"....those old wooden rifles."

[Full MeTal Jack]

This last Sunday, April 18, 2008 my #1 son Adam, nickname, Dukebrownf was awarded his 2nd Lieutenant commission ceremony at Camp Swift in Bastrop Texas. The commissioning ceremony was for 5 new 2nd Lieutenants from the "area". Adam was one of 250 guardsman/soldiers in the fast track officers candidate school.
The boy (man),27 makes me and his mother proud. It all started with the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquets. Then Court of Honnor in Boy Scouts. Followed by Eagle Scout Ceremony. Sam Houston State U, w/ BAA. His wedding. His younger brother, Sgt. Chris B. was there also to solute him. Both boys are vets wearing their Combat Patch proudly.

FMJ, why are you posting this in Garand?

Afterwards, we went out to take pics near a WWII Memorial Statute of soldier in semi attack position holding M1 Garand with bayonet attached. One of the other newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenants was hanging around. Stuck up a conversation with him about how the M1 Garand is still being used in competition shooting. Thinking this might spur a shooting type conversation, 2nd Lieutenant S-----, replied scoughingly, "Ah, we had to drill with those old wooden rifles!"

What is the ARMY teaching these men????

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

I love these old wooden rifles. Cant exactly tell anyone why. Fascinated by history like The Civil War WWI and WWII. Things like why Pickets charge was doomed before he even mustered his men. Going over the top in a trench. Or why the D-day landings were so easy at one point and almost impossible at Omaha. Not everyone shares this philosophy. Probably why I keep my old wooden guns original for the most part.

[Dookiebutt]

I like my old wooden guns.

[doctor rizz]

Being in the military, many people in my unit don't even know about the M1 Garand, other than that it was used in WW2. I have a Garand in our armory on the base and a couple ask me about it during the day. I teach them how to load it and stuff like that.

[oldjarhead]

I was at the range a couple weeks ago with one of my Garands. There was a female Army type next to me shooting an AR. Every once in awhile she'd look at my old wooden rifle with a puzzled expression. I finally asked her if she would like to shoot it (the rifle), that's when she asked what is it. Anyway, she shot it (the full 8 rounds) and looked at me with a big smile on her face...that's cool! I figure she'll end up getting one eventually.
Just goes to prove that many of the younger set don't even know what they are, let alone ever shot one.

[benhinds2000]

T o begin with FMJ, tell 2nd Lt S--- that hes been busted to private no class.

Last October I attended an Appleseed at Osage Beach MO. While there were a number of different weapons there, an ROTC Capt. showed up with his cadets. And they all had....you quessed it. M1 garands. Did a decent showing too.
Thanks
benhinds2000

[tbonecpk]

FMJ I second that. I first held an M1 Garand while in my highschool's Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) practicing for the Armed Exebition Drill team. The rifle used in my JROTC days were 15lb and had the action gutted, bolt welded shut, and barrell filled with led. Actualy holding one coupled with many years of watching things on the history channel about WW2 and the garand sparked my interest in procuring one. Lol first thing I did when I saw one at the gun show in minnesota was flip the thing around then I shouldered it. Felt so natural kinda hard to explain.

[Full MeTal Jack]

Originally Posted by oldjarhead

I was at the range a couple weeks ago with one of my Garands. There was a female Army type next to me shooting an AR. Every once in awhile she'd look at my old wooden rifle with a puzzled expression. I finally asked her if she would like to shoot it (the rifle), that's when she asked what is it. Anyway, she shot it (the full 8 rounds) and looked at me with a big smile on her face...that's cool! I figure she'll end up getting one eventually.
Just goes to prove that many of the younger set don't even know what they are, let alone ever shot one.

Ive let a few folks shoot mine. One was a middle aged lady, about 110 lbs, she told me it kicked more than here muzzle braked rifle. But she liked it too.

Originally Posted by tbonecpk

FMJ I second that. I first held an M1 Garand while in my highschool's Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) practicing for the Armed Exebition Drill team.... Lol first thing I did when I saw one at the gun show in minnesota was flip the thing around then I shouldered it. Felt so natural kinda hard to explain.

atta boy Tbone, just like riding a bike.
Son #1, after Basic Combat Training, did the drill twrill thing too. He said it was much better balanced than the M-toys

[GlockMeister]

Congrats on your #1 son getting his 2nd Lieutenant commission. I can't speak to holding/using or having to drill with those old wooden rifles, but I love 'em just the same. lol

[Full MeTal Jack]

Pic of that day. Two sons, Chris#2 on left and Adam#1 at statue.

Both sons have patches on right sleeve. Combat Patches. They are not the "shootem-up guys" but that help support them in Commuications and kept the Apaches armed to the teeth.

[tbonecpk]

lol thank you FMJ and yeah it is just like ridin a bike. Oh btw got bored a couple nights back and pulled my rifle out for a lil armed ex my sister and a few of her friends eyes were about the size of dinner plates by the time I got done lol owell once you've been doin somethin for so long it just becomes second nature.

[ma96782]

Jeez...........I can't remember when I picked up my first Garand. Though, I can recall thinking............OMG!!! This sucker is heavy!!! Those guys in WW2 must have been some real MEN to lug that around. Then, the re-coil............

I watched the movie............"Go For Broke" the other day...........jeez, those Nisei (2nd generation Japanese/Americans) must have had and extra hard time.

Aloha, Mark

[Cyrano]

You could say the 44nd Regimental Combat Team had a hard time, just like you could say an atomic bomb makes a loud noise when it goes off.

The Army sent the 442nd anywhere they needed a tough outfit that could get the job done. That regiment is the most decorated infantry outfit in the history of the US Army. I don't recall offhand how many Medals of Honor went to men of the 442nd, but it was upped by one last year. A search of old Army records turned up a approved recommendation for the Medal of Honor for then-Sergeant Daniel K. Inouye (he made captain later) for single-handedly taking out half a dozen pillboxes that were holding up his battalion's advance when the RCT was fighting in Italy.

The Army acted promptly, tracked him down and arranged for the President to present the Medal in a White House ceremony. George W. Bush was very pleased to hang in around the neck of Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii.

[tbonecpk]

Originally Posted by ma96782

Jeez...........I can't remember when I picked up my first Garand. Though, I can recall thinking............OMG!!! This sucker is heavy!!! Those guys in WW2 must have been some real MEN to lug that around. Then, the re-coil............

ma it's all in the conditioning. As stated before I was in my high school's Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) unit. We used the M1 Drill rifle (just a gutted out version of the M1 Garand with the action welded shut and barrel filled with lead) witch weighs in at 15lbs. During the school year my schedual was this practice from 6:30-8:30 in the morning 4-7pm at night monday through friday. Saturday and sunday was 9-6pm. Needless to say you got used to the weight fairly quickly. As for the kick it really doesnt kick that hard because the weight actually helps to reduce the ammount of recoil felt.

[Full MeTal Jack]

President presented the Medal in a White House ceremony. George W. Bush was very pleased to hang in around the neck of Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii.

How Cool

When #1 son (on right) came back from basic he twrilled his papa's M1 Garand like it was second nature. He said it was better than the M16s to drill with.

[tbonecpk]

it is every once and a while i'd just start flippen it around . usually happens when I get done cleanin it lol