Wood and metal

What follows is what I know about the Mauser rifle. I'm also including additional service data, I thought you'd be interested in. Grandpa enlisted at Woodsfield, 8, Feb., 1918. He was sent to Fremont, CA for training. At completion, he was assigned to the 8th Division, 319th Engineer Regiment as a private in the American Expeditionary Forces. He was then sent overseas by an old cargo ship to the Pontanezen Barracks, Brest, France. The 319th was part of a services and supply division set up especially by General Pershing. Armistice was declared as Grandpa arrived in France. The 319th was assigned to road, bridges, etc restoration. As part of these duties, he picked up the rifle somewhere around Rhiems, France. This area was the part of the final battlefield occupied by American troops. Grandpa told me he disassembled the rifle and mailed it home piece by piece at various times. Fortunately, all pieces arrived at Woodsfield safely. Sending war souvenir's home was also illegal so he was lucky all pieces got by government inspectors'. He was part of the American Expeditionary Forces from 25, Sept., 1918 through 21, Aug. 1919. Then he was then sent home and discharged 1, Sept., 1919 as a corporal. This is the extent of my knowledge about grandpa's military days and how he acquired the Mauser. As further information this type rifle was the main battle rifle for the German forces throughout the war.