[ChildOfThe60s]

If my memory serves me correctly my late Leatherneck father told me that when he entered the Marines in WW2 there were insufficient Garands to go around and he trained with a Springfield.

[virgil283]

I've heard that too and its probably true. Many USMC of that era complained that they were the step children of the military in that they got the latest weapons only after the army had their choice...

[Pilsner]

he entered the Marines in WW2 there were insufficient Garands to go around and he trained with a Springfield.

The 36th Infantry Division was still using Springfields during the Italian Campaign in 1943.

[US Navy Vet]

When the Marines hit Guadalcanal beach in mid/late 1942 most of them had M1903 (variant) Springfields.

[calex59]

If my memory serves me correctly my late Leatherneck father told me that when he entered the Marines in WW2 there were insufficient Garands to go around and he trained with a Springfield.

Yep, the Marines always got the hand me downs. The M1 was adopted in 1937 as the main battle rifle of the USA but production was slow, in addition the marines didn't think any rifle was as accurate as the Springfield. Supplies went to the army, but On Guadalcanal the Marines learned the value of the M1 and when the Army showed up carrying them the Marines "acquired" a number of Garands from the army, much to the armies ire.