I did what your dad did.
VN was flooded with surplus M-1 Carbines in the early years because it was figured the ARVNs, who were generally small people, could handle them better than M-1s or M-14s. That changed when 16s started getting issued.
I've got my "unauthorized" .38 on my hip. Don't make fun of my f*ckin Buddy Holly glasses...and you'd be skinny too after 6 months on a c-rats-only diet and humping 70+lbs nightly in high humidity. And BTW, that's "V" for victory, not a f*ckin peace sign. As you were.
PS...see that white dot on my right boot? We put our dog tags in our boot laces so 1. they wouldn't clink and 2. even if there was nothing left of you to find, they'd probably find your boots.