Hey Norm,
Just trying to explain that there was a GREAT DEAL of misinformation waaaay back then and a part of that misinformation was that there was allegedly some German general who had his monogram (DWM) on his Luger; if not on all the Lugers under his command. This was apparently widely believed, as I have heard the same story before from at least six W.W.II vets who didn't give a damn about guns but happened to have brought back a souvenir Luger.
We were not so sophisticated/alienated in the 1950's and, as a kid, I tended to believe what my adult neighbors (most of whom, like my dad, were combat vets of W.W.II) told me. These were some bona fide American Heros who had been places, like Omaha Beach, the Ardennes, Anzio, and the Huertgen Forest; place names which meant little to a kid but later much more as the kid became a historian and career soldier. As I recall, there were,on my short street,not less than 3 Silver Star holders and many, many more Purple Heart recipients.
As a result of the pioneering work done by Harry Jones, Fred Datig etc, I got smarter about Lugers, but it took time; lots of time. Further work by Jan and Sam, as well as all the others who have contributed with research has almost eliminated the old notions and folk lore, but one still encounters it on occasion.
So, I am stating without reservation that what I posted is true to the best of my memory. I did not intend it to be a joke; Mr. Crandall is long dead; his daughter still lives in Middle Georgia. Although I have neither seen or spoken with her for over thirty years, due to a hiatus of 22 years in the Union Army and galavanting around the world following my return to civil status, I feel confident that she still owns that pistol. I hope she never ceases to do so. The next time I am in Middle georgia, I will give her a "Blast from the Past" telephone call and inquire.
Tom A
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