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Family Bring-Backs


MasonK
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Hi All,

I thought I would share a couple of family bring-backs.

 

The first item I just acquired yesterday from my Grandfather's half-cousin (his father was half-brother to my great grandfather). The rifle was brought back by, Karl E. Bohn, my grandfather's half-brother (1st son of my great grandmother). Hope that makes sense!

 

In any case, below is the enlistment info for Karl as well as a photo. The photo is from his wedding in 1946.

 

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Now onto the rifle. Karl served in the ETO, however I have no information on service. I am in contact with his daughter and am hoping she can shed some light on this for me.

 

The rifle itself is a Yugo M24 Mauser, however was captured by the German's as evident by the Waffenamt's on the takedown discs. The sling was postwar added, likely by Karl.

 

I'll let the photo's do the talking...

 

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Now on to the next item. My father in-law gave me this rifle about 4 years ago. The rifle belonged to his uncle, Walter E. Haesler, who served in the Navy during WWII.

 

Walter enlisted in 1939 and was discharged in 1945. During the first 4 years of his enlistment, Walter was stationed at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base in Philadelphia.

 

In August of 1943 he appears on the USS Niobrara and held the rank and rate of Chief Pharmacists Mate (Corpsman). The Niobrara was active during Iwo and Okinawa, so it's likley the rifle was obtained at oen of these battles, possibly directly by Walter considering he was a Corpsman.

 

Below is a photo of Walter from 1953 and his BIRLS file.

 

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Now onto the rifle...It's a Japanese Type 38 and comes with it's original Type 30 bayonet, with scabbard and leather frog.

 

The rifle contains the Koishikawa Arsenal Mark (Tokyo). Based on the serial #, it would have been manufactured prior to 1935.

 

The bayonet contains the same arsenal mark and would have been manufactured prior to 1936.

 

Again, I'll let the photos do the talking...

 

post-29885-0-65080100-1359393509_thumb.jpg

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That's the last of the photo's.

 

Walter also brought home an 1876 dated French-Gras bayonet, however I didn't have a chance to take photos of it over the weekend. When I do, I'll be sure to add it to the post.

 

And when I figure out how a French-Gras bayonet made its way into the hands of a US Navy man serving in the Pacific during WWII, I'll let you know that as well!

 

A shame Walter is no longer with us. He passed shortly before my wife and started dating. I would have loved to have met him and if anything, learn the story of how he obtained that bayonet!

 

Actually, considering the Niobrara was a refueling and supply ship, I wonder if Walter could have possibly obtained it on Bora Bora (french Polynesia)?

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