Domestic News May 6, 1949

The Powder Keg

Q: What keywords are associated?

Marine Corps, Wwii Equipment, Salvage Operation, Pacific Islands, Barstow California, Rifle Recovery, Taxpayer Savings

Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska

View full issue View on Library of Congress PDF Page 2

What is this article about?

The U.S. Marine Corps has been recovering and refurbishing World War II equipment from Pacific Islands for over a year, enough to equip about 46,000 men, at Barstow, California. They've recovered 150,000 rifles, rebuilt 30,000, and continue at 4,000 per month, estimating 90% recovery, saving taxpayer costs.

Clipping

OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

The Marine Corps salvaged enough of the equipment it left behind after World War II to pay two divisions and a reinforce. regiment -- approximately 46,000 men-in the field. For more than a year small parties have been scouring the Pacific Islands, digging rifles out of the sand, pulling old jeeps and tanks out of swamps, dragging Diesels out of jungles, hauling cannons out of forgotten dumps and even picking up old mess tins. The junk is being carried back to Barstow, California, where Marines and civilians have hammered it back into shape. It is estimated that 90% of Marine Corps' World War II weapons will be recovered. The Leathernecks have dug up 150,000 rifles and re-built 30,000 so far. They're still digging up 4,000 a month.

(No wonder the Marine Corps has the excellent reputation for putting the best men in the field at a minimum cost to the tax payer.)

What sub-type of article is it?

Military Economic

What keywords are associated?

Marine Corps Wwii Equipment Salvage Operation Pacific Islands Barstow California Rifle Recovery Taxpayer Savings

Where did it happen?

Barstow, California

Domestic News Details

Primary Location

Barstow, California

Event Date

For More Than A Year

Outcome

enough equipment salvaged to equip two divisions and a reinforced regiment (approximately 46,000 men); 150,000 rifles dug up and 30,000 rebuilt so far; still digging up 4,000 a month; estimated 90% of marine corps' world war ii weapons will be recovered

Event Details

Small parties have been scouring the Pacific Islands, digging rifles out of the sand, pulling old jeeps and tanks out of swamps, dragging Diesels out of jungles, hauling cannons out of forgotten dumps and even picking up old mess tins. The junk is being carried back to Barstow, California, where Marines and civilians have hammered it back into shape.