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[Alvin Linden]

I know this is off subject, so I apologize in advance. In 1968 - 1969 while serving with the Tropic Lightning... 25 th. Inf. Div. in EYE CORPS. Primarily in and around Tay Ninh Province R.S.V.N. and the Cambodian Border. I walked up on an N.V.A. cadre in the bush squatting down. We were both surprised to see each other, and as I was on point I was carrying an Army issue Ithaca 37 pump shotgun. He tried to get his pistol out and up but needless to say he did'nt make it. I took his pistol, a near new French M.A.S. 1935 S in 7.65 Long. Because there had been several shootings on post with captured weapons, we had to surrender "bring backs" until we left "in country" and processed out. We could pick them up and fill out the forms then. When I got ready to leave I found some idiot, per our commander's instructions had removed the magazine and magazine release button, making the pistol inoperable temporarily. Problem was they could'nt find the manila envelope with the matchings number containing my parts when I got ready to leave SHIETNAM!

If any of you happen to have a M.A.S. 1935S MAG RELEASE ASSEMBLY [IT HAS 3 PARTS ,A BUTTON, A SPRING, A SCREW]...or know where one is, or see one listed, please let me know. Magazines at a reasonable price are needed as well. It would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!

MY GRANDSON HAS ASKED ME FOR THIS PISTOL SINCE HE WAS A LITTLE BOY AND HE IS NOW 12 AND I AM TRYING TO GET IT TOGETHER FOR HIM WHILE I'M STILL AROUND. You can call me at 706 219-2460 or email me at: 03sprg@windstream.net Thanks to all! Jerry

Information

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[Lancebear]

Hey Alvin,

Try Numrich or Popperts for parts. Shouldn't be expensive if they have them.

Thanks for your story and service.

Happy fourth,

LB

[Alvin Linden]

Lancebear: Already hit Numrich's they wanted $33.20 F.F.L. Dealer price, for Mags. Sunray's link below for FRENCH MILITARY M.A.S. MAGS is best price so far... $23 + $7 s&h. I ordered there, but no magazine release button assembly! I'll try Poppert's MON. OR TUES! Thanks Again Amigo! Jerry AKA ALVIN LINDEN #1

[Calif-Steve]

The Dealers Warehouse in Modesto, CA probably has the part. Not common parts at all. I served in IV Corps as an Advisor. I always heard anyone (NVA/VC) carrying a pistol was an officer. Most likely it was an officer scouting forward of his troops.

[Alvin Linden]

Steve: Already hit Numrich's they wanted $33.20 F.F.L. Dealer price, for Mags. Sunray's link below for FRENCH MILITARY M.A.S. MAGS is best price so far... $23 + $7 s&h. I ordered there, but no magazine release button assembly! I'll try THE DEALER'S WAREHOUSE MON. OR TUES! Thanks Again Amigo! Jerry AKA ALVIN LINDEN #1

[Jim Tarleton]

Those Ithaca's would do a job on them, heh? I was in I Corps also. I had a close friend, "Bulldog", squatting in the bush to do his business and took a single round in one of his "cheeks". I always figured the sniper was laughing his a$$ off after that shot. Bulldog got to go home. After that incident, when I whipped out "Old Bob" for relief, I took a long look around and got in the habit of rotating while urinating (didn't work too well in the "real world"). My fellow grunts thought I was nuts, but "Old Bob" is still kicking and more deserving of his name.

Hope you find that clip. We weren't allowed to bring back anything. They even went though my pictures and took all that showed dead and/or wounded including a picture of me with blood on my face. They didn't take the negatives wound on those weird cardboard things. Go figure.

Semper Fi,
Jim
Alvin Linden #3

[Alvin Linden]

Alvin: Those ol' pump guns really lit em' up! They can say what they want about Vietnam, but old grunts like us are here to tell our stories, drink our beer and chase the trim. I tell everybody, Vietnam Vets were not the "Greatest Generation" but every damn one of us was trained by a member of the "GG"...OUR DADS OR GRANDFATHERS OR UNCLES!!! As a member of the 25TH. I.D. let me cross branch lines and give a hearty SEMPER FI to all my Marine brothers! Warmest regards to all Americans on the 4th. [even Quakers because I love those damned Oats!] Jerry aka ALVIN #1

[Jim Tarleton]

Alvin: Those ol' pump guns really lit em' up! They can say what they want about Vietnam, but old grunts like us are here to tell our stories, drink our beer and chase the trim. I tell everybody, Vietnam Vets were not the "Greatest Generation" but every damn one of us was trained by a member of the "GG"...OUR DADS OR GRANDFATHERS OR UNCLES!!! As a member of the 25TH. I.D. let me cross branch lines and give a hearty SEMPER FI to all my Marine brothers! Warmest regards to all Americans on the 4th. [even Quakers because I love those damned Oats!] Jerry aka ALVIN #1

Happy 4th of July!!

A nice burst from an M16 didn't do so badly. I carried a camera with me most of the time, and I have some neat pics of what various weapons will do to the human body, including a Claymore (nasty) and an AmTrak (squish!). Definitely not for the squeamish.

I think the Viet Vet's did very well for their generation. After that experience, I realized very early what I wanted from life, and what I was willing to give up (nothing!). I may have been one of the lucky ones, as I have never dreamed of RVN - not once. I do have a lasting feeling of wasted lives due to Westmoreland's "enemy attrition" stupidity, an idea which should have disappeared after WWI. And what can one say about McNamara's, the harbinger of death to his own troops?

We were one heck of a military force that mowed down everything in our path, sometimes at a high cost to ourselves. We got an undeserved public personae that irks me to this day, but I was there and I know what really happened.

I salute all my brothers in arms that endured the hardships of combat and the derision of our fellow countrymen who never placed themselves in harm's way, yet claimed to know the secrets of life. No one can really appreciate life until they have observed death that comes with so much violence. I have lived every day of my life since knowing that life is a gift that can be snatched away in a split second. There is no second chance either. I saw brave men pray to live and then die. I saw brave men curse God and then die. I saw brave men go quietly, and I saw brave men go screaming in agony. I saw men with greater courage than I, and I saw men cower in fear when I felt nothing. I saw cowards become heroes, and I saw heroes who never came home and many who never got a single medal for their deeds. Such is the nature of the process.

Combat is not for everyone. It is a vicious lesson in the ability to control fear. If there is glory in combat, it is the ability to walk out after the fight is over knowing without any equivocation you were, on that day, the meanest SOB in the valley! One thing for sure, it makes an "E" ride look like a walk in the park.

Semper Fi America,
Jim

[Sunray]

"...they couldn't find the manila envelope..." Figures. LOGwogs! AKA REMF's.
They thought taking the mag release out would stop it working? Mind you, you have some time. No firearms for 12 year olds unless you or his da is with him.
Mags run $36.75 at Gunparts. No 1935S mag release parts though.
$23 each from here. French Military MAS magazines
The ammo isn't exactly cheap. Buffalo Arms wants $60 per 50. Midway wants $23.99 per 20 for Bertram brass. Dies would be a $160.99 90 day plus, special order from RCBS.
Obsolete Caliber Ammunition 7.65 French Mas Pistol (32 French Long)
Go here for a free .pdf 31.24 meg manual. It's in French oddly enough.
page7b

[Alvin Linden]

Sunray:Boy! Buffalo thinks highly of that ammo but I appreciate the heads up on all your sources. Now if I can just get the magazine release assembly I've got one happy Grandson!!! ANYONE WHO KNOWS SOMEONE WITH A FRENCH ST. ETIENNE/M.A.C./ M.A.S. 1935 A OR S PISTOLE PARTS GUN OR AN INCOMPLETE GUN WITH MAJOR PORTIONS MISSING...PLEASE CONTACT ME !!! 706 219-2460 or 03sprg@windstream.net Again thanks Sunray!