FORMER U.S. MARINES and the M! GARAND

[0311Shooter]

Hit Parris Island June 20, 1962, 10:00 PM. Five minutes later, Parris Island, or someone there, hit me.

We were issued M-14's brand spanking new. A slightly older guy in our gun club, said he was there in Oct 1961 and says they were the first platoon to have them.

Nothing like laying at the 500 yard line with a zeroed in M-14 and cranking 9 out of 10 in the 5 ring.

[Joe W]

We were issued M-14's brand spanking new. A slightly older guy in our gun club, said he was there in Oct 1961 and says they were the first platoon to have them.

Thanks 0311, that sheds a bit more light on the subject. If recruits were issued the M14 in Oct. 1961, I would guess the transition from the M1 took place about that time throughout the Marine Corps. It doesn't seem likly that recruits would train with the M14 if they were going to be issued an M1 Garand when they arrived at there permanant duty station. 1961 is somewhat earlier than I had thought.
Hopefully we will hear from some Marines that served in one of the Divisions in 1961 and can place a firm date of when the transition took place.
Semper Fi

[Hotplate2]

1976 to 1980, 7051 Aircraft Crash Rescue. MCAS Beaufort, SC. Harrier nightmare during my term. The old AV8A's. When the Harriers were in the air we were on our toes.
Every Thursday am at PI we could check out an M16A1 and fire a match. Due to the economy tanking in 78 it was decided to cut back on giving out the ammo. It relegated us to firing pistol matches with the Government issue Ruger 22's at MCAS Beaufort.
I cannot understand the hoopla about rifles with USMC lineage. As far as I'm concerned all rifles that pass through my hands have a Marine Corp lineage!
Work hard, Play hard. Semper Fi! Brothers!

[Joe W]

Another sign of the times. In the mid 1950s, the M1 rifle that was issued in boot camp went with the Marine to ITR and then to his next duty station. The rifle stayed in the Marines custody at all times, it was never turned in to an armory. Most Marines kept there M1 in there wall locker along with uniforms and other clothing. There were rifle racks in the barracks but they had no locks so very few rifles were stored in them. Even when going on liberty or leave the rifle stayed in the wall locker. In the 3 years I spent in the Marines I never heard of an M1 rifle being stolen. It may have happened but it was few and far between, and I never heard of a single incident. Packs with bayonet attached, also were strapped to the foot of our bunk and these too, never disappeared. Someone know when this practice came to an end and rifles started to be locked up in an armory when not in use ?? Semper Fi, Joe

[Bill Hollinger]

A good buddy of mine Gerry Chrissman says when he went in the Marines in early 1966 he was issued an M14 and carried it for about two months in country. They gave him an AR15 and sent him on his way. He brought it back some weeks later and tracted down his M14 and carried it until they forced him to carry the "new" M16. He sad it was an even bigger POS than the AR15.

[snell]

Joe,
All during my time (1963-1966) we kept our packs and cartridge belts hanging off the racks with cut pieces of coat hangers as hooks. The rifles were kept in a common rifle rack in the middle of the squad bay and each rifle had its own combination lock. The rack itself was not locked so we had access to our rifles at all times(as well as the responsibility to keep em clean). The only ones to turn their weapons into the armory were the troops issued 45s. All handguns were kept in the armory. Any time I was transfered to a new unit I turned in my weapon to the departing unit and was issued a new one at the new unit.
I left in the early summer of 1966 and it was still that way then.

Art

[Joe W]

Thanks Art, seems it was pretty much the same procedure regarding the .45.
I like the "cut pieces of coat hangers" idea. Marines always seem to be able to improvise if it makes life easier.

[snell]

If we'd been in the Army I would imagine that the DoD would have let out a contract for a "suspension system, field gear, rack display, one each" and payed several thousands of dollars a unit

[Joe W]

[QUOTE=snell;38390]If we'd been in the Army I would imagine that the DoD would have let out a contract for a "suspension system, field gear, rack display, one each" and payed several thousands of dollars a unit
[/QUOTE

That's for sure. I sure hope the Marines of today get new gear. It looks like they are now being taken care of. It is about time.