In March 1952 basic training at Ft Jackson, SC, after what seemed like weeks of zeroing and dry firing the M1 rifle we finally got to go to live fire range which was great for an old Tennessee boy.

We had an English teacher from New York City who had never seen a rifle must less fired one. As we prepared to fire from the prone position we told him if he would hold the butt of the rifle about two inches from his shoulder it wouldn't kick so bad.

Needless to say, after the first round fired, he learned not to listen to us.