The Rifle

Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand

By: Andrew Biggio

Narrated by: Shawn Compton

The Rifle is the inspirational story of a 28-year-old US Marine, Andrew Biggio, who returned home from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, full of questions about the price of war. He found answers from those who survived the costliest war of all - WWII veterans.

It began when Biggio bought a 1945 M1 Garand Rifle, the most common rifle used in WWII, to honor his great uncle, a US Army soldier who died on the hills of the Italian countryside. When Biggio showed the gun to his neighbor, WWII veteran Corporal Joseph Drago, it unlocked memories Drago had kept unspoken for 50 years. On the spur of the moment, Biggio asked Drago to sign the rifle. Thus began this Marine's mission to find as many WWII veterans as he could, get their signatures on the rifle, and document their stories.

For two years, Biggio traveled across the country to interview America's last-living WWII veterans. Each time he put the M1 Garand Rifle in their hands, their eyes lit up with memories triggered by holding the weapon that had been with them every step of the war. With each visit and every story told to Biggio, the veterans signed their names to the rifle. Ninety-six signatures now cover that rifle, each a reminder of the price of war and the courage of our soldiers.

©2021 Andrew Biggio (P)2021 Tantor

Fantastic book!

well written, and fantastic, captivating stories from the vetrans. An awesome book! i would recomend it to all.

Essential Book for WWII Fanatics

This book is powerful. As Biggio is collecting these stories, these WWII heroes are dying before the book publishes. The journey, the history, the humanity…this book is worth it, you’ll come back to it…and you’ll buy it for a friend.

Powerful stories

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great stories of WWII veterans. A must read for WWII history buffs.

m1 grand

loved it couldn't put it down, my dad and uncles carried it all over Europe most of the veterans from Vietnam loved the m14 more than the m16 I am a Vietnam veteran

Thank you to all VETERANS!

Awesome book, instantly glued!! Thankful for all VETERANS!! WHERE WOULD WE BE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THESE VETS THAT PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE?