Great article!
My New York Army National Guard unit had the M1 Garand up until 1972,  thus having qualified with it for two years.
I remember Woolworth’s sporting goods section selling the Garand for $124.95 in the late seventies in upstate New York!
My father John Guarco,  6th Army,  Philippines, World War II,  and my neighbor Bill Payzant, USMC, Guadalcanal/Japan Occupation, were reintroduced to the Garand in 1996 at my local club; I fondly remember each of them performing a function check with the biggest smile with fond memories and some not so fond memories!
God Bless America.