11-256 Garand Picture of the Day

[Snafu]

Pfc Vernon Haught, 325th GIR coming in from OP duty,near Odrimont,Belgium, Bulge – January 6, 1945

FIRST AID was rendered on the beach in the early hours of the assault. Medical Corps men are shown administering aid to soldiers of the 8th Infantry wounded in the assault. Evacuation of casualties and prisoners of war to the United Kingdom also began early.

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[Mark in Rochester]

Pfc Vernon Haught, 325th GIR coming in from OP duty,near Odrimont,Belgium, Bulge – January 6, 1945

During the Battle of the Bulge, with the Germans bearing down on retreating US forces, PFC Vernon L. Haught dug in and told a sergeant in a tank destroyer, "Just pull your vehicle behind me . . . I’m the 82d Airborne, and this is as far as the bastards are going." He knew his division commander’s intent. Despite desperate odds, he had confidence in himself and his unit and knew they would make the difference. Faced with a fluid situation, he knew where the line had to be drawn; he had the will to act and he didn’t hesitate to do what he thought was right.

[Amsdorf]

Got to love it.

I spoke to an old veteran who was at the Bulge....when we were chatting about the M1 Garand:

"Yea, that was a great rifle. I shot at least a dozen Germans with it. But let me tell you, when I was in my foxhole shooting my Garand, and the guys next to me were blasting away with their 30 caliber, and a tank right behind me blasting away with the 50 cal and their main gun....that was noisy."

And then he just smiled.

Of course, he suffers now from severe hearing loss.

No wonder.

[Allen Humphrey]

What kind of knife is he sporting on his belt?

[emmagee1917]

Commercial production sheath knife , either PX pick up or home sent most likely.
Chris

[Amsdorf]

Look at the knife on his lower right leg too.

And, sure doesn't look like he has heavy-cold/winter issue clothing either

[Bob Seijas]

Geez, Amsdorf, interview the guy for the GCA Journal, we love that stuff and it should be preserved.

[emmagee1917]

The boot knife looks to be a M3 . Could be a M4 , though.
Chris

[Tom in N.J.]

He seems to be wearing a German Air Force belt and buckle, must have had a run-in with those German paratroopers.....