Vets and their M16's

[Sarge]

I know we are lucky to have several veterans on this forum, and to start, God bless you and thank you for your service. For this thread, I'm interested in those who carried the early M16/M16A1's, that we base our beloved retro builds off of.
For those who carried them, I'm interested in hearing:
1. You're experiences with them as a combat weapon. Reliability, accuracy, etc.
2. What kind of personal touches did your weapon have, if any? I.E rack numbers, stickers, cleaning rod taped to stock, grenade launchers, scopes, etc.
3. What equipment were you issued for them?
Thanks again!

Well, I "sorta" carried an M16 in Viet Nam. Actually it was a CAR 15 (officially an XM177E2).
Never had a malfunction with it. Of course I had learned, and paid attention to, the proper cleaning procedures.
No personal touches except for an AK 47 mag reworked to be a 35 rd M16 mag. This is what was carried in the weapon with 20 rd mags for reloads. Learned this from the Navy guys working "Market time" down in the Delta.
Nothing, I scrounged what ever I wanted to go with it. Used a 2 qt canteen strap as a top mounted sling.
I currently have an AR15A2, CAR 15 (built on an early SP 1 lower with parts I sent home from RVN) and an AR 15.
Here are some photos. The 3 M14s are all chicom - An M1A type and 2 M14 select fire rifles. At the top is an FN/FAL select fire rifle. The AR15A2 is not in the photo.
Sarge
Attachment 82507