Garand Picture of the day - Iwo Jima

[Mark in Rochester]

Iwo Jima Operation, February-March 1945

"Headstone for a Hero --- Marine infantrymen enroute to the front lines on Iwo Jima pass by the grave of a fallen buddy, marked by his bayoneted rifle and helmet marking the spot where he fell." (quoted from the original 1945 vintage photo caption). Rifle is an M1 ("Garand"). The Marines passing by carry a M1 Rifle (left) and M1 Carbine (right).
Photographed by Private First Class Charles Jones


National WWII Memorial

Information

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[frankderrico]

Thanks Mark, it looks like the Marine with the carbine has a Garand bayonet on his pack. Is the Marine with the Garand have a scope case on his pack? Just not sure.....Frank

[DAVEB47]

When they would use a rifle like that as a grave marker, would they do anything to make the rifle inoperable like remove the bolt or something? I did not know if they would be concerned with it falling into enemy hands operational.

[Mark in Rochester]

Thanks Mark, it looks like the Marine with the carbine has a Garand bayonet on his pack. Is the Marine with the Garand have a scope case on his pack? Just not sure.....Frank

Frank

I agree it looks like a garand bayonet - the "scope case" looks like an ax handle to me - there is not a lot of combat use in WW2 of M1C or D rifles

[Embalmer]

thats def a axe handle. as for the garand bayonet, def looks like one as well. carbine doesnt have a bayonet lug, so maybe standard issue for a close combat backup weapon?

As for grave marker, I have seen pics of makeshift rifle markers that the triggergroups were missing. though that one the group is in place, so maybe not a concern at the current time???

[Bill Hollinger]

Not an axe handle. It is a pick-mattock handle. The handle of a WWII axe is straight.



Here is a pick-mattock apart:



And as in the photo, in it's holder:

[frankderrico]

Thanks Bill, that makes a lot of sence in that rocky terrain. The round handle for the pick-mattock is the give away, although most of us who ever worked construction or farmed or ranched used them with a lot longer handle.....Frank

[Tom Doniphon]

That may not be an M1 bayonet. He could be carrying a bolo knife or a Medical Corpsman knife.