The Story ™ That's In The Regimental History

I keep telling this story and then losing where I put it so I can't link to it when I say, "I've told this story before!"

My unit had a bit of a hiccup in the supply lines.

We'd turned in our M1911A1's and all the .45 ACP and drawn 9mm in anticipation of being issued new M9's.  Except the M9 was having some sort of production stoppage and there were no pistols to issue us.

Normally that'd mean we'd just wait, without pistols, until it was sorted out.

We were scheduled to leave for the West German-Czech border, "any moment now," to cover a unit there that was going to Graf for training.

We got permission to hit the rod-and-gun club's gun shop and order, "anything that shoots 9mm," I remember that we were supposed to be compensated for the purchase up to some amount I don't recall.  I don't think we ever were.  We were also allowed to purchase if we were under 21 (like me) and accompanied by a senior NCO.  If you were under 21, you could only visit your purchase under the same conditions as an issue weapon.  Over 21 could sign them out almost at will.

I bought a Glock 17.  My first gun! 

I chose it because it held 17 rounds, that's more than a Beretta so better!

Someplace in here is where I learned 17+1 too.

Pistol qualification was hilarious with, seemingly, no two guns alike.  Thinking back, most of us snagged either a Beretta 92 or a S&W x39 or x59.  One guy even snagged an H&K94!

I was still 20 when I injured myself in a fall from a tank and had to sell the gun before returning home, had to be 21 to bring a handgun back with you from Germany in those days.  Technically I WAS 21 when I ETS'd, but there were painkillers and alcohol involved in my disorderly medical separation from service.