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The first units at Ft. Sam Houston to be authorized issue of M1 rifles (FY 1936) were one battalion of the 9th Inf. (369 rifles) and one battalion of the 23rd Inf. (369 rifles).The first complete unit to be issued the new rifles was the 29th Inf. Regt. (1741 rifles), two battalions at Ft. Benning, one battalion at Ft. Sill. ( NOT the 29th INF. DIVISION. as reported in some publications. 29th Inf Div. was a National Guard unit prior to the war. Blue & Grey, MD and VA)
The regimental unit insignia on the hat looks more like the 9th Inf. Regt than the 23rd.
Source for this information (for all you non-believers out there); Third indorcement to AGO letter to the Chiel of Ordnance. December 21,1936, order of priority in issue of first 3370 semi-automatic rifles. note they were assigned priority prior to manufacture.
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Can I ask for your source? I would like to tell the guys on the 2ID website. I wonder if it was possible for a Colonel to take away the Garands and go back to the 03. I'll find the book source that said they did this. Give me a bit.
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An officer of the rank of colonel would be a regimental commander, he may have changed which battalion had the new rifles.
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Yeah, his name was Colonel Fuller and was relieved by JB Lovless in Theater. Early on. I forget what day. I think in June yet. Like late June. Or was it early July. It's in my division book. But yes, I understand that would be the commander of the whole regiment. What I was saying is I wonder if it's possible that he had whatever battalion had the Garands, give them up at some point, and go back to the 03's for gearing up for the war.
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If Col. Fuller did that, you can see why he was relieved... it doesn't pay to **** off a gereral...
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The book where this was stated that Fuller made the whole regiment use O3's was in: John C. McManus' ALAMO IN THE ARDENNES.
I haven't read it though. I guess I should.
