• PugJesus@lemmy.worldOP
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    3 months ago

    I love seeing pictures of WW1 infantry preparing to let loose an anti-aircraft volley from their bolt-action rifles. What a wild time of military developments

    • mozz@mbin.grits.dev
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      3 months ago

      Somewhere there is a Vietnam book where an American pilot told a story about “One-Shot Charlie”. There was an old Vietnamese man in some village who had some kind of ancient rifle, and every time they were flying nearby, he’d come out of his house and fire a single shot at the aircraft going past him half a mile up or whatever, and then go back inside. Just kind of a “I hate the fuck out of you but all I have is this rifle but fuck yes I will do my part.”

      They loved him. They never tried to attack him and I think would have been legitimately angry if someone had tried to hurt him. When you are in war you find your moments of safety and humor where you can.