Like Rotten RJ, my first 1911 was issued to me by my Uncle Sam in 1969. That was the only weapon that I was issued in Vietnam, and prior to that I had only shot a total of 7 .46 acp rounds in my life.
When I got home from SE Asia, I was stationed at Ft Sill in Oklahoma. I found a GI model Remington Rand 1911 in a pawn shop and that became my first centerfire pistol. I took that pistol to the base range almost every night after work. I could draw, free of charge, a box of .45 acp ammo a day at that range. After a month or so of shooting, I became friends with the range NCO, and on days when he wasn't busy, after I shot my box of ammo, he would bring out 2 boxes of ammo, and we would shoot together.
I became proficient enough with that 1911 that just before I was discharged, the Base pistol team NCO asked me to try out for the team. Back then, all I could think of was getting out and going home.
I still have that 1911 and have shot many thousands of rounds through it. In 1972 or 1973 I shot my first black bear with it. In those days, Colorado didn't have all the game restrictions that they have now, and it was one shot, one dead bear.
A few years ago, I inherited the 1911 that my Grandfather carried in WWI. It's a safe queen.