M-1
©By  R.A.Gannon
Contact CSP

Do you wonder why that rifle

Is hanging in my den?

You know I rarely take it down

But I touch it now and then.

It’s rather slow and heavy

By standards of today

But not too many years ago

It swept the rest away.

It’s held its own in battles

Through snow, or rain, or sun

And I had one just like it,

This treasured old M-1.

It went ashore at Bougainville

In Nineteen Forty-Three.

It stormed the beach at Tarawa

Through a bullet-riddled sea.

Saipan knew its strident bark,

Kwajelein, its sting.

The rocky caves of Peleliu

Resounded with its ring.

It climbed the hill on Iwo

With men who wouldn’t stop

And left our nation’s banner

Flying on the top.

It poked its nose in Pusan,

Screamed an angry roar

And took the First Division

From Chosin Reservoir.

Well, time moves on

And things improve

With rifles and with men,

And that is why the two of us

Are sitting in my den.

But sometimes on a winter night,

While thinking of my Corps,

I know that if the bugle blew  

We’d be a team once more.

"M-1", was written by Bob Gannon, a former Marine and frequent contributor to the "Leatherneck" magazine. He has kindly allowed me to post his tribute to John Garand's masterpiece on our pages. The poem conveys a true feeling for the love of the rifle that allowed us to save our Republic in three wars and deserves an honored place our history. Just walnut and steel you say? Those of us who have fond memories of the M-1 know better! This was the rifle of our youth, in a time when patriotism wasn't just a cold word in the dictionary. Bill Clinton and his minions wouldn't understand our affection for an inanimate object, but then he does not represent the America I, and many of you, knew as a youngster. Any time your wife asks why would anyone want an M-1 Rifle, simply have her read this.  Bob is especially talented in expressing his affection for service rifles in verse. Although he writes from the perspective of a Marine, since those are the folks he knows the best, the sentiment is just as applicable to those magnificent men of our sister services who proudly carried the M-1 in defense of our country. He has also kindly granted us permission to publish another work, called "Rifles" , which is a classic in itself.  Be watching for it soon.

 - ROC -

 ©1999,1998,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005 "CSP GUN TALK"

Please ask before using any graphics or poetry Contact CSP