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Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP pistol serial
number M137301 - Model M .380 pistol issued to
Brigadier General Joseph Burton Sweet - In 1943, he was
appointed to the rank of Brigadier General and was presented
his Colt 1908 .380 caliber sidearm, serial number M137301.
The "M" indicates that the ejector and extractor were
modified by Colt's after a problem with these pistols was
identified. The magazines were also modifies and the toe of
the modified magazines were also "M" marked. This gun came
with an original kraft box numbered to another Colt .380 in
the 137000 serial number range. (not pictured)
General Sweet's .380 pistol - right side
Brigadier General Joseph Burton Sweet
(October 22, 1892 - January 16, 1974)
 Born
in Denver, Colorado, on October 22, 1892. B.S. from Kansas
State Agricultural College in 1917. Commissioned in the
infantry in 1917. Graduated fro the Command and General
Staff School in 1933 and the Army War College in 1937.
Served at Fort William McKinley, Philippine Islands
September 1920 - August 1922. Professor of military science
and tactics at Fairmount College, Kansas August 1922 -
August 1926. Instructor at the Infantry School May 1927 -
May 1931. Duty with the 21st Infantry Brigade in Hawaii in
1936. Assigned to headquarters of VIII Corps Area May 1937
- July 1941. Duty in the office of the chief of infantry
July 1941 - March 1942, at headquarters of Army Ground
Forces March - December 1942 and headquarters of Service of
Supply December 1942 - October 1943. Brigadier General in
April 1943. Director of the motor transport service,
Persian Gulf Command October 1943 - January 1945. While
stationed overseas, General Sweet learned of his son's death
(Captain Robert Sweet, a B-24 pilot), who was killed in
action. Assigned to headquarters of Army Ground Forces in
1945. Retired in June 1948. Decorations included the
Legion of Merit. General Sweet died on January 16, 1974.
After his son's untimely death General Sweet
became a surrogate father to his grandson, Robert Sweet who
eventually became a Captain (like his father) and a bomber
instructor pilot. The younger Captain Sweet, like his
father, flew B-52 combat missions in the Pacific, although
the war was then in Viet Nam, not Japan. General Sweet and
his son, Captain Robert Sweet are buried side by side in
Arlington Cemetery. General Sweet's grandson Robert retired
as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force.
PROMOTIONS
General Sweet received the following
promotions throughout his military career:
|
Promotions |
Temporary (AUS) |
Permanent (RA) |
|
Brigadier General |
|
1943 |
|
Brigadier General - Retired |
|
1948 |
DECORATIONS
Brigadier General Sweet's citations and
decorations included the Legion of Merit.
Left side pictured with two spare "M" marked two-tone
magazines.
Pistol has total of three original magazines, all "M"
marked. |
