thekriebles
Gold $$ Contributor
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I must admit to reading this thread and being rather envious. My Dad wasn't an enthusiast. He was a Marine vet during Korea. He was proud that he qualified Expert but I could never get him to shoot. He started me with a .22 and a 4-H program when I was young but he wouldn't shoot. He was at my house one day and I took my Garand from the safe to show him. He recited the rifle specs from memory, "US Rifle Caliber .30 M1, weight 9.5 lbs...........", and them recited the Rifleman's Creed, "This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.........". This was more than 60 years after he left the Corp. I had never heard him speak any of this before that day. I tried again but never did get him on the range.
I am rather envious you have with your father's. Keep those memories alive. I have a special photo of Dad as a newly promoted Corporal from1953. I'll see if I can post it from my phone.
I understand why your father wouldn't pick up a rifle after he serviced in the corp. I knew a Korea vet, he was outdoors type growing up. In basic he shot well, when he got to Korea they handed him a 03a3 with a scope and sent him outside the wire at night to "hunt". I'm not sure I remember how many men he watched die in the scope of that rifle. He finally asked for a different assignment. They handed him a machine gun. That awarded him some shrapnel in one leg, he still had the shrapnel the day he died. After he left the military he never picked up a gun again. Even though he loved shooting growing up. I miss Laurel!I must admit to reading this thread and being rather envious. My Dad wasn't an enthusiast. He was a Marine vet during Korea. He was proud that he qualified Expert but I could never get him to shoot. He started me with a .22 and a 4-H program when I was young but he wouldn't shoot. He was at my house one day and I took my Garand from the safe to show him. He recited the rifle specs from memory, "US Rifle Caliber .30 M1, weight 9.5 lbs...........", and them recited the Rifleman's Creed, "This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.........". This was more than 60 years after he left the Corp. I had never heard him speak any of this before that day. I tried again but never did get him on the range.
I am rather envious you have with your father's. Keep those memories alive. I have a special photo of Dad as a newly promoted Corporal from1953. I'll see if I can post it from my phone.