Johnson donates World War II rifle

    William Johnson of Chadbourne, N.C., didn’t particularly want to give up his restored M-1 Garand rifle.
    But he decided it was a good fit for the Currahee Military Museum in Toccoa so others could benefit from viewing it.
    Johnson donated the M-1 Garand in tribute to his father-in-law, Wayne Varner, who served as a high-level manager at the LeTourneau Defense Plant for most of World War II.
    The gun was the first semi-automatic battle rifle for the U.S. Army and was a primary rifle for American troops in World War II.
    Holding eight rounds, the rifle could unleash a torrent of bullets faster than the guns used by the Axis powers.
   Dave Camp, who was instrumental in speaking with Lloyd about the donation, said that the paratroopers training at Camp Toccoa utilized the rifle.
    Camp said the troops, “used it to great advantage in the European Theater.”