Navy Seabees armed with 1917's

https://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy...57629255286642

Where are these rifles now?

Really fine photos. Love that bayonet. Stick three at a time?

Love the warning sign on the grenade practice....You will only make one mistake

Interesting photos - one seems to be an all white unit, and the other all black.
What's up with that?
Is that just by chance, or on purpose?

Milsurp in Oz,.. Up until the 1950s the U.S. Armed Forces were segregated. Integration started during the Korean war.

They had all black units...deliberately. After de-seg there was still foot dragging at integration.

Oh,... Ok,.... I thought that all ended with the Civil War.
Learn something new each day.
Thanks.

No, it was actually Truman de-seg'd I think... Executive Order 9981 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia That's WIKI, I know it may not be completely correct.

Thanks for sharing the photos!

My Dad was in the CB's before he became a squid, CPO Electrician, in the Navy Sub service and taught the Sub Electrical school in Groton Conn. in mid 60's.
He told me he used 1917's in the CB's.
I still have his old 1917, but not the issue one he had in the CB's. Still a very sweet shooter.
Chuck

Great photos!

During WW2 the 442 Infantry Regimental Combat Team which was a regimental size fighting unit was composed of almost all Japanese-American soldiers. The unit fought in Italy and France, 29 members were awarded the Medal of Honor

The National Guard (Army) was segregated with many all white units and all black units up to the mid 1960's or later

In the Bees, we had to qual every 4 years (if I remember correctly) and during a pistol qual in the late 90s, we were issued WW2 vintage 1911s - some of which were of rare makers.
The Bees have always sucked hind mammary with issue gear. :thup:

Thanks for the Great pictures!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ikesdad

In the Bees, we had to qual every 4 years (if I remember correctly) and during a pistol qual in the late 90s, we were issued WW2 vintage 1911s - some of which were of rare makers.
The Bees have always sucked hind mammary with issue gear.

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In the 70's-80's battalions it was yearly in homeport. We usually got our gear when the Marines were finished with it. At that time Bees were 2% of the Naval Forces. Low on the list of priorities. A large number of the fleets and airdales,officers included did not even know we existed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ut1seabee

A large number of the fleets and airdales,officers included did not even know we existed.

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I find that amazing, even I know you men existed and I'm Canadian...

Evidently sizing from the right is not in the drill manual?

For minute I thought they might have had a policy of M17s to the white units and Springfields to the black units, but the bayonet practice photo was a white unit with Springfields.

The artistry of the camp gate sign was interesting. H.M. Forces would definitely not tolerate that, even today! :)

Where would they be without the "bees"? Cold, wet, starving and out of ammo? I'm sure you had better saying than that though!