My dad jumped in with the 506th at Eindhoven.
They were fully re-equipped from Normandy.
Bastogne was a different deal. They were snatched up haphazardly, some without any weapons or gear.
I don't see how that guy could have stood many formations and kept that piece, but we'll never know.
Some units were more lenient than others in RVN, depended on what day what time and who was in charge.
Friend of mine returning from an operation playfully grabbed at a '97 Winchester another guy had at a guardpost.
His last words were "That's the last stupid thing I do with a gun."
He was a good guy.
It is best everybody carries the same piece in combat.
Ammo supply and sound being the chief considerations.
I worked with CIDG and we used M2 Carbines and BARs til the powers that be decided to arm them with '16s and other modern stuff.
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