T53 Vietnam bringback rifle

[Beowulf]

This was bugging me a bit. The inscription says "FMHUSKYCHARLIE" which means (fairly) clearly "From Husky Charlie," but who is "Husky Charlie?" At first I thought it maybe was a joking reference to the enemy, but the Viet Cong were known as VC, "Victor Charlie", not "Husky Charlie."

A little more searching turned up another lessons learned report at DTIC, which has the answer:



The unit in question was Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 35th Artillery, an artillery battery in the battalion that was commanded by LTC Gendron. That unit had the tracked M109 Self-Propelled Howitzers with the 155mm cannon mounted on it. I'm guessing that "Husky" referred to Howitzer(s), and the Charlie was of course for the C in Battery C.

At the time of this particular report LTC Gendron had moved on and another commander was in place, and they arty guys were involved in turning back the Tet Offensive.

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/391449.pdf

Nice detective work!

 

[Alamo]

Nice detective work!

Thanks. Im kinda wishing I had found the rifle.

 

[ZachJ03]

Thanks. Im kinda wishing I had found the rifle.

Yes, thank you for the wealth of knowledge! After reading your posts, a quick google and FB search and I found his kids. I may try to reach out to them to see if they have any documention of the rifle or his career that they’d be willing to share. I don’t have any papers with the rifle as of now but I think with the evidence, it’s the real deal. I truly appreciate your input and findings.

 

[Alamo]

Yes, thank you for the wealth of knowledge! After reading your posts, a quick google and FB search and I found his kids. I may try to reach out to them to see if they have any documention of the rifle or his career that they’d be willing to share. I don’t have any papers with the rifle as of now but I think with the evidence, it’s the real deal. I truly appreciate your input and findings.

Well if you get tired of the rifle, let me know, or maybe even better if you can put together some verified info on it, cites to the official lessons learned reports etc, there may be an artillery museum or some such that would be interested in it.

 

[ZachJ03]

Well if you get tired of the rifle, let me know, or maybe even better if you can put together some verified info on it, cites to the official lessons learned reports etc, there may be an artillery museum or some such that would be interested in it.

I was actually sort of curious about the museum route. Are you familiar with how that works? Like do I still own the rifle and they will display it or do they have to purchase it?

 

[MarkC]

I was actually sort of curious about the museum route. Are you familiar with how that works? Like do I still own the rifle and they will display it or do they have to purchase it?

With museums, it depends on their policies, I've seen items on loan displayed and items donated to the museum.

The U. S. Army Field Artillery Museum at Fort Sill, OK, might be interested in this rifle, given its apparent provenance. They have displays of some small arms.

 

[INGarand]

Have a Type 53 I brought back from Nam, picked it up on a sweep through a village. Was lucky to find it since most of the weapons used by then were AKs.

 

[Alamo]

Have a Type 53 I brought back from Nam, picked it up on a sweep through a village. Was lucky to find it since most of the weapons used by then were AKs.

I don't suppose you have a picture of it in situ?

 

[Mgderf]

I have a beat up T53 that I can't find any import marks on.
It's been a while since I last shot it.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Well this thread inspired me to take my Mosin carbines (M44 and M38) to the range today. What a hoot! I was thinking it would be better if it were at dusk or even a dark cloudy day. No need. The covered benches gave enough shade to appreciate the huge fireballs. I have a scout scope on the M38 and the entire sight picture was filled with flame every trigger pull.

 

[Gingerbeardman]

That's some great research! Just spitballing here, but for a rifle to be presented in this manner must mean the guys thought pretty highly of the man.

 

[Blakec221]

Neat piece! I love old war era firearms!

 

[ljk]

The "Triangle 26" stamp is the oldest Chinese modern arsenal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanyang_Arsenal

 

[henry0reilly]

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/alvin-gendron-obituary?pid=186809161

Glen, the son from Middlebury has a facebook page, didn't find any others.

 

[CombatengineerJerry6768]

I suspect the LTC Gendron on the plaque might be this guy - I've found only two Gendrons who were Army officers during the Vietnam period, and this one appears to be a closer fit:

Alvin J. Gendron
April 04, 1930 - September 26, 2017

The obit notes he was a retired Army Colonel. His age at death would make him 37 years old in 1967, which would be the right age to be a Lieutenant Colonel. His wife at time of death is from Indiana, and he has two sons in Indiana, which may be the route that your rifle ended up in Hoosierland.

That's a fairly unique name, and it appears in this declassified "lessons learned" report about artillery support by the 54th Artillery Group. The 54th Arty Group provided support to the 9th Infantry Division in Viet Nam in 1967. The 9 INF conducted the AKRON series of operations. The report is a quarterly report covering the period November/December 1967 and January 1968. The report notes that Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell R. Thurmen, assumed command ofthe 2d Bn, 35th Artillery [one of the components of the 54th Arty Group] from LTC Alvin J. Gendron on 25 Jan 68. I think it's safe to assume that LTC Alvin Gendron was also in command of the 2d Bn 35 Artillery during October 1967 during Operation Akron III, and thus likely the recipient of the rifle you have.

The lessons learned report that covers the period of time that Operation AKRON III was conducted (Oct 67) strangely does not mention Akron III. It does mention that LTC Gendron's unit provided artillery support for the original AKRON, which occurred in August. (I found from other sources that the original AKRON was conducted in two parts, both under the AKRON name, and then the next operation was named AKRON III). I don't know if this was an error, or if because AKRON III didn't end until 26 Oct the data from it didn't arrive in time to make the report. Other reports I have run across say that AKRON III uncovered a record-setting amount of Viet Cong small arms, ammo, and other supplies, so I'm betting that the 2d Bn 35th Artillery also provided support during AKRON III somebody decided to give it's commander this rifle as a memento.

There is another LTC (later COL) Gendron, first name Thomas, that served in Vietnam, or at least during Vietnam, but I'm betting that Alvin is your guy.


Final fun fact: The 9th Infantry Division, which conducted the AKRON operations, was the unit that Forrest Gump was assigned to when he rescued Lt Dan.


There's more out there, it would be kind of cool to dig into this and have a history or "provenance" of your rifle. The internet is sometimes a wonderful tool.

I know all about AKRON III(Jerry Catron SP5 US ARMY Combat Engineer-LCT)(606)396-4671

 

[MrSmitty]

I'd be curious to know why it left the family, If my dad, or grandpa had something like that it would be in my home, or a museum..Nice piece!

 

[CombatengineerJerry6768]

I'd be curious to know why it left the family, If my dad, or grandpa had something like that it would be in my home, or a museum..Nice piece!

Two of the sons know nothing of the rifle, NOTHING ! Was advised one other son will not know anything either, can't contac the other two yet. Possibly it was brought to USA by someone else..possibly dropped after we left in another country as so much abandoned stuff was. If I can find it, purchase it, I will donate to the 9th Inf Museum....I also know the Infantry Lt who was in charge of security on this operation. I was the Operations NCO on this operation, Sep 26 to oct 23 1967....Co B 86th Combat Engineer Bn LCT(Land Clearing Team-only one of 3)

 

[CombatengineerJerry6768]

I'd be curious to know why it left the family, If my dad, or grandpa had something like that it would be in my home, or a museum..Nice

I'd be curious to know why it left the family, If my dad, or grandpa had something like that it would be in my home, or a museum..Nice piece!

Trace being cut where this weapon came from

 

[45/70 Henry Lover]

That is pretty dang awesome!