tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post448241141840202243..comments2024-03-29T09:07:03.373-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: A feel-good story for Veterans DayPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-61290021007765458112017-11-15T00:10:39.453-06:002017-11-15T00:10:39.453-06:00David Lang Says
@Will, At Perl Harbor, soldiers c...David Lang Says<br /><br />@Will, At Perl Harbor, soldiers could not shoot back at the attacking aircraft because the ammo lockers were closed and the people with the keys weren't available.<br /><br />The military spent a lot more time in the field back in those days, but when in permanent facilities, they didn't keep their rifles with them all the time either.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12084309137541367977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-80429550504893966462017-11-13T18:06:31.967-06:002017-11-13T18:06:31.967-06:00The M-14 I carried as a cadet was S/N 1256007, rac...The M-14 I carried as a cadet was S/N 1256007, rack # 106.<br />When SGM Higa told you to remember something you damnn well remembered it.<br />Stretchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-69512610701485015572017-11-13T16:28:05.462-06:002017-11-13T16:28:05.462-06:00anon @12:01 has a point about them not often being...anon @12:01 has a point about them not often being armed. Even if they have the weapon, they probably don't have ammo. Since at least Vietnam, but probably WW2, the military brass has a fear of armed soldiers, so the only time they have access to a functional weapon is when they cross the wire for patrol. Period. <br /><br />The earliest mention of disarming soldiers I have seen was one of the Japanese held islands we invaded that had an airstrip. The brass decided that there was no threat, and disarmed a group, who were shortly overrun by a Japanese attack by surviving defenders. I suspect this sort of mentality originated from MacArthur, who had no qualms about attacking former soldiers in DC, during the Bonus Army situation in the 1930's. I'm surprised that he, Patton, and Eisenhower survived to enter the war, after that disgraceful episode.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-48450704974560841642017-11-13T12:01:15.770-06:002017-11-13T12:01:15.770-06:00I may be mistaken, but I think part of why soldier...I may be mistaken, but I think part of why soldiers are not so connected to their firearms nowadays is that once their daily patrol is completed, the firearm is returned to a rack. Soldiers in 'Olden Tymes' had their firearm by their side constantly, even when camped out. Remember, soldiers were in the field most of the time, rather than nowadays where the soldier stays overnight in the barracks. Almost like an apartment, only way more people.<br /><br />Anyway, those are my thoughts. Could be way off base.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-13375658728310805642017-11-13T10:49:13.698-06:002017-11-13T10:49:13.698-06:00I used to remember the serial number of the M-1 (n...I used to remember the serial number of the M-1 (non-functioning) from Great Lakes, IL bootcamp circa 1989 that I was issued. Chief Brewer and MM1 Kepner made us carry our rifles everywhere (except chow, where they were stacked neatly outside the mess hall with a guard posted, and while using the head), and we slept with the rifles every night. During PT tests, the rifles were checked into the "armory" in the stairwell of the barracks, consisting of wooden racks with crossbars and locks.<br /><br />God help the man that rolled over in the night and dropped his rifle on the deck! Fire and security watch was to keep a log of anyone making that mistake.<br /><br />I don't remember the error anymore but our punishment was done out on the "grinder", each recruit holding their rifle by the barrel one-armed at chest height out in front of them. Chief and/or MM1 would wait until most everyone couldn't hardly hold the rifle up with their right arm, then tell everyone to switch to holding with their left arm. After a couple repetitions, when almost no one could lift their rifle anymore, we held the rifle between us so that you helped your mate hold the rifle at chest height. I don't remember if we were out there for 15 minutes or an hour, I just remember that we never repeated the same mistake.<br /><br />Blue Tile Spook, CTO3<br />1989-1994 <br />Company 13, 13th Division, graduated on Friday the 13th.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-87094828226984590592017-11-13T10:38:26.030-06:002017-11-13T10:38:26.030-06:00I saw a link to this story on your blog at Gorge&#...I saw a link to this story on your blog at Gorge's blog. Good story, and it does sum up well the difference between the old guns, made with such care and attention to detail, and the new ones, just extruded on some machine.Harry Flashmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071021900005041592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-30069325550021597882017-11-13T10:11:46.386-06:002017-11-13T10:11:46.386-06:00It would probably be a rare soldier or Marine whos...It would probably be a rare soldier or Marine whose affection for a Mattel-inspired assemblage of parts from the lowest bidder would be sufficient to form such an attachment, especially after it's spent a tour or two in the sandbox, but nonetheless it seems to me each service member should be offered the opportunity to keep, at public expense, his personal weapon upon retirement or honorable discharge, the NFA be damned.<br /><br />What we do with the guys who fly F-18s and B-52s for a living and the Abrams drivers, I'm not sure, but they're certainly welcome in my neighborhood. Alphonsenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-16781263578958607032017-11-13T09:01:43.659-06:002017-11-13T09:01:43.659-06:00This reminds me of when they found Shifty Power...This reminds me of when they found Shifty Power's old rifle for him.<br /><br />http://www.odcmp.org/1006/default.asp?page=SHIFTY_RIFLEBorepatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05029434172945099693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-74958634932844297562017-11-13T07:39:44.444-06:002017-11-13T07:39:44.444-06:00Wish I could remember the serial number of the M-1...Wish I could remember the serial number of the M-14 I had in basic training. Sadly none have been released as surplus, not even the semi only versions we had, at least that I know of. Perhaps I should drop hints to my son that an M1A would be a suitable substitute.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780834197167716549noreply@blogger.com