Uncle Matty Comes Home

On Saint Patricks Day 2016 Jim Farrell received a surprising email: an M-1 rifle engraved with the name M. Teahanhad been discovered in Normandy 72 years after its owner Martin (Matty) Teahan Jims uncle had been killed in the June 1944 D-Day invasion of France. A young private in the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Matty had been laid to rest beside his fellow heroes in the Normandy American Cemetery but now French Army General Patrick Collet was writing to inform the family that Mattys rifle had been recovered and was safe in his possession. Luck of the Irish!Thus began Jim Farrells adventure of discovery and self-discovery as he and his family embarked on the successful quest to bring his uncle home in spirit by repatriating his historic rifle. A saga spanning four generations and multiple countries the rifles extraordinary journey and recovery is also the story of Matty Teahan a humble private made of the stuff that made so many of his generation great--the strength of character courage and will-power to prevail against great odds and the guts determination and sheer daring-do to jump out of a perfectly good airplane over enemy territory.Martin Teahans emblematic M-1 rifle currently hangs in office of the Chief of Staff of the US Army awaiting donation to the new US Army Museum at Fort Belvoir Virginia. Similarly the Farrell familys quest represents something larger than itself: the intensifying search by the children of the Greatest Generation to understand the facts and meaning of their fathers and grandfathers war and their intense desire to come to terms with the often tragic yet seldom discussed repercussions of the death and violence their elders experienced in World War II.