16-003 Garand Picture of the Day

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...01/image-1.jpg

Pfcs. George Belano and Jennings Baumer and Cpl. E. J. Carroll, left to right, man a rooftop guard post in downtown Beirut. The three Marines were part of a large U.S. force sent in to maintain order in the war-torn nation

Marine Cpl. Jonathan C. Baumer was promoted to his present rank while serving with Wing Support Squadron 371, 3rd Aircraft Wing, Air Station, Yum Ariz. A 1996 graduate of Allen High School, he is a son of Jennings C. and Ruby I. Baumer of AllentownThe Morning Call | December 18, 1996 The Morning Call | August 10, 1998

Steel pots and M1 Garands in 1996?

Marines (and collectors on their behalf) are forever whining about the hand-me-down equipment the Army foists on them, and this image is proof positive the Marines are the unwanted step children of the armed forces (equipment wise). Must be why they don't have utility jackets either.

The caption reads Beirut, so couldn't be 1998 or 1996.

no 1958

1996 reference is son of marine in photo -only name hit I could find relative to picture

Is it me or my oldish eyes but I cannot see a belt of ammo going into that 30 cal bit rough if you have not got any rounds to poke at the trouble makers straight away!

Looks like a few American cars in the background... unlikely in Lebanon, but common in the DR.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob seijas

Looks like a few American cars in the background... unlikely in Lebanon, but common in the DR.

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No it is Lebanon this photo from USMC History Division

Lebanon 1958 - Lebanon A17500





https://www.milsurps.com/

DEFENSE DEPT. PHOTO (MARINE CORPS) A17500
Description 2dMarDiv
Beirut, Lebanon

Machine Gun position on the roof of the dock area in Beirut, Lebanon.
File Type jpg
Picture Size 2813 x 2197
Date Picture Taken 7/23/1958 0:00
Comments
Keywords
Year
Battle
Document ID QHCR67PZMRY4-147-1521
Photographer Cpl D.F. Dickman

Leathernecks watching me from the rooftops. I am gonna be a good boy coming down that street.

I have to wonder if the Marines get 'hand me downs' because their share of the budget comes out of Navy's budget --- and the Navy wants the money for 'big ticket toys'.

Bob, I'll point out here that we had some - what we called Yank tank's - American made cars in Oz back in the day, so seeing them in Lebanon would not be a surprise.

Here's mine back in the day :)
Attachment 68459

[QUOTE=Paul S.;351840]I have to wonder if the Marines get 'hand me downs' because their share of the budget comes out of Navy's budget --- and the Navy wants the money for 'big ticket toys'.

This comment is exactly the myth I was kidding about in my previous post. The U.S. Marine Corps has been separately funded by congress since at least 1881, although there are some things like Navy Corpsmen assigned to the Marines that are trained and paid out of Navy appropriations. The Marine Corps for many years have returned funds to the Treasury by allowing portions of appropriations to go unspent, apparently to justify their existence by their frugality, which probably means shortage of some equipment items. It is common practice to issue used recycled equipment to units for training purposes, and to issue new equipment to deploying troops in both the Army and the Marine Corps, so in training situations often used but serviceable equipment is issued. This myth appears to have grown legs in the 1930s early 1940s when the branches of the armed forces were competing for funds that were being conserved by Congress, and all branches were virtually pleading for funds to produce modern aircraft, ships, and tanks. With the notable exception of the rifle M1 the infantry and Marines had to make due with "serviceable" equipment.