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Post by wwiiguy on Aug 16, 2016 16:27:12 GMT -5
Hello! I have a simple question (well for the ww2 historians) so i have been researching Wallace C. Strobel because i plan to make my kit in his honor. So im looking at the famous picture of him talking to Eisenhower before the jump. I notice a few things im confused by.1: why is Strobel not in his webgear almost everyone around him is so why is he not. 2: what is that little box on his leg? Due to me having no clue what it is called i cant research it.Any info about Mr. Strobel would be great, thanks!
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shiftysgarand
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Post by shiftysgarand on Aug 16, 2016 17:53:34 GMT -5
Are you asking about the cargo pockets on his jump pants? They are expandable, so pressure from the leg tie makes the rear half stick out in a weird way.
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Post by wwiiguy on Aug 17, 2016 14:27:07 GMT -5
No not his pockets its a clear box.Its tied where a knive would be tied on by most troopers
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shiftysgarand
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Post by shiftysgarand on Aug 17, 2016 15:41:35 GMT -5
Oh that, that's a Hawkins anti-tank mine.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Aug 17, 2016 15:44:45 GMT -5
Wow. Are you over thinking this! He isnt wearing web gear because....(wait for it...). He just ISNT at that moment. As with all pending military operations there is a lot of hurry up and wait and standing around with all your gear on is an uneccessary burden. No doubt folks were told to "saddle up" and "stand down" several times and everyone then decides is it MORE or LESS hassle to dump your gear or leave it on. The Troopers received word that the brass might come by to "inspect" so that no doubt added to the tensions. Shortly before IKE arrived the company was informed and most likely a platoon was informed they'd be singled out. My father though out of camera was present for this and other famous IKE pictures as he was a staff courier in his entourage. He told me the troops were probably more excited about getting a glance at Kate Summersby (his female driver) than IKE and my father said although gregarious and cheerful when speaking with the airborne troopers he was very emotionally choked up when he departed. He said the troopers did more to cheer him up than vice a versa.
As a platoon leader Lt Stroble would have had his men on their feet when the General arrived and probably ordered the me to dump their gear if they wanted to. I agrre with Shifty that what you're looking at is A Hawkins mine although it was primarily an anti personnel mine that functioned like an early early version of a claymore.
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Post by volkssturm on Aug 17, 2016 17:44:34 GMT -5
You can imagine how choked up Eisenhower might have been. There were estimates that the paratroops would take very heavy casualties, and of course if the landings failed they would have been stranded in France and the divisions effectively destroyed. Eisenhower knew that there was a very good chance the men he was speaking to could be dead in he next 48 hours. That's really got to weigh on the guy who gives the order to go.
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Post by wwiiguy on Aug 18, 2016 0:54:51 GMT -5
Yes Volks its hard to imagine how it would fell knowing most of the men you talked to wouldnt even survive the jump.I find it would be hard to know who im talking to had an huge chance of dying.All the men in All the battles where very brave and ill always have respect for them.
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2nd Bat
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Post by 2nd Bat on Aug 18, 2016 12:00:27 GMT -5
The airborne element was considered absolutely essential for the success of the landings as the cushion against counter attacks by the Germans and ability to delay reactions until a proper lodgement could be established was paramount. The British Air Commander predicted losses of 85% so Eisenhower had reason to believe that over half the men he met would not be alive in 72 hours. The fact that they ENTHUSIASTICALLY accepted that role on a voluntary basis is truly remarkable. I have done three night parachute drops in training and have always imagined what the Sicily and Normandy drops must have been like.
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Post by wwiiguy on Aug 19, 2016 14:54:55 GMT -5
The airborne element was considered absolutely essential for the success of the landings as the cushion against counter attacks by the Germans and ability to delay reactions until a proper lodgement could be established was paramount. The British Air Commander predicted losses of 85% so Eisenhower had reason to believe that over half the men he met would not be alive in 72 hours. The fact that they ENTHUSIASTICALLY accepted that role on a voluntary basis is truly remarkable. I have done three night parachute drops in training and have always imagined what the Sicily and Normandy drops must have been like. Yes i agree that the airborne troops where essential. I've been addicted to the History channels ww2 documentary's about D-Day and all the different OP's in the war and i just cant believe elaborate these plans where. I was also surprised at how much planning OP's took.
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Post by volkssturm on Aug 20, 2016 10:44:02 GMT -5
I did the five qualifying jumps and then three at Ranger School, and that was enough. Never had any real desire to parachute again. The last jump at Ranger was supposed to be a daylight drop, but we were running late and the sun was just below the horizon when we jumped. It was out of a C-123 twin piston engine transport. I have to say it was really cool, almost like being in a war movie.
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Post by wwiiguy on Aug 20, 2016 15:37:44 GMT -5
Ive skydived 5 times and ive gotta say the guys had guts.I cannot compare skydiving in any way to how i imagine that day
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Post by 2ndbat2 on May 24, 2021 18:09:04 GMT -5
Update the funny way Eisenhower was pointing in the iconic photo was him talking about fly fishing. The numbers hanging from the paratroopers neck identified what "stick".( Which aircraft ) his group were assigned to. The blacked out faces were accomplished by burning the end of a cork and applying it to your face and hands. Care of course had to be taken to keep it out of your eyes. Once you got to sweating it inevitably did get into your eyes an is quite annoying. I did the whole cork on your face deal at Jump to destiny events. I'll take the smelly old camo tubes any day. They at least had insect repellant in the grease.
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