1-26-19 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

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[CINDERS]

Is that a 57mm RCL!
I think the GI with the carbine should move infact both of them should out of the backblast....

[Bill Hollinger]

Is that a 57mm RCL!
I think the GI with the carbine should move infact both of them should out of the backblast....

Photo op. They had to get everybody in the frame

[browningautorifle]

They'll be OK, they've done it before...

[rayg]

Fired the 57mm in basic in 1957 and the concussion made one of my ears bleed. The concussion force from the blast felt like you clapped both hands over your ears fast and hard. While in Germany and assigned to the heavy weapons platoon, the two 57's were carried by two of the smallest guys in the platoon, both about 5'5". 130 lbs. both cousins. Guys with rifles had a hard time keeping up with them on a march, Ray

[browningautorifle]

While in Germany and assigned to the heavy weapons platoon, the two 57's were carried by two of the smallest guys in the platoon, both about 5'5". 130 lbs. both cousins.

Think you told us about these two another time, the story's familiar. The hearing issue was specifically why we'd started using hearing protection, after you older guys had suffered. The guys before me were all in your group, ear plugs were something new to them.

[rayg]

Think you told us about these two another time, the story's familiar. The hearing issue was specifically why we'd started using hearing protection, after you older guys had suffered. The guys before me were all in your group, ear plugs were something new to them.

I will be eighty in a few months and have just applied and been approved by the VA for compensation for 40% hearing loss resulting from my service time firing all those Inf weapons. My hearing went down hill fast after then. I had resisted all the years applying for comp. as not wanting to use VA funds that more needy Vets could use. But the time had come, as I now need the extra money because my deferred compensation payments have aged out. Ray

[RASelkirk]

I'd always heard the smallest guys in a squad got the most important weapons. Small guys got the BAR because big guys were easier targets...

Russ

[browningautorifle]

Small guys got the BAR because big guys were easier targets

I thought small guys got the BAR because they were fourth man, rear rank?

[browningautorifle]

I just turned 62...and although our hearing had degraded and was acknowledged as such by our VA, they refuse to pay out more than 5% unless you need hearing aids. Then they get you hearing aids... I applaud your reasons for holding back about applying but you still should have. They damaged your ears. They were perfect when you started...

Hope this doesn't start something now...