Heroes In Uniform
Heroes In Uniform

Heroes In Uniform

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Active duty military spouses vote 25 points below civilians. The federal government has never asked why.
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Active duty military spouses vote 25 points below civilians. The federal government has never asked why.

The views and opinion expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities mentioned.Five weeks before the midterms, I want to tell you about a question we asked 10,000 military spouses almost by accident: we asked them if they voted.The question was one of three civic engagement items we borrowed from the Census Bureau’s survey and tucked into the National Military Family Association’s Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship application out of genuine curiosity. The scholarship is open to spouses of all stripes—active duty, Guard, Reserve, retiree, disabled veteran, surviving—so the answers came from all of them.We asked how often they and their neighbors did favors for each other—watched each other’s kids, house sat, lent a tool. Military spouses do it at nearly double the rate of Americans generally. They’re helping a few times a week, a few times a month—the same rhythm of the help we find ourselves needing during long trainings and deployments. Nearly eight in ten military spouses had formally volunteered—more than half had done so at least monthly. These aren’t people disconnected from their communities. These are people who hold their communities together with their bare hands.Then we asked whether they’d voted in the past year.Among active duty spouses, 42% had. Every other kind of military spouse in the same pool—Guard, Reserve, retiree, disabled veteran, surviving—voted at 57% to 76%. When we broke it down by education, the gap held at every level: an active duty spouse with a bachelor’s degree voted at the rate of a some-college spouse in any other category. It held across rank. It held across income. The one thing that predicted the shortfall was active duty status itself. It wasn’t about who these spouses were. It was about where they were.Why?Most Americans vote where they live, and they learn what’s on the ballot the way you learn anything about your hometown: by being there. An active duty family arrives at a new installation, builds a support network from nothing, and moves again in two or three years. Most of us keep our voter registration in our home state or our service member’s state of legal residence, sometimes a thousand miles from where we sleep. In a presidential year, that costs a stamp. In a year like this one—a school board, a district attorney, a county commissioner, a judge—it costs knowing the election exists, requesting a ballot in time, and having any basis to choose among candidates in a county you left in 2021.I have spent my life in military families. I grew up in one, I’m a former military spouse, I’m raising three military-connected children. And as much as I hate to admit it, I once missed a consequential election because I couldn’t get my old address, my new address, and my registration reconciled in time. I’m fairly sure I filled out an absentee ballot wrong another year. And I do this for a living.So here’s what I want to say to every military spouse reading this: Register where you’re stationed.Not because it’s your civic duty. You’ve already done more civic duty than most people will in a lifetime. Register because you have a stake in this place, right now, whether your driver’s license says so or not.The school board sets the date when before-care and after-care registration opens—and if you’ve ever missed that deadline because you’d just moved, you know it’s not a small thing. In towns where military families are a quarter of the enrollment, that date might get set without a single one of us in the room. The county decides which roads get fixed, including the one your spouse drives to the gate at 0500, and the difference between a 15-minute commute and a 40-minute one is an hour a day you don’t get back between deployments and trainings and whatever else the military throws at you this year. The zoning board decides whether there’s a childcare center within ten miles of post. The library board decides whether it’s open on Saturdays.None of those people are elected in Washington. They’re elected in the county you live in, by the people who show up. And right now, that isn’t us.Yes, there are things to check. Your state of legal residence for taxes doesn’t have to change when your voter registration does; talk to your installation legal office if you’re not sure. But the mechanism is a form at the DMV or a state website, and it takes ten minutes. Most states’ deadlines for November are in the next two weeks. It’s not too late to get registered and have a say what happens in the community where you’re living.You live there. You get a say.One more thing: The federal government surveys active duty service members after every election and finds they vote about 24 points below civilians. It has never once surveyed their spouses. To get current data, we had to ask about voting in our scholarship application. You’re the people holding your community together, wherever you go. Our volunteering and favors data show that. But you’re not being counted where you live. Your community is the one outside the gate. Go put your name on its rolls.If you would like to submit an opinion for publication, it must be exclusive to We Are The Mighty. It should be a strong argument about an issue affecting the military, veterans, or the greater military-connected community, between 400 and 1,000 jargon-free words, and submitted as the body of an email rather than an attachment. Send submissions to info@wearethemighty.com with “OPINION” in the subject line. Please include an email address and phone number. We will protect the identities of current military members who wish to publish an opinion. Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty• Dale Dye says ‘decoration inflation’ turns medals into participation trophies• It’s time for the VA to recognize spouse proxy for catastrophic veteran illnesses• I served nearly 30 years explaining policy. The Survivor Benefit Plan still blindsided me. Opinion Opinion Active duty military spouses vote 25 points below civilians. The federal government has never asked why. By Raleigh Smith Duttweiler Opinion ‘Republican Motherhood’ and the civic responsibility of educators in preserving American history By Daniel Tobias Flint Opinion Take Care of America’s Veterans Act: An omni-busted package that Congress must fix By Devin Wozniak, IAVA Zach McIlwain Leadership Fellow Opinion The 5 most important lessons about lethality via historical quotes Marine Corps and Army Special Forces veteran "Rusty Dusty" Opinion Military promotions should not be political leverage By Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO and Co-Founder, Blue Star Families The post Active duty military spouses vote 25 points below civilians. The federal government has never asked why. appeared first on We Are The Mighty.

Meet the only Heisman Trophy winner who died while serving during wartime
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Meet the only Heisman Trophy winner who died while serving during wartime

When Nile Kinnick reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida in 1942, the head coach of the base’s football team couldn’t wait to greet him.Before joining the Navy, Kinnick played the sport at a high level for the University of Iowa. He was such a force that he accepted the Heisman Trophy, given annually to the best college football player in America, in 1939. Kinnick’s abilities intrigued NFL teams, with the Brooklyn Dodgers offering him the then-princely sum of $10,000 to sign. Kinnick pondered the generous contract, then attended law school instead.Also Read: ‘The Mosquito Bowl’ is based on a real World War II football gameWith war raging in Europe, Kinnick interrupted his studies and enlisted in the Naval Air Corps Reserve a few months before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. When he arrived in Florida, Kinnick was still in football shape and undoubtedly would have improved the base team’s chances.But Kinnick’s mind was elsewhere. He was determined to become a fighter pilot.“[The coach] wanted to know how I would like to stay around here as an instructor and play football,” Kinnick wrote in his diary. “As politely, and yet as firmly, as I knew how[,] I told him I never again wanted to play any football, and that I would really rather go to the fleet than remain as an instructor.”Kinnick never wore a football uniform again. His life ended tragically during a training accident on June 2, 1943. Kinnick was 24 years old. Kinnick Could Do It All Iowa’s Nile Kinnick (2nd from left) spurned offers from NFL teams to go to law school. He then served as a Navy fighter pilot during World War II. (Getty Images) Kinnick, whose brother Ben was also killed during World War II, hailed from a family of achievers. His grandfather, George Washington Clarke, served as Iowa’s governor from 1913 to 1917. The year after Clarke’s time atop the state’s government, his daughter gave birth to Nile.Kinnick more than met any expectations. His football skills developed to such an extent that the University of Minnesota, then arguably the best team in the sport, considered adding him to its roster. The Golden Gophers, however, passed on Kinnick, leaving him to sign with Iowa.He became the most accomplished player in the Hawkeyes’ history. During that era, freshmen typically did not play on college varsity squads, so Kinnick only suited up for three years. His first two were largely uneventful, and Iowa only posted one victory in each season.Then came Kinnick’s breakout season. As two-way players were the norm nearly a century ago, Kinnick’s versatility was on full display. His primary position on offense was running back, where he led the team with five rushing touchdowns. Kinnick also was the Hawkeyes’ top passer, accounting for 11 scores through the air.That still didn’t present a full picture of Kinnick’s skills. He intercepted eight passes on defense, kicked extra points, and punted. The Hawkeyes scored 130 points in 1939, with Kinnick having a hand in 107, or 82%, of them.Iowa finished 6-1-1 and ranked ninth in the final Associated Press rankings.  Ditching His Plane in the Water A Grumman F-4F Wildcat flies past with aerobatic smoke trailing behind at the California Capital Airshow, Mather California, March 22, 2025. (U.S. Air Force/Charles Borsos) Kinnick became the fifth player ever to receive the Heisman Trophy during a ceremony on December 6, 1939, in New York City. Understanding the state of world affairs, Kinnick devoted a part of his acceptance speech to what was happening in Europe.“I thank God I was warring on the gridirons of the Midwest and not on the battlefields of Europe,” Kinnick stated as the audience applauded. “I can speak confidently and positively that the players of this country would much more, much rather struggle and fight to win the Heisman award than the Croix de Guerre.”Although several Heisman Trophy winners served in the military, Kinnick holds the tragic distinction of being the only one to die at war. On June 2, 1943, Kinnick was at the controls of a Grumman F4F Wildcat off the coast of Venezuela when the aircraft began to leak oil.When Kinnick noticed the issue, he was four miles from the USS Lexington—the aircraft carrier from where he took off. Kinnick didn’t think he could return to the Lexington in time, plus he worried about risking the lives of military personnel there. Kinnick took the only other option available to him; he landed on the water.Rescue boats raced to the site, but they were too late. Kinnick was gone. They never recovered his body.“I nerve had a shock like that in my life,” said Al Couppee, who played with Kinnick at Iowa and had a brief NFL career with the Washington Redskins. “Hell, I thought he was going to live forever.” Iowa Names Stadium After Kinnick The University of Iowa named its football stadium after Nile Kinnick, who died during World War II, in 1972. (Matthew Holst/Getty Images) In significant ways, Kinnick’s memory has.Since 1972, the year that the University of Iowa renamed its football stadium after Kinnick, the school’s fans have flocked several times a year to Kinnick Stadium.They will do so again on Saturday when Iowa hosts Ohio State in a matchup of highly ranked teams. Some will pass a 16-foot bronze statue of Kinnick that stands outside the sports venue. And before the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes kick off, the captains will meet at midfield for the opening coin toss. An official will flip a coin that bears Kinnick’s likeness on one side, signifying “heads.”Kinnick is the rare college football stadium whose name honors a military hero or someone who died serving the United States. (It should be noted that several universities nationally play their home games in “Memorial Stadium” or similarly named venue.)Besides Kinnick Stadium, there is Michie Stadium—home of the Army Black Knights in West Point, New York. It is named after Dennis Michie (pronounced Mike-ee), the school’s first football coach who died in the Spanish-American War.And in Knoxville, Tennessee, the state’s flagship university plays its football games in a stadium named in the memory of  Gen. Robert Neyland. He served during both World War I and World War II.Those are special places for a college football fan. So is Kinnick Stadium.“There is no reason in the world why we shouldn’t fight for the preservation of a chance to live freely,” Kinnick once wrote. “No reason why we shouldn’t suffer to uphold that which we want to endure. May God give me the courage to do my duty and not falter.”Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty• 7 military lessons that made Roger Staubach a Hall of Fame football player• The Army Black Knights are the cleanest team in college football• Why military kids overseas have to outwork everyone to get recruited World War II Meet the only Heisman Trophy winner who died while serving during wartime By Stephen Ruiz Weapons Geissele wins $20 million contract for new Secret Service rifles By Miguel Ortiz Mental Health What a loved one should know when their veteran is contemplating suicide By Stephen Ruiz World War I The American-made ‘trench broom’ terrified Germans in both World Wars By Logan Nye Aircraft Navy awards Boeing $20B contract for F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier stealth fighter By Miguel Ortiz The post Meet the only Heisman Trophy winner who died while serving during wartime appeared first on We Are The Mighty.

Geissele wins $20 million contract for new Secret Service rifles
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Geissele wins $20 million contract for new Secret Service rifles

President Donald Trump and his protection details have seen their fair share of very public security failures. As a result, the public has gotten a good look at the Knights Armament Company SR-16 rifles fielded by the United States Secret Service. Despite the KAC rifles being one of the most premium AR-style platforms on the market, with KAC’s KS-1 being adopted by UK Special Forces, the Secret Service updated to a new service rifle.Also Read: The weapons seen at the White House Correspondents Dinner shootingOn Nov. 25, 2025, the Secret Service published a Request for Information seeking a 5.56mm AR duty rifle and accessories. The Statement of Work specifically required a barrel length between 12.25 and 14 inches, not including the muzzle device. That muzzle device would also have to accept the HUXWRX FLOW 556K suppressor, which has to be mounted and delivered with the rifle.By Sept. 23, 2026, the $20,000,000 contract was awarded to Geissele Automatics. While neither Geissele nor the Secret Service would publicly comment on the specifications of the contract rifle, Geissele has been extremely successful with their Super Duty line of ARs.Originally a trigger company, Geissele became known for their crisp and precise race gun triggers for competition rifles. Combining competitive performance with combat reliability, the Geissele Super Select Fire trigger was adopted by Special Operations Command. With this endorsement, the semi-automatic versions of the SSF became the go-to triggers for civilian shooters and law enforcement. Secret Service and Homeland Security personnel stop for a group photo while providing security at the Republican National Convention, in Charlotte, N.C., August 2020. (U.S. Secret Service/Carlos Guerra) Geissele’s next milestone was the adoption of the MK16 Super Modular M-LOK rail for the Upper Receiver Group-Improved. Updating the M4 carbine platform to a lighter and slimmer handguard that can accept modern M-LOK accessories, the URG-I has been adopted by Army and Air Force Special Operations Commands as well as the Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Response Team in various lengths.While the military’s URG-I uses Daniel Defense barrels, Geissele created a proprietary barrel profile to offer with their complete Super Duty rifle. With this, Geissele evolved from an accessory manufacturer to a full firearms manufacturer. Featuring the same MK16 handguard as the URG-I, the Super Duty also includes Geissele’s world-class triggers.Originally offered to law enforcement officers, the Super Duty is now an extremely competitive option on the civilian market. With the release of the MOD1, Geissele updated the Super Duty with integrated steel QD inserts in the handguard and a HUXWRX flash hider. While Surefire muzzle devices and suppressors are the choice of SOCOM, HUXWRX has exploded in popularity with civilian shooters and law enforcement (including the Secret Service). Notably, SOCOM appears to be shifting towards HUXWRX with the HICAR program.Geissele is also famous for its Airborne Charging Handle which is included with the Super Duty. Offering ambidextrous manipulation, it remains accessible to the operator while reducing the risk of snagging on gear. Perhaps most importantly, the ACH features a shelf to minimize gas blowback to the operator while shooting suppressed. Paired with a low back pressure suppressor like a HUXWRX, the Super Duty is one of the best suppressed ARs on the market. Agents stand guard after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Although certain features like barrel length for the Secret Service Geissele contract rifle were not made public, accessories in addition to the HUXWRX suppressor were noted. Specifically, the contract calls for the rifles to be equipped with MAGPUL MIAD Gen 1.1 grips and MAGPUL CTR stocks, both in black.While magazines don’t have to be supplied, the contract does require compatibility specifically with Magpul Gen 3 30-round PMAGs, both windowed and non-windowed. Gen 3 PMAGs feature an over-insertion tab to prevent feeding issues as experienced by a competitor in Delta34’s “All Skill, No Excuses” Match where participants all shot Geissele Super Duty rifles.The KAC SR-16s in use with the Secret Service, primarily with the Counter Assault and Emergency Response Teams, utilize 11.5-inch barrels. With the change to a slightly longer barrel, the Secret Service may be addressing a tactical requirement for increased range. The Geissele contract required functionality with 5.56x45mm ammunition from 55 to 77 grains, a minimum barrel life of 10,000 rounds, and accuracy of at least 2 MOA.Let’s just hope that the Secret Service doesn’t have to put any of their rifles, old or new, into action.Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty• CMP boss says M14s will be under $2,000. They have trench shotguns too.• This might be the best EDC handgun for troops who carried the M9• The SIG Sauer M7 is dead. How long does the XM8 have? Weapons Weapons Geissele wins $20 million contract for new Secret Service rifles By Miguel Ortiz Weapons The American-made ‘trench broom’ terrified Germans in both World Wars By Logan Nye Weapons The P320 is so safe and reliable that SIG released the P385 By Miguel Ortiz Weapons Army takes delivery of first XM30 combat vehicle to replace M2 Bradley fighting vehicle By Miguel Ortiz Weapons Jordan Salinas used a silenced FN 5.7 inspired by ‘Splinter Cell’ to help stop the In-N-Out shooter By Miguel Ortiz The post Geissele wins $20 million contract for new Secret Service rifles appeared first on We Are The Mighty.

What a loved one should know when their veteran is contemplating suicide
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What a loved one should know when their veteran is contemplating suicide

Lindsey Gray never served a day in uniform, yet she battles on the front lines every day against an issue tormenting the military community.Veteran suicide.Released in February 2026, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ most recent data showed that 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023. That’s a slight decline from 2022, when 6,442 former service members took their lives, but it still averages out to more than 17 suicides per day.Also Read: The Red Star Banner gives families of veteran suicide a new name and national communityThat’s an incalculable tragedy for a veteran’s family and friends, as well as for the military community at large. It’s not nearly enough to appease those in the field such as Gray, the suicide prevention manager at Wounded Warrior Project. She longs for the day when those figures are much, much lower.“A lot of my work has been tied to helping reduce stigma across a community that has allowed me to live the life that I live,” Gray said. We Are The Mighty spoke with Gray this week about her advice for loved ones of a veteran who might be contemplating suicide. Here are seven tips: 1. Look for Warning Signs According to a recent report from the Department of Veterans Affairs, an average of 17 veterans die by suicide in the United States daily. (Shutterstock) Is your veteran having trouble sleeping, or have their eating habits changed? Are they becoming more irritable or withdrawn? Do they show a lack of interest in activities they normally enjoy? Are they taking risks that are out of character for them?There can be other warning signs as well. Some of these potential clues to whether a veteran may be considering suicide may stand out as a big red flag. Or they may be nothing to indicate a veteran is in a dark place.“Warning signs are not always going to be as overt or obvious as we might want them to be,” Gray said. “We really just encourage people to pay attention to some subtle changes.” 2. An Open Dialogue Is Crucial Warning signs could mean something. They also could mean nothing, and the veteran is actually not pondering thoughts of suicide. You will never know for sure without having an honest conversation with your veteran, Gray said.Curiosity is your friend. Make inquiries from a place of genuine concern. This is no guarantee that a vet will be willing to talk then, but at least you’ve provided an opportunity to do so. It is important to be caring and patient.“If we can use our evidence to say, ‘We’ve seen this or I’ve heard you say this or I’ve noticed,’ that sometimes gives us more of a platform for these conversations,” Gray said. “It’s showing people we’re paying attention. We’re not asking out of the blue, or we’re not asking just to be intrusive.” 3. Don’t Assume It’s a Mental-Health Issue A Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni community member writes a message in chalk on concrete for the annual suicide prevention and awareness walk at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, September 18, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Ella Cadby) If your veteran is not themselves, it might not be because of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or another mental-health condition. They might just be reacting to the normal challenges that service members confront during their military transition. Or it could have nothing to do with their service; financial troubles, job loss, or a divorce, for example, can cause personal turmoil for a veteran.It also could be something that we normally deem worthy of celebrating—perhaps a promotion, marriage, or the birth of a child—Gray said. Everyone reacts to sudden changes in their lives differently. That’s why it is vital not to make assumptions and allow veterans to express how they’re feeling.“We know people don’t wake up one morning and think about suicide and immediately have a plan to act on that,” Gray explained to WATM. “It does typically progress out of those feelings of hopelessness or helplessness.“It can’t just be one piece of the puzzle, meaning it can’t just be mental health.” 4. Don’t Make It About You When someone we love is struggling, our instinct is to rush in and fix the issue. We all come from a good place, right? But our experiences are not necessarily theirs, and that distinction matters when trying to comfort a veteran in crisis. It is important to understand how they’re feeling and not muddy those emotional waters with things that happened to you.“We have to approach from a place of curiosity and not judge what these experiences mean because of what they meant to us in the past,” Gray said. 5. Don’t Judge A pair of boots at the entrance to Kingsley Field near Klamath Falls, Oregon, on September 7, 2021, is a reminder of the cost of military and veteran suicide. (U.S. Air National Guard/Master Sgt. Jefferson Thompson) This pro tip might be obvious, but it bears repeating. During those important conversations with your veteran, you should prioritize listening rather than talking. Inquire about their feelings and then let them talk.Try not to judge. This is where coming in without any preconceived notions really helps.“No one is expecting you to become a therapist magically,” Gray said. “What we’re asking is that you listen and can be there to help navigate to maybe more appropriate support when that time comes.” 6. Now Is Not the Time for an Intervention Families and friends stage interventions when someone they care about is struggling with drugs or alcohol. In the case of a veteran possibly thinking about killing themselves, a lighter touch is usually required, Gray said. The veteran likely won’t respond to help if they feel it is being forced upon them. Again, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be direct. Just be advised that your veteran might lose trust in you if they perceive you as going behind their back.While Gray cautioned that safety is the ultimate priority, being overly aggressive or pushy is likely the wrong play here.“We always want to keep it at the lowest level of intervention we can,” Gray said. “We want people to be an active participant in their recovery, because that is where true recovery is going to happen.” 7. Make Sure the Veteran Knows They’re Not Alone Tomorrow is a new day. Your loved ones want you to be a part of it. (U.S. Army/Jason Daniel Johnston) That goes for you—the veteran’s family member or friend—too. To Gray’s earlier point, you’re not expected to have all the answers. Far from it.There are myriad resources available, whether from the VA or military nonprofit organizations, that are ready and willing to help.At Wounded Warrior Project, a veteran registered with WWP can reach out through its resource center, which is available Monday through Friday. They can also go to woundedwarriorproject.org, where veterans or their family members can register.Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty• General Patton’s grandson help heal veterans through filmmaking• Reports show a military spouse commits suicide every 8 days• A roadside bomb made this Army vet a triple amputee. Adaptive surfing gave him a new life  Suicide Mental Health What a loved one should know when their veteran is contemplating suicide By Stephen Ruiz Mental Health The Red Star Banner gives families of veteran suicide a new name and national community By Blake Stilwell Mental Health ‘The weight he carried’: Memorial Day and the battle at home By Jessica Manfre Family Reports show a military spouse commits suicide every 8 days By Sara Jane Ginn Military News U.S. military suicides rose in 2023 despite prevention efforts By Kait Hanson The post What a loved one should know when their veteran is contemplating suicide appeared first on We Are The Mighty.

The American-made ‘trench broom’ terrified Germans in both World Wars
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The American-made ‘trench broom’ terrified Germans in both World Wars

A single weapon used predominantly in World War I and with a limited deployment in World War II was so effective and so terrifying that Germany lodged a diplomatic protest against its use by American forces. It wasn’t the flamethrower or the machine gun. It was “trench broom” shotguns, especially the Winchester Models 1897 and 1912.Also Read: CMP boss says M14s will be under $2,000. They have trench shotguns too.The two shotguns were first entered into combat after America realized how brutal trench warfare really was. The soldiers and Marines serving on the Western Front needed a way to clear attackers from the American trenches as well as to quickly clear defenders from enemy trenches during assaults. A World War II Marine carries a Winchester Model 1897 shotgun. (Department of Defense) The spread of a shotgun was perfect for this mission, but the Americans didn’t stop at just buying off-the-shelf weapons. The War Department contracted for standard, trench, and riot versions of most shotguns.Standard shotguns were civilian versions of the weapon, often with a sling added for easy carrying. Riot guns were similar but with shorter barrels. The most heavily modified versions were the trench guns which featured shorter barrels — usually 20 inches or shorter, heat shields, and bayonet lugs. The “Trench Broom” Winchester Model 1897 shotgun features a cut-down barrel, sling, heat shield, and a bayonet lug. The Model 97 quickly became one of the most popular shotguns issued, partially because of how well it stood up to the rigorous conditions on the Western Front. Operators could quickly clean mud and water from the weapons and get them ready to fire after a mishap, and the weapon continued to function even if it was dropped or slammed against trenchworks.But the big reason that the Model 97 became so popular was that it could be “slamfired.” Typically, an operator readies a pump-action shotgun by pumping it to feed a round into the chamber and eject any empty casing currently in it. Then, they pull the trigger while aimed at their target to fire. Repeat.When slamfiring, they keep the trigger held back while pumping the weapon. When the new round feeds into the chamber, it will automatically fire. This meant the weapon could be fired as quickly as the operator could pump the handle. A standard pump-action Winchester Model 1897 lacks military features like the heat shield and bayonet lug. The Model 97 held six rounds of 00 buckshot, each shell of which held nine pellets. A trained soldier slamfiring could fire all six rounds, 54 total lead pellets, in approximately two seconds. At the close ranges in many World War I trenches, the effect was devastating.Shotgunners would rapidly clear German trenches, cutting away the defenders. The tactic was so effective that Model 97s picked up the nicknames “trench brooms” and “trench sweepers.”The German government lobbed an official protest against the weapon, saying that the weapon inflicted unnecessary cruelty. America responded that the claim was hollow coming from the nation that introduced chemical weapons and flamethrowers into warfare.There are even reports that American soldiers skilled in skeet shooting were placed along the front trenches to shoot enemy hand grenades from the air, deflecting or destroying the devices before they could hurt American troops.The Winchester Model 97 and Model 1912 trench broom shotguns would go on to serve similar functions in World War II, again clearing German defenders from trenches and bunkers as well as operating in the Pacific. The two Winchester shotguns were deployed to Korea and Vietnam, though the U.S. was slowly transitioning to newer shotguns by that point.Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty• Beretta’s top-tier 1301 is a combat shotgun for the drone age• America’s last combat revolver served from World War I to Vietnam• Green Beret says SOCOM’s hypervelocity rifle will kill SIG M7 rifle Weapons World War I The American-made ‘trench broom’ terrified Germans in both World Wars By Logan Nye Weapons The P320 is so safe and reliable that SIG released the P385 By Miguel Ortiz Weapons Army takes delivery of first XM30 combat vehicle to replace M2 Bradley fighting vehicle By Miguel Ortiz Weapons Jordan Salinas used a silenced FN 5.7 inspired by ‘Splinter Cell’ to help stop the In-N-Out shooter By Miguel Ortiz Weapons Navy unveils new long-range Malice missile for current and future fighter jets By Miguel Ortiz The post The American-made ‘trench broom’ terrified Germans in both World Wars appeared first on We Are The Mighty.