Pvt. Martin Teahan’s M1 Found 72 Years after D-Day

By Jim Farrell

Private Martin Teahan's M1 Garand Engraved Name
Private Martin Teahan’s M1 Garand Engraved Name

East Brunswick, NJ USA –  -(Ammoland.com)- If I were to report the facts, I would tell you Private Martin Teahan of HQ Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), died on June 6, 1944, near a church in Picauville, Normandy.

While scouting a position, he was shot in the leg, captured, and then killed by a German soldier who thought he was reaching for a weapon.

A few weeks after D-Day, a French farmer in the area found a rifle with the name M. Teahan engraved on the butt of the rifle. No one knew what the farmer did with the rifle for 72 years, until it was discovered in February 2016 by a French Army Paratrooper Commander named Colonel Patrick Collet.

Those are the facts, but the story associated with the rifle tugs on something much deeper for me.

You see, Private Martin was my Uncle “Matty.” A poor Irish Immigrant, who’s stories of his bravery resonated with me as I grew up in the same rough Irish neighborhood in the South Bronx. Five days prior to the discovery of the rifle, I visited my roots for the first time since childhood. I stood in grand St Jerome’s Church, and thought of my Uncle Matty as I looked at his name, engraved in the cool stone of the somber building.

Private Martin Teahan's M1 Garand back at Home
Private Martin Teahan’s M1 Garand back at Home

Then, as if by fate, we received an email (On Saint Patrick’s Day) from Colonel Patrick Collet, a French Army Paratrooper commander who grew up in Normandy. He had acquired an M1 Garand rifle from a decedent of the farmer in Picauville. Once he saw the named M. Teahan engraved on the rifle, he knew he had something special and was determined to find who M. Teahan was.

My sister Liz and I long ago became members of the 508th PIR to honor our uncle Matty. Liz setup a profile page on the 508th PIR website, listing her as a contact. Who knew, this simple process would result in such a life altering discovery, as the first place Colonel Collet searched was the 508th PIR website. He found the match and notified Liz.

I knew, she knew, the moment we found out, the rifle was our Uncle Matty coming home after 72 years.

Colonel Collet invited my wife Monica and me to visit that June. We got to hold the rifle; I felt the cold metal of the weapon on my fingertips, and envisioned my Uncle, bravely marching forward through enemy territory. I was also in the army, many years later, but never engaged in the sort of battle for which so many young men of WW II fought and died. We decided this majestic representation of history should be returned to Martin Tehan’s brothers-in-arms, the 82nd Airborne Division, 508th PIR.

Our visit didn’t end there; Colonel Collet had arranged an unbelievable itinerary for us. We were directed to the site of Uncle Matty’s grave, where we met the U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Milley to salute and say a prayer. A man of quiet authority, I immediately jumped to attention and snapped “Yes Sir” at his direction. Monica of course found this to be hilarious, but she understood, as I did, the magic of the moments we were sharing on this trip.

And what a trip! After the cemetery, we visited Omaha and Utah beaches, including an amazing jaunt to Point du Hoc. This moment, staring at the cliff of Point Du Hoc, will forever blaze in my memory. General Milley and his staff guided us through each site, and their descriptive stories provided the fields for our imaginations to roam.

Martin Teahan’s rifle will be brought over to General Milley by Colonel Collet and the French Army Chief of Staff General Bosser later this year. General Milley has invited my entire family to officially donate the rifle at a ceremony at the Pentagon. I suspect the plaque will look something like my first paragraph, with some added words about bravery and duty. As appropriate as it will be, I doubt it can ever capture the emotion, the power, and the change we experienced as a result of the rifle’s discovery.

Thank you, for a piece of my heritage is now coming home.

Private Martin Teahan
Private Martin Teahan

Jim has since written a book on the whole experience entitled Uncle Matty Comes Home. A Facebook page has been created in Martin Teahan’s honor and had over 25,000 fans in its first 3 months (now 81,000+), www.facebook.com/unclemattycomeshome General Milley was committed to bringing the rifle back and honoring his memory.

To all 82nd Airborne brothers, this is a reminder that no matter how much time has passed, what you have done for our freedom will never be forgotten.

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KDad

My American Flag is out ! Is yours ? Happy Birthday to Donald J. Trump, who was without a doubt, the greatest U.S. President in modern time !!! Just remember, TRUMP WON and BIDEN CHEATED !!!

Get Out

Nope, There has been no proof that Trump won anything unless you have some viable proof you’d care to share?

Old Vet

It’s coming, will you eat crow when it does??

Arizona

LOL. In just one state, over 200,000 votes were illegitimately cast, according to the judge. They could not use COVID as a legal reason to claim to be “indefinitely detained” and vote by mail, thus their ballots were bunk. Problem was the judge said each ballot had to be individually cast out, and he wouldn’t do that. Then there were 3am truck loads of ballots, counting after sending observers home (by law invalidated the count and lost that state), and AZ where twice the margin of winning was fake ballots or illegal aliens. Yes, Trump is legally the president, and… Read more »

Arizona

Worse than that, a hoe who thinks she can unconstitutionally decree gun bans via executive orders. That debate was unreal. Amazingly it was dementia joe who told her, “you can’t do that, we have a constitution”. And now, here he is, using the F squad to backdoor the same things she would do via exec orders, and demanding Congress pass unconstitutional and totally ineffective gun laws. After 47 years messing up the country, you would think he knew that all gun laws are infringements and he is powerless to violate our rights.

Diksum

Remember what Obama said about Joe: “Never underestimate Joe’s ability to f**k things up.”.

Get Out

So you, like the others or Trump, Powell, Giuliani, pillow man have no proof either that there was any voter fraud. BTW, have those conspiracy theorist buffoons in AZ found any bamboo shoots in the ballots paper yet?

shakesfist.

If he made my federal income tax esentially zero permantaly while any the masses got if any were temporary I would probably sniff his farts too.

William Waggoner

Those that signed that blank check deserve all the honors we can bestow on them. I have been to Gettysburg countless times and when I see the arms, pictures, and letter I am truly humbled. Good thing there’s a wind always there that irritates the eyes. God bless our Veteran’s.

Mike Layton

Greetings Jim Farrell .
Thank you for your selflessness . Opting to donate it to a museum to display for further generations is a true act of humility and selflessness . I am hopeful that the 82nd will provide it with a home , so as others , decades in the future , may experience the story presented by you of your uncles supreme sacrifice .

Hoorah .
Mike Layton
ACo.13/193 infantry Brigade

Jim Farrell

Thanks, Mike, it is the right thing to do. Thanks so very much for your comment. Just an update on the rifle, it is now on display in the Chief of Staff of the US Army General Mark Milley’s office at the Pentagon. I have completed my book on Uncle Matty and our journey to bring his rifle back home. You can visit http://www.unclemattycomeshome.com for a summary of the story and view some fantastic pictures. In 2019 General Milley and my family will drive the rifle from his office for a donation ceremony at the new Army Museum in Fort… Read more »

Country Boy

Congratulations of finally receiving your Uncle’s M1. I would imagine it is now one of your family’s “heirlooms”.
FWIW, I have my Grandfather’s WWI Colt M1917 US Army .45 acp revolver, and it’s my most treasured firearm.
RIP Private Martin Teahan. Thank You for Your service to our country.

James Farrell

Just to update everyone, my book about my uncle is now available

Barnes and Noble https://goo.gl/Vho1gE

Kindle https://goo.gl/AZH8RW

Hope you enjoy

In 2019 The Army Chief of Staff and I will take the rifle to the new Army Museum in Virgina and officially donate.

Jim

William Waggoner

I believe the rifle should be displayed in a place of honor. 200 years from now it will still be a symbol of our nation’s finest.

Jose

Rock, if you read the article, the family decided to give it to 82nd ABNDIV (Division). Like all Paratroopers that served in Division, we measure ourselves by those that came before us, so it’s important for the Past, Present, and Future paratroopers understand where we been, where we are, and where we are going. We are all brothers no matter what era, Paratroopers when we die we just rally up at St. Peter’s Gate.

Jim Farrell

Thanks Rock unfortunately I live in New Jersey and my other brothers and sisters live in New York and it is not legal to own an M1 in these states. I don’t see the laws changing any time soon in these states. I do believe he is coming back as a rifle and ok with donating to his brother soldiers in arms. I served in 1974 to 1977 at Fort Lewis WA, and Camp Ames Korea and feel a special connection with my Uncle.

Enjoy your day

Jim

Thanks for your comment

Jim

Nick Kaufer

Jim,

Just wanted to correct your on one point. The M1 Garand is perfectly legal to own in New Jersey. I too love in NJ and just picked up my first Garand from the CMP. The M1 CARBINE is not legal to own.

I cannot soak to there legality of owning one in NY; since everything is illegal there.

Jim Farrell

Thanks Nick for the correction and interest.

Jonesy

Hmmm, I first handled an M1 30Cal.Carbine in New Jersey but then that was year 1961. I guess it was America then.

Jim Farrell

Thanks so much Rock, I served as a Military Policeman but understand Airborne is special – one guy that served with my Uncle told me they truly loved one another and all believed they would win, that it was just a matter of time.

I hope you enjoy my book on my uncle when it comes out, bear in mind I never wanted to write a book just felt I was called to do this for my uncle.

Airborne

Jim

Gene Ralno

I have this vision of Queen George standing on Liberty Island, fist raised in protest, demanding that M1 rifles be kept out of her nation.

DrSique

Yeah. While most remember him for his “no new taxes” lie, I equate him with his “new world order speech”. Just another progressive corruptocrat.

Dogoodsilence

There are still a few folks with outstanding honor and sense of duty. Col Collet is a man of honor as are all who bravely faught and those currently on duty. My grand father Elmer Eugene Roberts was a tank mechanic and was disabled as a plane dropped a bomb near an ammo truck he was riding in. The bomb semt shrapnel thru his esophogus and his right eye. He served in civil service in FT Hood when home and died in 1995 at 76 years of age. I add this to your story as a testimamt to the grit… Read more »

Jim Farrell

Thanks so much for your comment, your grandfather is a true hero may he rest in peace

Jim

Jim Huss

M1s are legal in NYS. Long guns in NYC must be registered and purchased from a NYC dealer. Don’t know if a NYC resident can get one via CMP. Great story.

Jim Farrell

Thanks Jim, update on the rifle, it is now on display in the Chief of Staff of the Army General Milley, on Dec 1st it was presented to me at a state dinner by the French Army Chief of Staff General Bosser – it was really an honor and meant a lot to me in memory of my uncle, I also got to meet the Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey, who pinned a soldier for life pin on me. I served in Korea 1974 to 1977. In 2019 General Milley and me will donate the rifle at a… Read more »

June Rees

I think that ideally the rifle should be donated to the World War II museum in New Orleans, along with the story of its loss by Pvt. Teahan and its recovery by Col. Collet. It could be placed where many people from all over the country and really the world would see it and read the story. A wonderful tribute truly deserved by our brave heroes.

Jim Farrell

Thank June, It is most likely going to be displayed in the Pentagon, or Airborne Museum at Fort Bragg, like many of you good people have pointed out, I would like it to displayed so people can remember the history.

Enjoy your weekend,

Jim

Stephen Canas

If he was a paratrooper. Then that was the famous operation matchstick. The general in charge of it went over in a glider and died when his glider was weighed down by mistake. When the tow line was released his glider wend down like a stone and smacked the earth with enormous force, killing him and his officers. The paratrooper operation he was in charge of was a failure in its execution, all the paratroopers by the lower slipstream were scattered to the wind far off course from where they should have landed. But it showed the professionality of these… Read more »

Jim Farrell

Thanks for your comments Stephen. It was operation overlord, the largest military operation ever. I agree with you the farmer probably used for defensive reasons, and I am sure my Uncle would have wanted him to protect his family. I am planning on Saint Patrick’s Day 2017 release of the book on the return of his rifle and his life. I never planned on writing a book but felt a calling on this, I will do my best to tell his story. Thanks again for your interest.

Jim

Arizona

Man oh man do they have issue with Betsy. Leftism is a mental disorder.

monicagreen

The general in charge of it went over in a glider and died when his glider was weighed down by mistake. When the tow line was released his glider wend down like a stone and smacked the earth with enormous force, killing him and his officers. Hide And Seek

Rock

It should be given to the family… Not placed in a display case.

DirtyHarry44

Considering it’s still Gov’t property, a display case with the history of it’s whereabouts is definitely adequate. It will be cared for and displayed in a place of honor, not rusting away in some attic or basement. This weapon belongs to history, it’s an artifact of an actual event.

Jim Farrell

Good point Harry, it will either be displayed at the Pentagon or Airborne Museum in Fort Bragg. My point of view is I would hope for Fort Bragg as he was an 82nd Airborne, but I will be totally happy with the Pentagon. As you may know, finding these type of articles, where you can trace it back to a soldier from WWII is getting rarer each year.

Thanks so much for your comment, and have a great weekend,

Jim

R Payne

It’s in GEN Milley’s ( Army Chief of Staff) office. I was there today and saw it. Being a former 508 PIR Red Devil myself, this greatly interested me.

Ernst

I immediately jumped to attention and snapped “Yes Sir” at his direction. Monica of course found this to be hilarious….”

WTH? Why was this person present?

Bob's Your Uncle

Which person? General Milley? The author? Or the author’s wife, Monica? Reading comp 101.

gl fearon ( kitty)

in local paper fter being stationed in nottingham england he met a nottingham girl named kitty she is my mother and was about th esame age as you son. i have been told tha hername is also on his rifel.

Jim Farrell

Please tell me more