Ardennes relic

[oneshot onekill]

So... Is it still in Belgium? Just curious how it got back to the US. If it is back in the US it's a truly rare bird indeed! Because as we all know, EVERY Garand that came back the traditional way was torn apart and rebuilt. This one having been left behind is the only one I've ever seen in its original WWII condition. Nice!...

Information

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[Bob Seijas]

Several years ago the GCA Journal featured two such rifles -- one was picked up by a Free French fighter during the battle for Brest. The other was found in a barn. Both were still over there, were acquired by a European collector.

"Springfield M1 serial 2742717 was recovered by Jo (Joseph) Gentil from the body of an American GI who had been killed on the morning of August 27, 1944 during the capture of the village of Plousané in western France. He also took the cartridge belt and left his German Mauser rifle next to the fallen GI. The American soldier was a member of the 29th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, and had been killed in combat in the cemetery around the church in Plousané. Gentil was from the village and was part of the Free French resistance group of Saint Renan about five miles to the north. These partisans fought alongside the US 29th Infantry Division for the liberation of Le Conquet peninsula that includes the city of Brest."

[jmoore]

Is it still in Belgium?

John Gelotti is in Belgium. I would guess that's where the rifle is also.

[John Gelotti]

Yes guys, I live in Belgium, a few miles from the Ardennes and also close to the French border.
I have not found the rifle by myself. A few people who know that I am very interested in ww2 have taken contact when they found it. I make lots of travel to the European battlefields (Ardennes, Normandy, etc...) so if you have any questions about this, feel free to ask.