Christmas 1969
I was 12 years old that Christmas in 1969. At the time, my younger wishes of receiving toys had given way to dreams of more grown-up things. Each year, there was always one “big” gift that I received from my parents. Perhaps this year, I might receive a fishing rod, transistor radio, or even a portable TV (alas, back then still limited to four channels). Feeling the excitement of Christmas Eve, I would find it hard to sleep that night.
Up Early
As expected, I awoke before the sun came up. Instantly, I could smell the turkey roasting in the oven and the first pot of coffee brewing. Evidently, Mom and Dad were already up and busy in the kitchen. As I walked down the hall, the light of the Christmas tree guided me into the living room. Then, I saw it under the tree. It was a long, thin box wrapped in shiny red paper. Prominently placed in front of all the other packages, I knew that this must’ve been the “big” gift this year.
While scanning the other boxes for my name, Mom and Dad walked in. Dad carried a steaming coffee mug in one hand and his ever-present 8mm movie camera in the other. First, we greeted each other with a round of “Merry Christmases”.
The Big Gift
“Well, you should start with that big box in front,” Dad exclaimed. He must’ve sensed my eagerness to open it. Then, he flipped on the bright, hot camera light and started filming.
As if on cue, I opened the box. Then, I saw the rifle, with a full walnut stock, blued metal, and a shiny gold-plated trigger.
“It’s a .22 caliber rifle,” Dad stated. “It’ll be good for shooting targets and hunting rabbits”. I’m sure that Mom cringed at the thought of me carrying home dead rabbits.
Of course, I couldn’t wait to hold it. As I lifted it out of the box, I could smell the fresh gun oil. The walnut stock was smooth and shiny. Definitely, this was a nice gun. My Christmas wish fulfilled, I felt that I had crossed into a new level of maturity and responsibility.
My New Marlin Firearms Model 99 M1 Carbine Replica
Beginning in 1964, the Marlin Firearms Company produced a .22 caliber rimfire rifle modeled after the famous WWII M1 carbine. The barrel length was 18 inches, the same length as the M1. Subsequently, this made the overall length 37-inches, very close to the original. Additionally, military-style ramp sights completed this historic replica.
Although, there were differences between the replica and original. The Marlin shot a .22 Long Rifle (LR) round and not the original’s larger .30 caliber. Subsequently, the action and barrel of the Marlin were lighter than the original, at 4.75-pounds. Also, the Marlin had a tubular magazine holding 9 rounds. In contrast, the original M1 was fed by the well-known detachable box magazine. Sometimes, in old war films, you could hear the box clanking when ejected.
The Original M1 Carbine in World War II
During WWII, the M1 rifle was the most prevalently used weapon by U.S. troops. Actually, there are two different designs. The M1 carbine is a lightweight, compact, short-range rifle that fires a long pistol cartridge (the .30 carbine). It’s larger and heavier “cousin”, the M1 Garand, was the general battle rifle for the infantry. In contrast, it fired full-power cartridges (.30-06) and was capable of engaging the enemy at 600 yards or more. M1 carbines were less accurate at distance than the longer-barreled Garands, due to the lower velocity bullets that were fired from the shortened barrel.
But the advantage of the lighter-weight carbine, 4 pounds vs. 9 pounds for the Garand, made a big difference in the harsh environments of the Pacific theatre. During WWII in the Pacific, a lot of infantry combat was fought within 150 yards. Additionally, fighting occurred in jungles, swamps, and mountain ranges where the shorter, lighter rifle was easier to handle. Subsequently, over 6 million M1 carbines were manufactured during WWII.
My Dad, Captain Edward A. Odrowski, served in the U.S. Army’s Medical Administrative Corps (MAC). After the start of WWII, he was assigned to the 44th General Hospital. In November of 1944, he landed in the Philippines during the U.S. invasion of Leyte, led by General Douglas A. MacArthur. In spite of being part of a mostly unarmed medical unit, he too would soon rely on the M1 carbine.
Flashback – The Japanese Counterattack on Leyte, December 1944
On December 6th, 1944, the first wave of the Japanese counterattack on Leyte began with a rare paratrooper drop. Without adequate infantry support, the hospital staff and their patients faced the grave danger of being overrun. As a result, the 44th’s Commanding Officer had to act fast. Somehow, without official authorization, hospital supply staff obtained 400 M1 carbine rifles from an ordinance unit over 10 miles away.
“We took three ambulances to haul all the guns and ammunition. We took several enlisted men to assist. The 8th Army Base Surgeon did not support us in this matter. I give Hanna (Captain Walter Hanna, MAC Supply Officer) the credit for obtaining the rifles.”
Captain William Hastings, MAC Registrar
Preparing to Defend the Hospital
The 44th’s staff had not received any weapons training prior to their deployment. Besides, an advanced medical unit was expected to be far from the front lines. As it turns out, on Leyte, things didn’t go as planned. Therefore, my Dad ensured that the enlisted men under his command received training in the use of the M1 rifles in preparation for a Japanese attack.
“I was asked by Ed Odrowski to start instructing the EM (enlisted men) in the use of the newly arrived M1 rifles. My limited ‘expertise’ derived from my exposure at OCS (Officer Candidate School) to a single afternoon on the firing range. I only completed a couple of sessions with the EM and never got beyond field stripping.”
Captain Ray LaFauci, 44th General Hospital
The Japanese Attack on the Hospital
During the night of December 10th, 1944, the men of the 44th faced a fateful test. In the rainy darkness, a Japanese infantry unit reached the perimeter of the hospital. Courageously, doctors, corpsmen, cooks, and supply men stood their ground in the dark jungle, armed with their M1s. By dawn, the 44th had repulsed the Japanese attack. The men dubbed their encounter with the enemy, “The Battle of Buffalo Wallow“.
Christmas 1944 on Leyte
By Christmas of 1944, the Japanese Army was pushed to the eastern side of Leyte. Although weakened, they still fought on for months. General MacArthur shifted his attention to the island of Luzon and liberating the city of Manila. Subsequently, more fierce battles ensued. Soon, the 44th General Hospital would be over-capacity with 1,000+ patients. At the time, no one imagined that the War would end in the coming year. Seemingly, there was a lot more ahead, including a planned invasion of the Japanese home islands.
In the midst of these challenges, the 44th sent Christmas greetings back home.
Within 8 months, the members of the 44th General Hospital would put this Christmas in the past. By Thanksgiving of 1945, many would be at home with their families, giving thanks and looking forward to a peaceful Christmas.
Finally Discovering the Meaning of the Gift
Ultimately, it would take me over 50 years to discover the meaning of the gift I received that Christmas in 1969. Like many WWII vets, Dad never alluded to his contributions as being any more special than anyone else’s. It wasn’t until I started doing research on his WWII service did I realize the grave danger his unit faced, and how they pulled together courageously to meet that danger. And, how the M1 carbine likely saved his life. Now, I can look forward to passing on this story, and the replica Marlin Model 99 M1, to my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hopefully, our future generations will always remember the brave WWII veterans who fought to keep us free.