While I
was in Leipzig interviewing the wounded German soldiers, I was also asking
around trying to find a holster for my Argentine 45. These guys were all fully
dressed and a few of the noncoms did have holsters, but a 45 wouldn’t fit into
any of them. I was spreading the word around and a Lieutenant Colonel came over
to me and he said, “Let me see your 45.” I thought he was going to confiscate
it. He asked me where I got it and I told him. He looked at it and very
carefully and then he said, “I tell you soldier, I’ll trade you this regulation
US Army 45 and my shoulder holster for your Argentine weapon.”
I
thought, that’s a good deal. I said, “How about an extra clip, sir.”
He said,
“Sold.”
I wound
up with his 45 plus a shoulder holster and an extra clip. I really felt proud of
myself. A couple days later when I rejoined my outfit I was telling Sarge about
that. He said, “He sure played you for a sucker.”
“How’s
that Sarge?”
He said,
“That Argentine weapon will probably be worth a lot of money after the war, and
you can’t take that 45 home. That’s US Government property and that would be
stealing it.”
While I
was in Leipzig interviewing the wounded German soldiers, I was also asking
around trying to find a holster for my Argentine 45. These guys were all fully
dressed and a few of the noncoms did have holsters, but a 45 wouldn’t fit into
any of them. I was spreading the word around and a Lieutenant Colonel came over
to me and he said, “Let me see your 45.” I thought he was going to confiscate
it. He asked me where I got it and I told him. He looked at it and very
carefully and then he said, “I tell you soldier, I’ll trade you this regulation
US Army 45 and my shoulder holster for your Argentine weapon.”