Grandfather's M1903

[edpm3]

I believe this photo of my grandfather was taken during his initial training in 1912. I don't know where he trained, but he served in the Coastal Artillery at Fort Williams, Maine. He was probably 19 or 20 when this photo was taken. The rifle was much younger.

[Sunray]

I wonder if he ever saw an '03 again. Being Coastal Arty and all. Mind you, W.W. I was two years away and U.S. entry into the War was still 5 years off. Being a regular might have mattered too.

[Fred]

Neat photo! Thanks.

[Shooter5]

Neat! You can easily research your ancestor's service records and history at the archives website:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/

[DWL in TN]

Interesting photo.........hi-wall, single bolt stock.

Does the bolt look to be cocked with the safety in the up position? I wonder if he was on guard duty with a loaded rifle...

[chuckindenver]

love this pic

[Allen]

Great picture. Thanks for sharing. Wish I had pictures from my Grandfather from WW1---I don't even know what rifle he carried (Krag or '03). He was wounded twice in combat, once by the Germans and once by "friendly fire". He had half of his jaw blown off and they made him a makeshift jaw in the field using braided silver wire. When he returned to the states a permanet replacement was made and the temporary jaw was sent to the Smithsonian.

[Allen Humphrey]

Really great photo. Thanks for sharing it. Always nice to see those images with family connections and a story.

[Mike D]

Nice photo! Interesting brick work.

Mike

[Rick the Librarian]

Actually, coast artillery troops took a certain amount of infantry training each year. I have a few pictures of C.A. troops with rifles.

[CJCulpeper]

Great photo.

I bet that coat is warm in the winter. Mom still has Grandpa's in the cedar chest. I tried it on once in 1976. It was too small for me then and I was only 150 pounds. Farm boys in the Great war were not as robust as we are today. I've been thinking of getting coat like that for my own from Schipperfabrik.