What rifle did my Grandpa carry in WWII?

[TH3180]

My Grandpa passed away just over a year ago. I never thought to ask him what he carried for a rifle while fighting in WWII. Now I really wish I had. If I can find out what he would have carried I would like to do research on it and possibly have one someday. I did find a list of possible rifles which I will list at the end of this post. Here is the little I know of his service record. He left for overseas November 1943 and got home October 1945. He was a Lineman 238. Really the only other thing I found in his paper is this. Technician Fifth Grade 3151 Signal Information and Monitoring Company. Heck for all I know he didn't even carry a rifle and just had his sidearm. Any information you guys can give me would be great or even where to go to find the information I am looking for.

Here is the list I found of rifles used in WWII.
Standard Issue:
•M1 and M1A1 Carbine (.30 Carbine)
•M1 Garand (.30-'06)
•Springfield M1903 (.30-'06)
•Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) M1918A2 (.30-'06)

Substitute Standard:
•M1917 Enfield Rifle (.30-'06)
•M1941 Johnson (.30-'06)
•M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun (LMG) (.30-'06)

[spliznat]

I wish I would have asked my Grandfather the same question!! He was a sniper for the 164th infantry......

[Erik_Pakieser]

If he was a lineman in Europe, I think it's a good bet he had an M1 Carbine.

You might want to look up the Historical Re-Enactment Society (HRS) they keep pretty detailed records about what was used when and where.

[Ranger01]

M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, and 1903A3 are all possibilities given that time period. Also possible is an M3 Grease Gun. More than likely he carried more than one of those.

[Lunchbox]

If I had to choose one, based on what I know of the history of firearms of that era, I'd say a
M1 carbine. Tended to be issued to more non-frontline support role troops. Bare in mind, I know there's exceptions to that rule but you guys know what I'm saying.

[smurfman]

That MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) was for those erecting and maintaining permanent and semi-permanent communication lines. These were not necessarily front line poitions so whatever arms they had could vary. Most likely they had M-1 Carbines, M-1 Garands, and maybe 1903A3 Springfields. An M-1 or M-3 Submachine gun is also a possibility. The personal arms were most likely kept in a vehicle while doing their work as they would get in the way. My father in law had a similar occupation stringing commo wire though on the front line. He carried an M1 Carbine or M1 Garand depending on what he was tasked. Stringing wire he typically carried a Garand, functionng as a runner he carried the Carbine as it was lighter and he could run quicker. He was never issued a handgun on the front lines though he did carry one on occasion when running errands to the rear. He collected a pistol of some sort as a battlefield trophy but traded it off for womethig or other. He served the whole whole war with the 1st Infantry Division and saw action in every major operation from Operation Torch through the Ardennes. He had 5 arrowheads in his shadow box. He was wounded for the third time in Feb 1945 and was hospitalized or rehab until August.

The 1941 Johnson rifle and LMG are extremely unlikely as they had a very short and limited life with the paramarines in the Pacific. The BAR was a rather important weapon for a rifle squad so they were typically found with front line infantry units. The Model of 1917 saw very limited service on the lines with most being used by a couple of Artillery and Signals units in North Africa. By the time your grandfather showed up, those weapons should have been replaced.

[smurfman]

Did a quick look at the OP's grandfather's unit and saw that its main task was to monitor U.S. Army communcations for any leaks and to use signal intecepts to help locate and position Allied units. The 3151 was part of the 7th Army which invaded through southern France.

[TH3180]

Did a quick look at the OP's grandfather's unit and saw that its main task was to monitor U.S. Army communcations for any leaks and to use signal intecepts to help locate and position Allied units. The 3151 was part of the 7th Army which invaded through southern France.

Back up here, where did you find this info. I have searched the info I posted and couldn't find anything. I do remember from the very few times he talked about his service. Him talking a little about France.

[smurfman]

Type "3151Signal and Monitoring" into Google and it will come up something like 4th or 5th down from the top. You will find my source online. You will have to scan the chapter to find the brief mention of your grandpa's unit as I don't remember just what paragraph it was in.

[tizzo]

Do you happen to have a copy of his discharge papers? I came across my grandfather's and they say what his "Military Qualification and Date" which is listed as "RIFLE M1-MKM CARBINE SS".... whatever version of the M1 that is.

[RangerTim]

As far as I know, if a grunt was on the ground he had some form of rifle (bar medics, tank crews, etc). Chances are that if he was a POG that he had an M1 Carbine. M1A1s were usually reserved for paratroopers, Greaseguns, Thompsons, and M1s were usually given to grunts, and bolt actions were rare for anybody in the ETO save for snipers. By the time we actually got boots on the ground in Europe the M1 had been in production long enough to be issued to just about everybody that needed one.

So...with my somewhat limited knowledge of WWII firearms, I would have to throw my vote towards a Carbine.

[Dill]

sorry to hear about your Grandpa. Mine has been gone 8 years last July and was a Pearl Harbor survivor. I hope you can find out this info, I actually had a brief opportunity to talk about my Grandpa's service before he passed, but like you, wished I had asked a ton more questions.

[Ranger01]

As far as I know, if a grunt was on the ground he had some form of rifle (bar medics, tank crews, etc). Chances are that if he was a POG that he had an M1 Carbine. M1A1s were usually reserved for paratroopers, Greaseguns, Thompsons, and M1s were usually given to grunts, and bolt actions were rare for anybody in the ETO save for snipers. By the time we actually got boots on the ground in Europe the M1 had been in production long enough to be issued to just about everybody that needed one.

So...with my somewhat limited knowledge of WWII firearms, I would have to throw my vote towards a Carbine.

Springfields were still common throught the war due to the PITA process that was launchng grenades with the Garand...

[minnhawk]

There is also a good photo of our very own 34th Infantry Division in Italy, showing "joes" in an infantry company taking a break along a road cut. Each and every man had an 03 Springfield variant in his possession. Amazing.

[Holland&Holland]

Well there is a very simple solution to this problem.

Start a collection of each model he may have carried. Can't go wrong with this