Historic original gas trap m1 garand rifle

[Mark in Rochester]

____and his wife,______ display medals and other honors he was awarded during his military service. ____ is holding an M-1 Garand rifle and its bayonet, Weapons he carried during World War II. The dandy resident recently formed a local chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division



note above the CIB on his jacket

The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers (commissioned and warrant) holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size or smaller, any time after 6 December 1941. The CIB and its non-combat analogue, the infantry skill-recognition Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) were simultaneously created during World War II as primary recognition of the combat service and sacrifices of the infantrymen who would likely be wounded or killed in numbers disproportionate to those of soldiers from the Army’s other service branches


well there you have it right from the paper he carried it in WW2 - and he has a CIB he was in combat

think the proof sufficient

[Calif-Steve]

Mark--I, too, have a CIB. Proof of what? We are discussing the rifle. Not our awards and decorations. The story that is being attached to the rifle is odd, at best. Issued in Panama and carried to the Bulge? And then carried home after the war. Odd to me, and not ringing true to me. I have been there and done that. I was issued an M16 in Saigon and turned it in at the same warehouse in Saigon. The Army actually keeps track of weapons. Hard to believe? True. Everybody packed up their Garand and marched home with it in 1945? No. I think this Vet bought that Garand in 1955(?) and held on it. It had real meaning to him. He is the real deal, the rifle is the real deal, I just don't buy the story, those are my personal feelings. My $.02. By the way, my Uncle was at the Bulge in the Airborne and I have some interest in these matters.

[Stevo]

Edit: found the data reading one of the newspaper clippings.

[Johnny Peppers]

"The veteran was pictured holding the "Gas Trap" talking about his service during WWII. In the newspaper article the vet states “he still owns the M1 rifle issued in Panama to replace the broomstick rifle used in training”.

Would this mean the veteran brought back TWO gas trap rifles, if the one sold could not have been the one he was issued in Panama?

[Calif-Steve]

I suppose he wrote the article? Nothing he said has shown up. That is part of what is bothering me-its stuff he didn't say. What did the Vet write? What did he author? The Army had full-junk on the bunk inspections every Saturday AM. Everything was inspected. Foot lockers, wall lockers, everything. No civilain clothing was allowed in WWII. When guys went on leave they still wore their uniforms. There was no way to that get that rifle from Panama to Europe and then carried home. Exactly how many troop ships was he on? Never inspected while boarding ship? Please. His officers, his First Sgt turned a blind eye while he stole a US Army rifle? Please. That rifle shows no battle scars. It looks every bit a Range Queen. Sorry, nice story, good guy, but the story has holes in it.
One more thing: That article shows displays a photograph of himself taken after he finished parachute school at 17. Nonsense pure nonesense. Age 17 with a CIB??? After he finished parachute school with a CIB? Photograph taken in 1945(?) I guess AFTER he was awarded the CIB. The story has holes in it.

[Bob Seijas]

I'm not taking sides, but Steve is right about one thing: WWII vets say they scared them to death about smuggling something home. Bags were searched and they were told that if anything were found, they would be charged and not allowed to go home. Almost nobody felt it was worth that. I have no doubts that some guys found a clever way to take something, as witness those MP40s in closets, but it was uncommon. Field Grade officers and air crew had an easier time.

[Johnny Peppers]

Following WWI the government found that it had about 70% of the Model 1911 pistols it started with. Anyone that thinks weapons were not brought home hasn't been at collecting very long. In later wars security was tightened up, but it was very lax in WWI and WWII. You were warned not to bring any U.S. weapons home, but more than a few did. If not for those that brought their weapons home, fewer original specimens would be in our collections today.

I feel sure that the person that wrote the article never envisioned that it would be dissected to the point of Clinton speak and determining what the meaning of the word IS is. In the end the rifle IS what it is, and I know that the person that bought the rifle is one happy camper, story or no story.

[frankderrico]

Bringing home weapons.
I have an uncle who was in the Navy. Inlisted when he was 16.
His brothers were all in the service. My dad in the Army, my other two uncles in the Navy.
He had gramps lie about his age because he thouhgt the war would end before he could serve.
He was on and LST during the invasions of the Philippines, and was on the same LST until the war was over. Even transported Japanese soldiers from Korea to Japan after the surender.
During the Philippine campaigns there was alot of trading going on between the Army guys and Navy guys. He traded a supply sgt. for a brand new carbine. He kept it in his bunk the entire time. When he shipped home he took it apart and put it in socks in his sea bag.
He came home and his bag was sent to Great Lakes Naval Station months later. He got notified that his bag was there and took gramps Cadillac up there to pick it up. When he got to the gate there were Shore Patrol inspecting the bags. He said he was nervous they would find the carbine and some other things he was bringing home. He played dumb that he could not remember the combination of the lock and faked trying to open it a couple of times. Finally they told him to throw the bag in the trunk and get the XXXX out of there.
I saw the rifle a couple of times growing up. He sold it in the late 60's and I have been on a quest to find it.
This is a true story and I'm sure it happened countless times during and after the war.....Frank

[Calif-Steve]

Understand this the Vet here is a true hero. That Gas Trap is a rare bird. I very much respect these guys. My own uncle was at Bastone in Dec 1944. Airborne all the way. That particular uncle brought home a duffle bag full of P38 pistols. Gave them away for years. But he did not bring home a Garand. Enough said.

[Johnny Peppers]

Legally any souvenir firearms or equipment brought home by WWII GI's were suppose to be approved and a document issued listing the items, but that was not always done either.