my Viet Nam Veteran Combat Masterpiece Model 15-2

[jtelesio]

Purchased new for $84.00 prior to shipping out for Nam in March 67, she rode in the holster on my harness for 127 otherwise unarmed, combat missions in the RF-4C including 100 over North Vietnam. Originally wanted a Magnum but it cost more and when I told the guy who sold it to me where I was going and why I wanted it he said the only real reason to carry a weapon over Vietnam was, in the event I was shot down, to blow my brains out rather than be captured. He said my .38 special would do the job quite nicely. Thankfully that wasn't necessary. After Nam She flew with me for 7 1/2 years all over Europe and another 18 months in Okinawa and Korea. I've never fired it in anger or for any other reason except for aprox. 100 rounds at the range at March AFB where the Range master installed checked grips, over-sized trigger and hammer for me. Why, I don't know. Still have the originals. She now sits in her original box in my dresser waiting to be called on to protect the family from domestic, bad guys.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Hello JT, welcome aboard & Thanks for Your Service to our Country!

Also, thanks for sharing your experience(s) with your companion, the S&W M15-2.....

 

[murphydog]

What a great story! If my math is correct, you've spent a whopping $1.87 for every year of security your model 15 has brought you - not a bad return on investment at all.

I did several years' Reserve time at March and didn't realize they even had a pistol range; must be long gone.

Are you able to post photos?

 

[CH47gunner]

Welcome -

Whether you fired it in anger or not, I bet she's got some pucker factor stories to tell.
You're very lucky you were able to hang on to that one. I wish I'd have been able to keep my issued revolver.

Bruce

 

[BUFF]

Great that you still have your sixgun after all this time.

Phantom Phlyer or Phantom Pherret?

 

[kycol4u]

Great background...... Thank you for your service!

 

[Dave from Pa]

Welcome home.

 

[Old cop]

Welcome back to the world and welcome to the Forum. I served w/a Marine rifle squad as a corpsman in 1966 and carried a M15 as a police officer for over 10 years.

 

[SixGunHunter]

Thank you for your service!!!!

Great Story.
I would like to read more stories like this from other S&W Forum members.

+1 on seeing a picture.

 

[mkk41]

Glad ya made it back!

Welcome home and to the forum!

 

[KCOG]

Thank you sir for your service to our country. You are a great american.

I can only imagine how much that gun means to you.

 

[WickedSharp]

Wish I could see a picture of that revolver.

THANK YOU for all of your service over the years!

 

[sophie]

Good story and thank you for your service and welcome.


_____________
James

 

[Cpt. Obvious]

Thank you for your service, and sharing the story of your model 15. My uncle flew C-130s during Vietnam.

 

[Art Doc]

What was the opinion of the the brass towards privately owned sidearms? I know that NOW it's like the biggest flipping deal in the whole wide world.

 

[kennyb]

welcome to the forum!early in my police career (mid 70's) i purchased and carried a M15...sold it a cpl.years later...last year i found it (the very same one) at my local gun store!!better believe i was all over it...took it to the range and never even had to adjust the sights...

 

[M2MikeGolf]

What was the opinion of the the brass towards privately owned sidearms? I know that NOW it's like the biggest flipping deal in the whole wide world.

Must have been different in Viet Nam that's for sure. It's instant article 15 stuff these days; has been for awhile. When I was in Desert Storm the BC gave some joe's in my unit that brought their own handguns some good ole' UCMJ, then fed their privately owned firearms into the drive sprocket of an M88. Turns out it sort of violates the whole law of land warfare/Hague convention and status of forces agreements. Just sort of got overlooked "back in the day". I know my dear old grandad carried a civilian purchased Colt Government Model in WWII. I happily inherited it, and it got to revisit Germany in the 80's under happier circumstances.

 

[rock doc]

Thank you for your service & welcome to the forum. Great story about your 15-2. We are addicted to S&Ws, so if you could post a pic, we would all appreciate it

 

[mkk41]

Must have been different in Viet Nam that's for sure. It's instant article 15 stuff these days; has been for awhile. When I was in Desert Storm the BC gave some joe's in my unit that brought their own handguns some good ole' UCMJ, then fed their privately owned firearms into the drive sprocket of an M88. Turns out it sort of violates the whole law of land warfare/Hague convention and status of forces agreements. Just sort of got overlooked "back in the day". I know my dear old grandad carried a civilian purchased Colt Government Model in WWII. I happily inherited it, and it got to revisit Germany in the 80's under happier circumstances.

I was working part-time in a gunshop back around '90-'91 and the build-up and outbreak of the Gulf war. I'm also close to a large Navy , Army and Air Force reserve base and many reserve pilots who got activated , bought their own pistols to take over. Mostly smaller size Glocks and Sigs in 9mm to fit in their LPA/survival vest instead of the issued .38 revolver.

The rules for pilots/officers were either different , or overlooked.

 

[moosedog]

Thank you for your service Sir. Looking forward to a picture of that gun. If you need help posting it, PM me.

 

[M2MikeGolf]

I was working part-time in a gunshop back around '90-'91 and the build-up and outbreak of the Gulf war. I'm also close to a large Navy , Army and Air Force reserve base and many reserve pilots who got activated , bought their own pistols to take over. Mostly smaller size Glocks and Sigs in 9mm to fit in their LPA/survival vest instead of the issued .38 revolver.

The rules for pilots/officers were either different , or overlooked.

The last part is correct, it was either overlooked or they simply got away with it. The sad part is some of those officers that got away with it probably punished some enlisted soldier for doing the same. I do know for a fact that there was a general order about personally owned firearms during Desert Storm; they were illegal, all personnel to include officers fell under the same regulation and local law (SOFA) whether they chose to obey it or not. After Desert Storm was over, I witnessed a court martial for a senior NCO that violated this order; he was punished severely.

 

[getoff]

welcome, thank you for the service to our country, and glad you never had to use that 15 in anger. seems lots of guys have similar stories about civi guns and combat theaters. my grand dad carried a s&w m&p 4" with him through italy, and most of europe. he was a front line mess cook, and only had one war story to tell. it involved jumping behind a stove to avoid a grenade and firing 2 shots from that pistol that got the thrower(german infantry). he also carried an issued .45 but forgot to put his on holster that morn. he carried that s&w in his front pocket, holster-less. glad he had it. it gave me many years with my beloved old grand-pop.

 

[Derosa]

Welcome home. Thank you. Words are minor when deeds prevail. You have walked the walk. You have added another dimension to view when I see returning vets greeted with cheers and tears at DFW airport by the local USO and family members and community friends.

 

[oldafsp]

Welcome home brother.

You will many of us from all branches here who served. I carried a 15 both of my tours there. It never let me down.

Enjoy the forum.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Welcome home. My brother carried an issued S&W Model 15 and a personally-owned Charter Arms Undercover during Vietnam on EC-130s/EC-135s. He was only carrying the Charter the first time his crew had to "get out and walk." After that, he carried both revolvers and a CAR-15 on board.

Take that ol' girl to the range, and give her a workout.

ECS
Captain, Armor
US Army (Retired)

 

[Rifleman harris]

I hope this worked, I've never tried an attachment on this forum before.

In any case this obviously isn't a Smith but it is what I carried as an Infantryman in VN. I don't remembar being angy but it was fired a lot more than it should have been because our rifles were so unreliable.

I didn't ask permission to take it and there were no enforcers where I was, so no problem.

 

[redlevel]

View attachment 69216


I hope this worked, I've never tried an attachment on this forum before.

In any case this obviously isn't a Smith but it is what I carried as an Infantryman in VN. I don't remembar being angy but it was fired a lot more than it should have been because our rifles were so unreliable.

I didn't ask permission to take it and there were no enforcers where I was, so no problem.

It worked, Rifleman, and it doesn't have to be a S&W to be posted here and appreciated. I believe a three-screw Ruger that has seen service in a combat zone with the owner is welcome here any time. I have read several accounts of Ruger BHs being carried by American servicemen in Vietnam. I very recently had a conversation with a Force Recon Marine about the lack of reliability of the rifles when he was there in '68 and '69. What a shame.

Thank you, Sir, for your service.

 

[Match10]

Welcome home!

Thank you for your service.

May we please see a photo of her?

 

[6GUNSONLY]

RiflemanHarris,
Is that a 6 1/2" Superblackhawk? Hard to tell in pics sometimes, but it looks a little short of the standard 7 1/2" barrel. If so, you have a pretty scarce gun, made the more desireable by the combat experience.

 

[Rifleman harris]

You have a darn good eye, it is a 6 1/2 inch bbl. I bought it in Baton Rouge where I was visiting before I left. I knew it was unusual after I ordered a Lawrence holster, that I still have, which when I received it, had been made for a 7 1/2 because he thought there was no such thing as a 6 1/2.

For the first six weeks or so, before the holster arrived, I carried it stuck in the front of my pants which is not bad once you become accustomed to it. Makes you real careful about not having an a/d.

It doesn't have much value to anyone but me, it got pretty beat up. I'm always amused when I read about someone who wants a weapon that was used in combat because most of them are beat to hell in short order.