30 Caliber Carbine Firing Range 1956

In June the word passed around we would go on the firing range to fire our carbines. I had been in the company a couple of years and never saw my weapon. So on May 25, 1956 the 2 ½ ton truck was loaded with men from the platoon who left for the firing range. I was helping back at the caserne so I left in a jeep with the Sgt driving The Company Commander on his right and I was in back.

It was getting late in the afternoon, it was cloudy and some fog as we got close to the edge of the forest of the highway to go to firing range. We were on the main road and the Sgt says to me "Check the back and see if any cars are coming". (Big mistake), the window in the back of the jeep was plastic and not the clear type. I look in back, I said "All clear" The Sgt went to make a left turn; a large Citroen side swiped us. Amazing no damage to the jeep but the French car got some scratches. A Gendarme was nearby and all was resolved very quickly, No I did not get in trouble no one hurt except the French car (but I do not think they would ask me if anything is in back anymore)

In the bivouac are it was getting dark..the fun began some soldiers found helmets with Officer bars on them and went around as it got dark making believe they were officers, One group cut down a small tree which fell on a tent lucky no one inside. But we finally settled down. The next day we marched out to the firing range. We got a little instruction on the carbine then we fired all day. After dinner that night we got a short break and as it got dark we were all line up and started to March in the woods, Hour after hour we just kept on going.

Now it was around midnight. In the distance I hear the clanking of metal cups. We came into a big clearing in the woods and the cooks had coffee brewing in large cooking pots, The order was given "Get out you cups which was under you canteen, So as we passed Hot coffee and a donut but we kept on marching...I have never drank a cup of coffee that tasted that good. We did get to sleep before the sun came up.

On the 11th June Special orders number 25:
1.Following Officers and EM
Fontainebleau Sub Depot Det,(7864)
APO 11,US Army
Having fired Carbine Cal 30 Course "B" at Fontainebleau France 25th may 56 qualified as Indicated.
Sp3 Phillip Meyer RA 14 386233
My score 126 EXPERT (on a carbineThe highest score was made by a PFC Jack Jenkins a 138 followed by our Company Commander who made a 136