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U.S. Marines resting in a foxhole while awaiting a North Korean counterattack near the Naktong River in August 1950.
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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7o1_1280-1.jpg
U.S. Marines resting in a foxhole while awaiting a North Korean counterattack near the Naktong River in August 1950.
I'm surprised to still see leggings by 1950
Rifle upside down? What's he doing?
Looks like he's fiddling with the sling.
Regarding the leggings, there is a story or perhaps legend, that the North Korean and Chinese soldiers didn't like fighting the "yellow legs" referring to the Marines leggings, because of the fighting effectiveness of the Marines and etc. But this would seem to be the kind of self aggrandizement typical of the military and the U.S. Marine Corps in particular.
Marine Corps militaria collectors are convinced the Marine Corps was and is ill-equipped because the Army somehow foists upon the Marine Corps all of the non-standard, damaged, and condemned material no longer serviceable. A prominent author of Marine Corps uniforms and equipment reference books, and former active duty Marine, informed me Marines are chronically discontented with their equipment, and apparently this general discontent has led to collectors perpetuating this theme.
Well it's even worse than that... despite the fact that the Navy "saved" the M1 by ordering it and paying in advance when there was no money in the Ordnance budget for it in the very early days, they were very much "hind t*t" for rifles and equipment. The Marines were the low end of the Navy totem pole, so they got the stuff nobody else needed. Battleships and aircraft carriers had first call, the Marines made do with what they had or could salvage.
It doesn't look like there is a sling fitted. I suspect he's cleaning the floor plate or in the process of cleaning it.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
He's got the stock off of it and it looks as though he might be pulling the follower and spring off by the contortion of his hand and wrist???
I guess you guys are right. No better time to do that...when you're waiting for a counter attack...stranger things...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Hollinger
I would guess that he's been round the tracks enough to believe the N.K.s won't attack until after dark, and that having a clean and checked for function weapon might be a really good idea when the counter attack comes.
I was kind of being sarcastic. Besides, he's got the BAR right there...
Jim, no worries Mate. I'm married to the Empress of Sarcasm and most of it still escapes me.
I think most of the Marine's equipment shortages during WWII could be blamed on Admiral King and not the Army. He begrudged the grunts every dime spent.
Was all equipment puchased from the army orwas that only small arms?
Not so much as the Marines had all their own design of equipment. From leggings to suspenders, uniforms to canteen pouches, the Marines had different stuff. Weapons were their own also as far as I know. They started out on Guadalcanal with the 1903 because the commandant of the Marine Corps was convinced it was a better rifle. In the book Guadalcanal Diaries there are a number of accounts where Marines took the M1 rifles from fallen Army troops of the 164th ID.Quote:
Originally Posted by SA M1Dom