I'm just back from a trip to Vietnam and stopped off at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City where I spotted these four different AR15/M16s left in country after the US withdrawal. I thought some of you here would find the lower receiver markings interesting.

Things like that always make me wonder about the guy they were issued to. Who was he and what happened to him?

His name is probably on The Wall.

No Mattel lowers?

Thanks for taking time to photograph there and sharing.

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Originally posted by Gustofer:
Things like that always make me wonder about the guy they were issued to. Who was he and what happened to him?

The last guy who carried it might not have been a USGI at all. Could have been a Republic of Vietnam (the South) soldier. After they surrendered the Vietcong took over everything not unlike what happened in Afghanistan.

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Originally posted by Gabe123:

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Things like that always make me wonder about the guy they were issued to. Who was he and what happened to him?

The last guy who carried it might not have been a USGI at all. Could have been a Republic of Vietnam (the South) soldier. After they surrendered the Vietcong took over everything not unlike what happened in Afghanistan.

Which makes me wonder, 45-50 years from now, is Afghanistan going to be a vacation destination?

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Originally posted by CPD SIG:
Which makes me wonder, 45-50 years from now, is Afghanistan going to be a vacation destination?

Sure. Just like in Vietnam, there will be package deals where you can tour the Taliban caves, get your photo taken on a rusty MRAP, fire a magazine through a clapped-out M4, and wander through a museum with Engrish placards describing the triumph of the faithful freedom fighters over the decadent Western devils.

quote:

Originally posted by Gabe123:
The last guy who carried it might not have been a USGI at all.

That was my first thought.

At least the loss was most likely more honorable vs the loss in the Afghanistan pull out.

Thanks for sharing the information. I thought GM Corp. - General Motors only built cars/trucks -automotive parts?

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Originally posted by kobra:
Thanks for sharing the information. I thought GM Corp. - General Motors only built cars/trucks -automotive parts?

Nope. They've been making armaments since WW1, practically since GM's inception.


For small arms specifically, during WW2 they produced over 2.7 million M1 and M2 carbines, about 600k M3 SMGs, and over a million Browning M2 and M1919 MGs. Followed later during the Vietnam era by about 500k M16s.

But their production over the last century+ has also included a wide range of artillery guns, anti-aircraft guns, tanks, tank destroyers, APCs, AFVs, fighter planes, bombers, naval cannons, aircraft cannons, and more.

Not to mention ammunition, bombs, artillery shells, mortar shells, torpedoes, etc.

When North Vietnam stepped up their assault on the South after the US picked up our ball and went home despite being points ahead, the RVN begged for the support that the US had pledged to give if that happened. No aid was forthcoming. The reasons for the loss of those weapons to the Communists was every bit as bad as what happened in Afghanistan, if not worse—at least in principle, if not degree.

I recommend the book Black April: The Fall of South Vietnam, 1973-75 by George J. Veith.

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Originally posted by RogueJSK:
For small arms specifically, during WW2 they produced over 2.7 million M1 and M2 carbines

Yep, the Inland Division. More M1 carbines produced than any other manufacturer, including all the M1A1's if memory serves. I have a '44 Inland.

Dont forget Saginaw Steering Gear.

..nor forget GM's Guide Lamp Division.

https://www.americanrifleman.o...-motors-went-to-war/

Back when I had a little bit of grunt training in '78 my M16A1 was a Hydra-Matic made one.

On topic: That's an interesting pic. Which was the E1 again? The carbine? Or am I reading it wrong?

Off topic: Helped a farmer friend buy a M-1 Garand for an anniversary gift for her farmer husband. She was excited when she found out you could buy one made by International Harvester.

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Originally posted by bionic218:
On topic: That's an interesting pic. Which was the E1 again? The carbine? Or am I reading it wrong?

Nope. Good eye. That's a XM16E1 lower.

The E1 was the experimental transitional model between the original M16 and the M16A1. It's where the forward assist was introduced.

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It's where the forward assist was introduced.

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks, Rogue.

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Yep, the Inland Division. More M1 carbines produced than any other manufacturer, including all the M1A1's if memory serves. I have a '44 Inland.

So do I.