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M1 Thumb

M1 Thumb

It was Mid October 1961. I was a member of Recruit Platoon 341 at Parris Island. On this day we where in formation for our Final Field inspection. The next day we would graduate as Marines. My SDI was Staff Sgt E6 Sal Vigliotti.( about 1967 or 68 there was an article in Leather Neck Magazine that he had become the Senior Chief Drill Instructor of P.I.). I added this to show the type of Marine that I was honored to have served with. My 2 JDI’s where Staff Sgt J.E Schroeder and Sgt. W.M Hemlepp. (some years later Hemlepp would be my Plt. leader as a Ist Grade Warrant Officer). Here was another cool head. Anyway, in the formation, I was about center in the first squad. The first Officer to inspect was a 1st Lt. who was our Series Commander. As he stepped to my front I raised my M1 rifle to inspection arms while jacking open the rifles bolt to lock open position. The Lt. smartly lifted the rifle from my hands, did the usual show of flipping the rifle around looking at the butt and down the barrel then pressed down on the follower. As the back of his hand slipped off the operating rod handle the bolt flew forward and chambered his thumb with a muffled thump. His face turned an ash grey color as the pain reached his brain. I winched as he began to remove his mangled thumb from the rifles chamber and face of the bolts extractor. I believed that I must have had an amused look on my face as he said, “Do you think there is something funny about this?’ I answered NO SIR!! but I did feel his pain, after all no Marine ever escaped (at least once), the rath of the M1 thumb. The poor dude was both embarrass and pissed. He then quickly removed the trigger housing group and the stock from the barrel group and dropped it near my feet then verbally excusing himself saying he was off for medical attention at sick bay. As he walked off there was a dead silence. Before me lay my issue, U.S. Cal. 30 M1, Winchester ser.#1631101 in pieces. The silence was then broken by a very calm voice of Uncle Sal Vigliotte. “well Roessler, do you realize the magnitude of what has just happened here?” I answered “YES SIR, What ever it is, is not going to be good”.” Oh you think so? Well do you realize that you just bagged an officer. You are my hero of the day, well done. Beside that, I was never to fond of that cocky little Son of a so an so anyway”. The next day we became Marines. I would never see Staff Sgt S. Vigliotte again. Hardly a day passes where I don’t think about the Staff Sgt. who must have trained a few thousand Marines in his day. All 3 of those D.I,s became a part of me for the rest of my life. And So it was. Over a half of a Century ago.
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Comments

CPL Bob Manzi - May 14, 2020

I also thought it strange that I was in platon 341 in 1958. Did not know platoon numbers were reused! Semper Fi.

Dave Coup - May 14, 2020

Outfuckingstanding!

Erroll jenkins - May 14, 2020

Must be a honor the have a combat experience, the mind is a terrible thing to waste, if only you are chosen to run errands and get coffee for officers, and not given that chance to fight and even die for your country in combat, thats why i joined the MARINES. Semper Fi.

Sgt Robert L Sisson - May 14, 2020

I was in Platoon 293 from July 1968-Sept 1968 I am sure there were more than one 293 in the last 50 years DAAA.

Karl Haeske - May 14, 2020

OMG that’s Funny. I was in Plt. 389 ,1975. Still remember my Sr. DI Gunny Dalton , we were the Dalton Gang, the biggest bunch of screw ups around. He retired the next day after graduation with a clear conscience after he managed to get our act together. Semper Fi

Bulldogman – L/CPL - May 14, 2020

Strange…I was in Plt.341 from June 1962 to Sept. 12th. didn’t know that there was more than one!

Stephe Ostroski - May 14, 2020

Great story. Was in Plt. 325 June 29, 1959. Still can see my Sr. DI. Coming no across the parade field. Never ever will forget those swagger sticks on the helmet liners. Did get you attention

George R. O’Connell -RM2(E5) USN 1956-64 - May 14, 2020

Great story on M1 ‘thumb’. One of the sure ways to ease out the ‘phonies’ who claim participation in that era – mention the M1 thumb and if you get a blank WTF look, you know you are dealing with someone who WASN’T there OR is so ‘dumb’ you don’t want to associate with them anyhow. Either ‘you’ or someone close to ‘you’ has experienced the ‘thumb’ ONCE! Like the ‘man’ says, If you have never f’d up or made a mistake, chances are you haven’t done much of anything….

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