Heroes Hidden in Plain Sight: The Browning Automatic Rifle

Sanders · 11-19-2018, 04:44 PM

A guy I used to work with was a BAR gunner in Korea. He said he carried the BAR, ammo, a shotgun, and a .45. Must have worked for him, since he came home in one piece.

Quote:

Hidden in Plain Sight

Mr. Roberson was an unassuming old guy who looked like everybody’s grandfather. Whenever he came to the clinic he always wore the same uniform—a pair of bib overalls over a pressed collared shirt buttoned at the neck and wrists along with a dapper ball cap. When first I saw him as a patient it was for arm pain.

My friend carried fragments from a German Stielhandgranate in his arm for more than half a century.

I asked him to unbutton his sleeve so I could take a look and noticed a mass of scars on his forearm. I innocently inquired as to the source. He quietly explained that he still carried fragments from a German potato masher grenade left over from World War 2.

This quiet farmer who lived down the road from me had done some truly amazing things.

It turned out that Mr. Roberson was my neighbor down the road, and he ultimately shared a lot of stories. A literal lifetime before this unassuming Mississippi farmer carried a Browning Automatic Rifle as a member of the 5th Ranger Battalion in World War 2. On June 6th, 1944, he landed in the first wave on Omaha Beach fighting alongside the 116th Infantry Regiment. We’ve all seen Saving Private Ryan. That was his unit. That was this man.

Good article here: https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/h...tomatic-rifle/

44044 · 11-19-2018, 08:20 PM

Thank You...

BBill · 11-20-2018, 04:15 PM

Great read!!

CDawg · 11-20-2018, 10:32 PM

dinkydow · 11-21-2018, 01:16 PM

The BAR...is a weapon that is REALLY HARD to dislike. I wish I still had one.

ColonelKorn · 12-05-2018, 12:27 PM

There was an old guy in Troy, NC that had one....it's a bit heavy for me, but got the job done in the war.

baboon · 12-05-2018, 12:51 PM

Best news is that Ohio Ordnance Works made a limited run of semi BAR's that brought new barrels into the mix.

THE DUDE · 12-05-2018, 03:12 PM

i dont even know what barrels' on mine.

But i'd gladly take it over a Gay-R 15 any day of the week.

10 Bears · 12-06-2018, 11:14 AM

Thanks for that article, a great story about a mighty fine gentleman!

Stalky · 12-19-2018, 07:42 PM

The shosho is an interesting weapon also.
I worked with a MAN that operated a flame thrower in Korea.

mr-ak-47 · 12-19-2018, 07:58 PM

Indeed great article and man....

500grains · 12-22-2018, 08:39 AM

I read a book written by a guy who carried a BAR in Korea. He used to travel at the end of the line of troops crossing the ridges. He would frequently stop and light up some Chinese troops following them. The garand guys could done the same thing if they concentrated on marksmanship.

dinkydow · 02-14-2019, 08:34 PM

BAR's are sweet.

Carne Frio · 02-25-2019, 10:23 PM

The father of my ex was a BAR man in the army in France and Germany.
He had some PTSD problems post war. His son told me that he began to
enjoy the BAR and the destruction he could inflict and that bothered him.
Just a small town kid from northern New Mexico.

silvermane_1 · 04-02-2019, 03:14 AM

Ah the BAR, it's BADASS.

11-20-2018, 10:32 PM	#4
CDawg slug Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 12,270	__________________ "Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning" Erwin Rommel A Chief Petty Officer shall not drink. However, if he should drink he shall not get drunk. If he should get drunk, he shall not stagger. And if he should stagger, he shall not fall. And if he should fall, he will fall in such a manner as to cover up his rank so that passersby will think he is an officer.

11-21-2018, 01:16 PM	#5
dinkydow Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Great White North Posts: 96,463	The BAR...is a weapon that is REALLY HARD to dislike. I wish I still had one. __________________ Our forefathers would have already been shooting...by now. "Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt." "Violence of action means the unrestricted use of speed,strength, surprise and aggression to achieve total dominance against your enemy...any fighting technique is useless unless you totally commit to violence of action." Burning huts in commy vills worldwide since 1968

12-05-2018, 12:27 PM	#6
ColonelKorn High Priest of Honkydom Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Cheetahstan Posts: 9,539	There was an old guy in Troy, NC that had one....it's a bit heavy for me, but got the job done in the war. __________________ I am an enraged asswipe

12-05-2018, 03:12 PM	#8
THE DUDE Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Yo mama's troat Posts: 2,641	i dont even know what barrels' on mine. But i'd gladly take it over a Gay-R 15 any day of the week. __________________ I'll talk to you the way I want to talk to you, If you don't like it , change the station.

12-19-2018, 07:58 PM	#11
mr-ak-47 Massa di Avatars Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: In another Galaxy, another dimension, another time Posts: 25,604	Indeed great article and man.... __________________ . One person says something stupid, and the other stupid people hear him, and the next thing you know, you're getting tortured in a gulag. Welcome to democracy, where your rights depend on the howling of the mob. .

11-19-2018, 08:20 PM	#2
44044 slug Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: swampeastmissouri Posts: 50,919	Thank You...

11-20-2018, 04:15 PM	#3
BBill Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Indy Posts: 8,058	Great read!!

12-05-2018, 12:51 PM	#7
baboon slug Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Out by the lake in central Texas Posts: 18,305	Best news is that Ohio Ordnance Works made a limited run of semi BAR's that brought new barrels into the mix.

12-06-2018, 11:14 AM	#9
10 Bears Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: E-Da-How Posts: 137,846	Thanks for that article, a great story about a mighty fine gentleman!

12-19-2018, 07:42 PM	#10
Stalky Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 8,076	The shosho is an interesting weapon also. I worked with a MAN that operated a flame thrower in Korea.

12-22-2018, 08:39 AM	#12
500grains Soldier of Allah Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Crackerland Posts: 31,660	I read a book written by a guy who carried a BAR in Korea. He used to travel at the end of the line of troops crossing the ridges. He would frequently stop and light up some Chinese troops following them. The garand guys could done the same thing if they concentrated on marksmanship. __________________ Racism will keep you alive.

02-14-2019, 08:34 PM	#13
dinkydow Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Great White North Posts: 96,463	BAR's are sweet.

02-25-2019, 10:23 PM	#14
Carne Frio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Fairbanks Posts: 1,427	The father of my ex was a BAR man in the army in France and Germany. He had some PTSD problems post war. His son told me that he began to enjoy the BAR and the destruction he could inflict and that bothered him. Just a small town kid from northern New Mexico. __________________ I'm thinking that we are going to need a lot more rope before this is over.

04-02-2019, 03:14 AM	#15
silvermane_1 Proud Ulster-Scot Celt Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Burien, WA Posts: 89	Ah the BAR, it's BADASS.

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