--- title: "Marines in a firefight called customer service for help with an M-107" description: "When the Marines called Barrett Firearms for help with their .50-caliber machine gun, they took the time to help." date: "2022-05-04" modified: "2023-04-27" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/tactical/that-time-marines-called-customer-service/" categories: - "History" - "Marine Corps" - "Tactical" - "Weapons" tags: - "Marine Corps" - "Weapons" --- # Marines in a firefight called customer service for help with an M-107 ![]() When you need help, there's nothing embarrassing about asking for it. Especially when the pressure is on to get it right as soon as possible. Rifles are no different. And if you have to call an arms manufacturer for a problem there, it's probably a big deal. [That's why Barrett Firearms Manufacturing]() provides service for its products long after they enter military service. Most notably, the beloved Barrett M-107 .50-caliber rifle. Don Cook is a Marine Corps veteran who had been working at Barrett for 17 years at the time. In an interview with National Geographic, he recalled the time he received an interesting call on the customer service line — a call from troops in an active firefight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc0Tmw26XVA "It's probably one of the biggest highlights in my life to be able to help a Marine unit in a firefight," Cook told [NatGeo](). He picked up the phone and heard what was happening in the background. Without being able to see the weapon, he was able to diagnose the problem. The Marines bent the ears of the weapon's lower receiver up during the previous night's maintenance. When they saw action the next day, the rifle wouldn't fire every time they pulled the trigger. Cook told them they needed to bend the ears back down. Given the lack of tools and time, he suggested the Marines use the bottom of the carrier as leverage to bend the ears back and get the weapon firing again. Within 30 seconds, the [Marines had their M-107 rifle back in action](). They thanked Cook for his help and got back in the fight. ## Don’t Miss the Best of Mighty History We Are The Mighty is a celebration of military service, with a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire those who serve and those who support them. We are made by and for current service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and civilians who want to be part of this community. Keep up with the best in military culture and entertainment: [subscribe to the We Are The Mighty newsletter](). - [A War of 1812 veteran saw the Battle of Gettysburg from his porch, then joined it]() - [An entire Civil War battle stopped to watch two soldiers in a fistfight]() - [6 of the goofiest military myths and urban legends]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()