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General James Gavin, the commander of the 82d Airborne Division in World War II, carried an M1 Garand rifle, then the standard American-infantry weapon of World War II. He advised young infantry officers not to carry any equipment that would make them stand out in the eyes of the enemy.
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Dave Grossman (On Killing)
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my flamethrower nozzle fit perfectly inside of it.” Woody inserted the flamethrower into the smokestack and held down the trigger. It poured a violent stream of fire down into the fortification. In a single act, he burned the occupants to death and silenced the machine guns that had killed dozens of U.S. Marines.
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Andrew Biggio (The Rifle: Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand (World War II Collection))
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While at sea, a Marine officer displayed a giant map on a wall. It showed the volcanic island known as Iwo Jima. “We are only in reserve! The other divisions will be landing in the morning, and we will stand by in case they need us,” an officer shouted to the men. As Woody’s ship floated out, the men started to get worried. The other divisions had 80 percent casualties on the first day.
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Andrew Biggio (The Rifle: Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand (World War II Collection))
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Since there was no need for Woody as a flamethrower-wielding demolitionist, Woody went back to being a rifleman.
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Andrew Biggio (The Rifle: Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand (World War II Collection))
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Marines were raising a flag on top of a mountain. It was the iconic event later known to the world as the flag raising on Mount Suribachi.
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Andrew Biggio (The Rifle: Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand (World War II Collection))