"..Thorough investigation of all possible agents or clues fail to thus far reveal..."

BATTERY "G"
246TH. COAST ARTILLERY
(HARBOR DEFENCE)
BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA

April 9, 1934.

Subject: Lost Rifle Cal 30, RIA 353080.

To: The Chief of Ordnance, Washington, D. C.

1. In compliance with War Department Circular No. 6, the following report of the loss of a U. S. Magazine Rifle Caliber 30 RIA 353,080 is made.

2. At the close of drill on March 12, 1934 the above rifle was missing and thorough investigation of all possible agents or clues fail to thus far reveal anything tangible to follow.

3. The delay in making this report was due to the inability of this office to procure the necessary extract of the circular concerned, no copy of the original circular being available to this office.

s/s F. F. Groseclose

F. F. GROSECLOSE
Captain, CA-VA-NG
Comd Bty G 246 CA

Hdqrs 246th CA-Va-NG,
Lynchburg, Va,,

April 16, 1934.

To: Chief of Ordnance,
Washington, D., C., [sic]

thru [sic]

The Adjutant General of Virginia,
Richmond, Va.

s/s Alonzo E. Wood

ALONZO E. WOOD
Colonel, CA-Va-NG
Commanding

The Adjutant General of Virginia,
Richmond, Va.,

April 19, 1934.

TO: Chief of Ordnance,
Through Headquarters Third Corps Area.

1. Attention is invited to report from Commanding Officer, Battery G, 246th Coast Artillery, VANG, regarding the loss of rifle Ser No. RIA 353080, Cal. 30, M 1903. If any trace is found of this rifle, it is requested that this office be advised.

s/s S. Gardner Waller

S. GARDNER WALLER
Brigadier General
The Adjutant General.

COO 474 (4-9-34) DE/lcm

Office of the Ordnance Officer,
Hqrs., 3rd C.A.,
Baltimore, Md.,

April 24, 1934.

To: The Chief of Ordnance,
Washington, D. C.

Inviting attention to preceding correspondence and advising that Corps Area records have been corrected accordingly.

s/s James W. Walters

JAMES W. WALTERS,
Capt., Ordnance Dept.,
Asst. Ordnance Officer.

I was just looking some stuff up in the online readable addition of the Congressional Serial set with Chief of Ordnance reports from the turn of the century.
One of the entries is on the dissappearance of handguns from the standard pistol racks, with recommendation that steps be taken to insure that individuals were held responsible for individual weapons.

Thanks for taking the time to post these copies of vintage correspondence!

I know it takes a lot of effort to post them as you do and I hope you know it's very much appreciated. :thup:

~ Harlan

If a Marine lost a rifle, he paid for that sucker. I assume the Army is the same. You could be, and many were, court martialled (office hours) for pitted bores, etc. I think I posted a Muster Roll entry in the past for June 1918 where a 5th Regiment Marine (a cook) was recommended for a SCM for a pitted bore in his rifle. The cook won because he proved he was issued the rifle in that condition.

In case you didn't notice the time frame, this SCM took place while the battle for Belleau Wood raged on. Evidently SOS was doing inspections during the battle.

I was threatened with Office Hours (in 1972 at Camp Pendleton) for having hair too long after I got a haircut the day before (a burr cut). I went into the barracks and shaved my head, and that made him (GySgt) even more angry. I mopped floors all day. I used to watch guys shave with Right Guard and a lighter (blow torch). I saw a deflowered MsGySgt (then a Corporal) wash his privates with one of those old stiff bristle brushes we used to wash the floor. He used it like one polishes one's shoes with a back and forth motion.

You gotta love those Marines no matter how goofy they get.

Semper Fi,

Jim