08/11/2026
Jerry Netherland and Bruce Alford will be giving this week's Lunch & Learn Lecture tomorrow, August 12th! Come to the American Legion Post 146 from 12-1 PM to listen to their FREE lecture: "The M1 Garand R***e: The Story of the R***e that Won WWII and Those Who Produced It." Enjoy a lunch from the American Legion or pack your own. Drinks and desserts are provided!
Overview: Jerry Netherland, president of the Chesterfield Historical Society, and Bruce Alford, will present an interesting program on the history and origins of the M1 Garand r***e, the r***e that won World War II. The semi-automatic M1 30 cal. r***e was formally adopted by the U.S. Army on January 9, 1936, after years spent in development. We'll learn about the inventor, John C. Garand, and the team that produced it, including the WOWs, Women Ordnance Workers, that made up 43% of the workforce at Springfield Armory at the height of production. The M1 Garand was robust enough to take the rigors of War, serving our military for over three decades. The presentation will feature the r***es along with captivating photos of the Springfield Armory and the Wi******er Repeating Arms factory as they produced over 4 million of them during World War II.
Images: John Garand (left) points out features of the M1 Garand r***e to senior Army officials: Major General Charles M. Wesson (center), Brigadier General Gilbert H. Stewart (right) (Library of Congres, 1944).
Next week on 8/19: Francis Gary Powers, Jr. will give a lecture titled "Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 Incident, and the Controversial Cold War Legacy."