1942 Makin Island Raid M1 Rifle Conserved

[Charlie Flick]

The Navy released this information on August 18:

 

The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Underwater Archaeology Branch recently began an assessment of an M1 Garand rifle used by U.S. Marine Corps raiders during the Makin Island raid in World War II. The Makin M1 was originally discovered in 1999, when the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii (CILHI) returned to Makin Island to relocate, recover and repatriate the remains of the Marines who died there.

 

The raid, which took place Aug. 17-18 1942, destroyed enemy radio communication points, fuel, military stores and helped divert attention from the 1st Marine Division landing on Guadalcanal. During the raid, which was remarkably launched from the submarines USS Nautilus (SS 168) and USS Argonaut (SM 1), 19 Marines from the 2nd Raider Battalion lost their lives and were buried together on Makin Island. The rifle was discovered in the grave and returned to CILHI before its eventual transfer to the Raiders Museum located at Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ).

 

 

After more than 50 years buried in a wet marine environment, the Makin M1 displays significant surface concretions, corrosion and physical damage. Curators at the National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) reached out to archaeological conservators at the NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch to perform an assessment of the artifact and help ascertain its stability. Prior to transportation of the Makin M1 to the NHHC Archaeology & Conservation Laboratory on the Washington Navy Yard, the USMC Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at MCBQ inspected the rifle interior to ensure it contained no live ammunition. Conservators then performed a detailed examination of the Makin M1, documented its current condition and are now developing treatment plans to address its immediate and long-term preservation.

 

The M1 Garand is a .30 caliber semi-automatic rifle which lent a significant advantage to U.S. troops during World War II and marked the first time semi-automatic rifles were generally issued to the U.S. military for use in combat. The M1 Garand is equipped with a gas cylinder located beneath the barrel. Gas pressure produced when firing a round traveled back through the gas cylinder to drive the piston and operating rod back, eject the empty cartridge case and push the next round from the clip into the chamber. This auto-reload system allowed for reliable quick fire capability and reduced recoil which helped maintain accuracy. In addition to being an important piece of U.S. military history, the Makin M1 is also particularly significant for the Marine Corps as it was used in one of the earliest engagements of Marine Corps Raiders in the Pacific.

NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy's unique and enduring contributions through our nation's history, and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, nine museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus.

 

Regards,

Charlie

 

[Chris_B]

I'm surprised the condition, especially of the wood, is so good.

[bobgee]

Amazing historical find. Wonder if the serial number is readable? Semper Fi.......Bobgee

[Leatherneck72]

This would have been one of the very first M-1's to go into action with the Marines. I think I read somewhere that the 1st Raider Bn as well as most all of the line infantry units were still using the M1903 Springfield with BAR's and Thompsons when this Garand was dropped by the 2nd Raider Bn. Simply awesome...

[yp221]

It looks like the oiler is still in the buttstock. Amazing time capsule.

[Cobrahistorian]

Sadly the serial is no longer visible. The receiver is almost completely rusted through where the serial is located. 
 

I’ll be on WW2TV tomorrow at 1400EST discussing the raid and the rifle 

 

Jon Bernstein

Arms & Armor Curator

NMMC

[robinb]

I possess a purple heart medal that was given to the family of one of the raiders who was killed on Makin. That could have been his rifle. Fascinating. 

[Cobrahistorian]

The rifle came out of conservation back in February.  The Naval History and Heritage Command Underwater Archaeology Conservation Lab did an amazing job on it.  You can see a great video of it here:

 

https://www.usmcmuseum.com/blog/nhhc-underwater-archeologists-complete-conservation-of-wwii-artifact

The cleaning kit was in immaculate condition.  There was an unfired round in the chamber and another left in the mag well.  All of these artifacts will be going on display with the rifle in our WW2 gallery within the next year.

 

v/r

 

Jon

[atb]

Congratulations to the Navy and Marine Corps on the recovery and conservation of this important artifact. The Army has an M1 rifle recovered in Normandy that has been identified to the soldier to which it belonged. It is on display at the National Musuem of the US Army, Ft. Belvoir, VA. 

[Cobrahistorian]

80 years ago today!

[EGA-DOG]

What a historic artifact. They did an amazing job on the preservation.

[AZPhil]

Semper Fi on that One!!!!

 

Great job of restoration on that Garand.

 A True piece of Marine Corps History!!

 

Thank you for your work!

 

Semper Fi

Phil

[earlymb]

On 8/16/2022 at 4:05 PM, robinb said:

I possess a purple heart medal that was given to the family of one of the raiders who was killed on Makin. That could have been his rifle. Fascinating. 

 

If it was indeed found IN the grave (not just near), its exact location and context might give a clue about who's rifle it was.

I also wonder why it was buried?

[KurtA]

On 8/25/2022 at 7:32 AM, earlymb said:

 

 

I also wonder why it was buried?

Perhaps it was battle damaged and inoperable. 

[Cobrahistorian]

Hey all,

 

Just a heads up, the Makin Rifle is now on exhibit in our World War II Gallery for all to see!

 

On 8/25/2022 at 7:32 AM, earlymb said:

 

If it was indeed found IN the grave (not just near), its exact location and context might give a clue about who's rifle it was.

I also wonder why it was buried?

It was found in the grave with the remains of 19 Marines.  Ten of those Marines were identified through DNA, dogtags, etc.  The other 9 remain unidentified.  There was a significant amount of equipment, etc in the grave along with the rifle, so it is impossible to determine who the rifle belonged to.  Because of the nature of the extraction from Makin, a large number of weapons were left behind.  

 

It was buried by the local natives.  The presence of an M1 rifle when the Japanese returned to reinforce Makin would have been a death sentence, so they buried the rifle.  Over the next year, the Japanese pumped a significant amount of manpower, artillery and armor into Makin.  It took the 165th Infantry Regiment three days to liberate the atoll in November 1943.  

 

v/r

Jon