The intention of the M1icon Carbine was to provide a better alternative to the 1911 Colt, which, for all intents and purposes, as a pistol, has an effective range of 20-25 yards. The idea was to provide those behind the lines (like cooks, supply clerks, and truck drivers) with something with greater range than the pistol, but not as cumbersome as a heavy M1 Garand battlefield rifle.

So much for the intention. The author of the comment is has not read extensively about the carbine; otherwise he never would have made such a comment.

The reality was that so many units loved the M1 Carbine that they carried them into the front lines, particularly those who needed to move fast.

The decorated war hero, Audie Murphy, in his book "To Hell and Back" (Holt Paperbacks, 2002; first published 1949) liked his M1 Carbine more than the others (BAR, BMG, Garand, Thompson, etc.) Apparently it was his primary weapon from Anzio through to the end of the war, as these passages from his book state:

"Within a moment I am involved in a duel with a Germanicon who climbs upon a cannon to get the advantage of elevation. I see him as he lowers his rifle upon me and whip up my carbine. He fires. The bullet kicks dust in my face as my carbine goes off. Frantically I try to blink the dirt from my eyes, knowing the German will not miss again. It is only a few seconds, perhaps, but it seems much longer before I can see. The kraut is sprawled in front of the gun. Later I discover that my lucky shot got him in the heart." (Chapter 15)

"Grasping the carbine in my left hand and a grenade in my right, I step suddenly from behind the rock. The Germans spot me instantly. The gunner spins the tip of his weapon toward me. But the barrel catches in a limb, and the burst whizzes to my right. I lob the grenade and grab the carbine trigger with one movement. Before the grenade has time to burst, two krauts fall with carbine slugs in their bellies. I quickly lob two more grenades into the position; four of the eight Germans are killed; three are put out of action by wounds. The eighth, a squat, fat man, tries to escape.....I squeeze the trigger. The helmet jumps. The man falls as if struck in the head with a club." (Chapter 17)

"Before reporting to company headquarters, I carefully clean my carbine. ‘I want to go up and try to get that sniper,’ I say....There is a rustle. My eyes snap forward. The branches of a bush move. I drop to one knee. We see each other simultaneously. His face is a black as a rotting corpse; and his cold eyes are filled with evil. As he frantically reaches for the safety of his rifle, I fire twice. He crashes backwards....At headquarters I make my report. Then I go to the room that serves as a kitchen, take my carbine apart, and start cleaning it." (Chapter 17)

"Crack! It is like being struck with a ball bat. The ricocheting bullet digs a channel through my hip and knocks me flat....I raise my carbine and with my right hand fire pistol-fashion. The bullet spatters between the German’s eyes." (Chapter 18)

"'Wonder if I could get a carbine. I don’t like an M-1 for this woods fighting.'" (Chapter 19)

"The [German] officer hesitates. My finger begins squeezing the trigger of my carbine. I think perhaps with a quick rake I can put most of the Germans out of action, but at this moment, I would give my chances in Paradise to have a tommy gun in my hands." (Chapter 14)

This doesn't sound like a "cooks story" defending his pots and pans.