My grandfather fought in Flanders as a matrossen machine gunner. He spoke little of it. Hated anything French and chickens. He did speak once of the upsetting task of machine gunning cavalry: "It is a shame to kill horses because the riders are stupid" He also told a great story about the scars he carried on his back. I asked him about them once and he said "Willie, they always chained the gunner to gun in tight spots so you wouldn't give up the gun." I asked if the scars came when he was overrun and he said,"No, those are from my Luger, trying to shoot the chain off my leg." I do not beilieve it was true, but it was the wisdom he wanted to pass on. Got me interested in Lugers.
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