That was SAC.
Old SAC.
Real SAC.
Curt LeMay SAC.
Times have changed.
Indeed, it was when SAC was under LeMay.
One of the two guys is a shooting buddy. He sometimes pulled duty guarding the line around the bombers. He requested that he be allowed to carry his choice of weapon, a Garand over the M1 Carbine, for which he has no use or love. ;-)
Today, he’s into his 70’s and he could still drill someone in the head at 100+ yards with a Garand offhand.