM that one of the guys in my sector had two individuals jacked up. Got to the fighting position, asked "Where are they?"
"Over there, Sgt. Brooks." "Where?" "Right there." I tried my best, but couldn't make out anything that looked like people. I finally got down directly behind him and had him walk me visually in to what he was looking at. There were, in fact, two individuals about 40 meters in front of his position with their hands in the air. Problem was, said individuals were of the saguaro cactus species and not humans, yet there they stood, obedient to the commands of my alert sentry with their arms outstretched.
Red Dragon
Member
Hmm. lets see. Basic training and MP school, some trainees would rest the butts of their m16s on the floor of the transports and rest their heads on the end of the barrels.
Also, Claymore training. One of the trainees set it up and then the drill Sgt walked up and said "Private, what does that say?"
Private: "Front towards enemy, Drill Sgt."
Drill Sgt. "Read it again, Private."
Private: "Front towards enemy, Drill Sgt."
Drill Sgt: "One more time, Private."
Private: "Uh...front towards enemy, Drill Sgt."
Drill Sgt: "TURN THE DAMN MINE AROUND, PRIVATE!!!"
So nice to know the people that are behind the reason for putting instructions like that on things.
Its sad that they are on our side though
Also, Claymore training. One of the trainees set it up and then the drill Sgt walked up and said "Private, what does that say?"
Private: "Front towards enemy, Drill Sgt."
Drill Sgt. "Read it again, Private."
Private: "Front towards enemy, Drill Sgt."
Drill Sgt: "One more time, Private."
Private: "Uh...front towards enemy, Drill Sgt."
Drill Sgt: "TURN THE DAMN MINE AROUND, PRIVATE!!!"
So nice to know the people that are behind the reason for putting instructions like that on things.
Its sad that they are on our side though
Roscoe M4
Member
Yeah, my brother-in-law was in the Air Force and went to Vandenberg AFB, CA while I went to Ft Bragg, NC. I did escape and evasion in the swamps and played wargames with the 82nd Airborne and Green Berets, while he went to Disneyland and watched a Titan missile launch.
But then I got to shoot: M-16 full auto (lots); M-60 full auto - prone and standing; 66mm LAW - the real thing; 81mm mortar; 105mm howitzer, and toss a couple of hand grenades. Not to mention riding in tanks, APCs and jumping out of choppers - yeah we had guns - lots of guns!!!!
I was a signalman in the USN in the late '70s. We were out in the middle of the water having a live shooting drill at a target being towed by another ship (usual practice). This particular shoot was with the 5" guns amidships. Being a signalman, my duty was to shadow the commanding officer for any messages to other ships in our taskforce. The CO at this time was known to be an extreme gung-ho hard**s. During this live round shoot, one of the the 5" guns swung around and up directly at the bridge wing where we were all observing. While us enlisted men and junior officers were running for cover, our CO, who began his naval career as a gunnersmate, became a bit peeved. The crew in that gun were to be found working in the scullery (dishwashing area) and cleaning the CO's head (toilet) for the next 30 days.
Another fine morning we had an ASROCK (AntiSubmarineRocket) shoot. Made a helluva noise at take off. Any way, the idea is that this missle is fired into the air towards the sub then it enters the water and continues as a diving torpedo. This shot had a guidance radar malfunction and ended up going straight up and back over the ship and entering the water about 500' off our port side. Again, people were running for cover. No small arms action just things that make big noises and holes.
Another fine morning we had an ASROCK (AntiSubmarineRocket) shoot. Made a helluva noise at take off. Any way, the idea is that this missle is fired into the air towards the sub then it enters the water and continues as a diving torpedo. This shot had a guidance radar malfunction and ended up going straight up and back over the ship and entering the water about 500' off our port side. Again, people were running for cover. No small arms action just things that make big noises and holes.
M1 Shooter
Member
Shooting them open, bayonetting them open, and I can't come up with a third guess unless maybe you kept a P38 can opener in the buttstock trap.
Am I right? Maybe all of the above?
BTW, I didn't serve at the same time.
kannonfyre
Member
To Red Dragon and everyone else:
Quote: "Hmm. lets see. Basic training and MP school, some trainees would rest the butts of their m16s on the floor of the transports and rest their heads on the end of the barrels."
When I was doing basic training in 1995 (for the racially diverse army of some Asian country), we were chronically short of sleep and so took naps whenever permission from the DIs could be granted. I was at back of a 3-ton truck returning from a live fire obstacle course and asked my DI for permission to sleep. He said (in fragmented localised english): "yes but you must plug the flash supressor of your rifle and lean your head against the barrel." The intent was that the rifle must not be allowed to fall from my grasp and get scuffed on the floor of the truck cargo compartment.
In their eyes, the DIs saw the M-16A1 rifles as being more valuable than the welfare of the recruits. They would not bat an eyelid if I cut myself while resting my head on the flash suppressor (if the truck hit a pothole) but they seemed to greatly bothered about cracked handguards, worn rifling and loose iron sights.
Lastly, the worst thing a draftee (we have the draft in my country) could do with his weapon other than have an AD with it is to use it to end his life. Due to unprofessional lifers, training stress or terrible familial conditions (or all three), some poor soul on guard duty might load his live issued rounds, and shoot himself through the mouth.
I've personally had to clear the corpse of one such case into a waiting coroner's vehicle during my draftee stint back in the 90s.
Quote: "Hmm. lets see. Basic training and MP school, some trainees would rest the butts of their m16s on the floor of the transports and rest their heads on the end of the barrels."
When I was doing basic training in 1995 (for the racially diverse army of some Asian country), we were chronically short of sleep and so took naps whenever permission from the DIs could be granted. I was at back of a 3-ton truck returning from a live fire obstacle course and asked my DI for permission to sleep. He said (in fragmented localised english): "yes but you must plug the flash supressor of your rifle and lean your head against the barrel." The intent was that the rifle must not be allowed to fall from my grasp and get scuffed on the floor of the truck cargo compartment.
In their eyes, the DIs saw the M-16A1 rifles as being more valuable than the welfare of the recruits. They would not bat an eyelid if I cut myself while resting my head on the flash suppressor (if the truck hit a pothole) but they seemed to greatly bothered about cracked handguards, worn rifling and loose iron sights.
Lastly, the worst thing a draftee (we have the draft in my country) could do with his weapon other than have an AD with it is to use it to end his life. Due to unprofessional lifers, training stress or terrible familial conditions (or all three), some poor soul on guard duty might load his live issued rounds, and shoot himself through the mouth.
I've personally had to clear the corpse of one such case into a waiting coroner's vehicle during my draftee stint back in the 90s.
Fort Bliss, 1981, I was in basic training. We were at the range and had just been told to get into our foxholes. By the way, the foxholes were well tiles set in the ground. Anyway, we had been told to get into our foxholes when we all hear someone go full auto. We look around and there is this kid firng into the foxhole. Apparently, he was really afraid of snakes and decided to dispatch the one in his foxhole. Yes, he caught a whole lot of hell for that.
Yes, he caught a whole lot of hell for that.RecoilRob
Member
"1968 RVN.
Opening C rations, with an M16.
3 Guesses how, but not from anyone who served at the same time"
Twisting the bands off the case using the three prong flash supressor. Prevented from happening with the 'birdcage' supressor on the Soldier Improved M16A1. (I was in back in '74 and heard this from older jarheads)
And, to add a story....Served with a fellow with an awesome scar on his chest. Just below the adams apple to his belly button. Seems he took a .45 to his sternum while on guard duty in Kansas City. Walking the long hallways of the Pay Center, it got real boring at night. (Picture two main hallways with a bunch of interconnecting smaller ones between)
To keep alert, he would draw (empty weapon, of course!) on the other guard in the other main hallway when they saw each other as they passed an adjoining inconnecting hallway.
Yes, the other guy shot him one night. Amazing shot actually. He was lucky to survive but I don't know what happened to the shooter.
Opening C rations, with an M16.
3 Guesses how, but not from anyone who served at the same time"
Twisting the bands off the case using the three prong flash supressor. Prevented from happening with the 'birdcage' supressor on the Soldier Improved M16A1. (I was in back in '74 and heard this from older jarheads)
And, to add a story....Served with a fellow with an awesome scar on his chest. Just below the adams apple to his belly button. Seems he took a .45 to his sternum while on guard duty in Kansas City. Walking the long hallways of the Pay Center, it got real boring at night. (Picture two main hallways with a bunch of interconnecting smaller ones between)
To keep alert, he would draw (empty weapon, of course!) on the other guard in the other main hallway when they saw each other as they passed an adjoining inconnecting hallway.
Yes, the other guy shot him one night. Amazing shot actually. He was lucky to survive but I don't know what happened to the shooter.
Detachment Charlie
Member
1968 Saigon, RVN -- Some alcohol involved.
Option #1. Gecco crawling across wall of hotel room (built by the French using poured concrete for walls, ceilings & floors). Buddy pulls oout his S&W M&P lets go a .38 round at the lizard. After it stopped richocheting around the room, one of the other guys threatened to shoot him.
Option #2 Using an M37 as a bong.
No wonder I did two tours!
Option #1. Gecco crawling across wall of hotel room (built by the French using poured concrete for walls, ceilings & floors). Buddy pulls oout his S&W M&P lets go a .38 round at the lizard. After it stopped richocheting around the room, one of the other guys threatened to shoot him.
Option #2 Using an M37 as a bong.
No wonder I did two tours!
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