(It is an M1 Garand, not an M4 Garand.) Private John J Downes, a farmboy from rural Tennessee was one of the men to jump out of the C-47s and down into certain death. Hearing the gunfire roar below him as deployed his chute.
Although scared out of his mind at that rate, he knew for the sake of mankind he could not run away as he checked his gear, the M1A1 and his M1911 along with the rest of gear still with him.