13 Mar 20 Garand Picture of the Day - Lieutenant Commander Malcolm Champlin's Garand

[Mark in Rochester]

The plate reads

To
Malcolm McGregor Champlin
United States Navy
From
Lieutenant General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright
United States Army
For saving my life in a straffing attack
By a Japanese "zero" firhter
On Bataam March 10 1942


Plate is made of silver


Malcolm McGregor Champlin
Born: April 13, 1911 in San Francisco, CA
Married: Betty Mee (m. 1943, div. 1953), Virginia Pearson (m. 1955)
Children: Sarah Jane, William Bradford and Mimi Lisette
Military Service: USN (WWII)
Died: January 3, 1998

1941: Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
1954-1955: State Commander, American Legion, Department of California
1962: Proponent, Proposition 24 [Subversive Activities] (Failed; 40%)
1967-1980: Judge, Alameda County Municipal Court

Champlin graduated from United States Naval Academy, United States Naval War College, and the FBI Academy.
Mr. Champlin has World War II service ribbons for combat in the Philippines, Australia, the Aleutian Islands and in Pacific and Asiatic waters. (Source)
Received the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star.
During the Japanese attack on Bataan, Major General Jonathan M. Wainwright presented his M1 Garand to Champlin in thanks for saving his life in a strafing attack by a Japanese ‘Zero’ fighter on Bataan, March 10, 1942."

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Daan Kemp]

Buy the story!

[Ovidio]

Fabulous

[RCS]

Any information on the serial number of Malcolm Champlin's M1 rifle ?

[Mark in Rochester]

Any information on the serial number of Malcolm Champlin's M1 rifle ?

I have reached out to the family will advise if there is any response.

[RCS]

Thanks Mark for checking the serial number, would make a good article for the GCA.

RE: carbines I really doubt and would bet there were no M1 carbines in the Philippines in 1941 or 1942, later during 1943-44 they did receive weapons by US subs that
did include M1 carbines

[Mark in Rochester]

yes the point of my request was for a article for the GCA. Clearly a Garand as the photos show. At least one account states Garand and carbine. Not sure it would be possible for a carbine to be there as you stated above (10 Mar 42 vs Jun 42). Over a span of just 38 months (the first carbines were delivered in June 1942, the last in August 1945) nine primary contractors established manufacturing facilities, tooled up and turned out some six million carbines of all types - M1, M1A1, M2 and T3/M3. The production program was such a success that, excepting Inland and Winchester, the remaining contracts were cancelled in mid-1944. Those two companies completed their carbine production runs in August, 1945.

[Mark in Rochester]

Any information on the serial number of Malcolm Champlin's M1 rifle ?

I was able to track down the rifle -awaiting pictures from owner

[Mark in Rochester]

Pictures have arrived - nothing short of spectacular

Working on Data Sheet and article - The rest of the Story will be in the Garand Collectors Association Journal

[Mark in Rochester]

The Editors have informed me that the story will appear in the fall issue of the Journal