Took my basic training at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas back in 1955. You can just imagine my excitement when I was issued my first M1 Garand. Now, that was some battle rifle and I really loved it although it did have a tendency to shove me around a bit. I do have one now and consider it to be about the favorite of all the guns that I have. No, I never did get an M1 thumb as I was very cautious after seeing one fellow GI get his thumb severely battered by the bolt. OUCH!