7 Jun 20 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

9th Infantry Division Mortar Team near Saint Sauveur Le Vicomte, Normandy, France on June 16th 1944.

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[browningautorifle]

My first primary combat function in the army...81mm mortar course. We didn't teach anyone to sit with his foot against the back of the baseplate though, matter of fact I'd be reluctant to do it.

[fjruple]

Interesting to see a mattock on the pistol belt of mortarman in the foreground usually its an entrenching tool.

[browningautorifle]

a mattock on the pistol belt of mortarman

I saw that too, haven't ever noticed it before. When digging a mortar pit, they're an eight foot circle with three ammo bays and a crawl trench...three feet deep. More digging than you want.

[fjruple]

I saw that too, haven't ever noticed it before. When digging a mortar pit, they're an eight foot circle with three ammo bays and a crawl trench...three feet deep. More digging than you want.

Jim-- If I remember correctly in the infantry MTOE it was one mattock for every third person in the squad. Of course the mattock was done away with when the Army went to the entrenching tool with the pick added. I still have a mattock in the back of my Jeep for emergencies.

[browningautorifle]

in the infantry MTOE

It would make sense...