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Post by gunfreak on Mar 7, 2006 15:08:05 GMT -5
this should be a pretty complete basic airborne impression, there is of course always some nicnak here and there, like gloves, rope, (parachute) etc. still having some problems with the E-tool dragging the cartridge belt even tho i have suspenders on there tightest. I do hate my camera tho, looks like the M43 is a onepice suit
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Post by Gordak on Mar 7, 2006 16:31:10 GMT -5
KICK ASS!! very nice,
Looks like you got an extra long (reenactor size) version of the straps
perhaps you couls exchange them for standard size?
-Gordak
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Post by Go4Broke on Mar 7, 2006 18:25:52 GMT -5
Looks pretty good. Loose the lovely blue watch and the helmet scrim and you're good to go.
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Post by Guinness on Mar 7, 2006 22:20:13 GMT -5
Looks great GF, as usual! If I could be so bold as to offer a couple of suggestions- Boots- Yes, the brown laces are strictly correct, but try switching them out with leather instead- it's actually even a bit more correct in that many troopers did that to separate themselves from the rest of the crowd. Also, when the M43's came out, after the D-Day and Normandy campaigns, some troopers went to the 'Double Buckle' service boots and saved the Corcorans back for dress-ups, I just got my DB's from ATF and they run about a half size larger than normal (10 = 10.5 US) so they are nice and comfy! ....yeah, that's me- the fat guy 2nd from the right -G
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Post by mauser98k on Mar 7, 2006 22:52:41 GMT -5
Well, a lot of soldiers refused the order to switch to DB boots to keep their social status as a veteran who has seen lots of combat before market garden. Either boots are fine.
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Post by Guinness on Mar 7, 2006 23:14:45 GMT -5
Our friend gunfreak is fortunate enough to be able to use his 'disposable income' on pretty much anything he wants, so the point of my post was to offer another suggestion about footgear that would give him choices- fact is troops were issued two uniforms, many troopers kept a pair of M42's back even though they were 'technically' ordered to turn them in after the Normandy campaign, some also kept the nicer Corcorans back with that uniform for 'walking out' not knowing that they may never even see England again.
-G
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 8, 2006 0:17:39 GMT -5
Mausers point is accurate and could clarify for the readers that the preference (even in the field) was to retain and wear a set of corcorans. You're right G that most troopers kept a garrison set for stepping out as well.
The DB boots are seen in lots of airborne pictures especially by the Holland jump as no doubt the airborne soldiers field set of jump boots were worn out. From a practical perspective there was concern (highly unlikely) that the buckles could foul the shroud lines in a jump.
In practice for both leg and airborne troops, once issued the rough out DB boots were almost immediately treated with a shoe grease that darkened them considerably. (i wondered why most actual pairs I've seen were so dark. The buff, rough out tan look is new issue and typically wouldn't have been seen in the field. With that said I prefer the tan rough out untreated look just cause well.... I like the way it looks better.
My wifes uncle (Tets Nakamura) explained that in the 442nd the Japanese American soldiers heated a spoon and worked the toes of their double buckles so they could build in a smooth surface and create a spit shine for their garrison/ parade set. He said it was a ton of work and some guys got really good at the process so the others paid them in cigarettes and script to do up theirs. Tets (my wifes uncle) was one who possesed such a skill.
He was a company driver in Italy and Southern France and was highly decorated. A representative of the 442nd acknowledged his service at his funeral. His son and daughter new virtually nothing about his even being in the Army. He shared stories with me with some reluctance as I was interested and was an infantryman.
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Post by mauser98k on Mar 8, 2006 0:27:11 GMT -5
Where'd you get them M43's? I just bought a pair of m43 trousers myself. Got em for 45 bucks from my old ebay pal in singapore*He isnt a rip off, done a lot of business with him*
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Post by Gordak on Mar 8, 2006 8:26:48 GMT -5
I talked to one vet, who said it was Great when double buckle boots came out, because you didnt need to polish them. Then some bastards used lighter fluid to burn off the the rough stuff so they could poish them anyway. This REALLY pissed them off, because they were scared the army might start requiring troops to prep and polish the new boots. anyway, If you were in this guys unit, you would get some nasty looks if you polished your DB boots. LOL -Gordak
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Post by Go4Broke on Mar 8, 2006 13:32:17 GMT -5
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 8, 2006 15:49:28 GMT -5
Tets reluctantly shared several stories. They started to flow when I bought my 42 Willys and he came over and I let him drive it. He was the companies COs Jeep driver and had lots of great maintenance tips. I was going to replace the steering box at the advice of a mechanic who had checked out the rig. ($275.00 installed) Tets showed me where a flat head screw had to be turned that would tighten it right up (which it did) He explained that you have to do it every other week or so if you've been off road alot. (In Italy that meant every week!)
He said the jeep driver was like a robber baron as you could haul more stuff around hence you ended up with all the trading fodder like war souveniers that could be traded with the REMFs for just about anything you needed. He said that the command cars (Dodge 3/4 ton vehicles, called Beeps) came with leather bench seats that had to be guarded nightly as the Italians would slice them apart to make shoes out of.
He said the worst racism he ever experienced was at basic training and it existed between the Hawaiian Japanese and the mainland Japanese. According to Tets the Hawaiians were all loud mouths and extremely boastful and gregarious while the mainland Jaopanese were all quiet farm boys. The mainland farmboys called the Hawaiians Pinneapples. There were lots and lots of fights as the Hawaiians were afraid the mainland Japanese called "Catunks" (The sound there heads made when they hit the floor) were too meek and bashful. By the time they finished training they were quite cohesive and determined. Tetsumoto who was from a farm in Hood River Oregon said the Hawaiians were probably right and they did need to learn how to stand up for their own. The Hawaiians were shocked to discover that most of the mainland recruits families were interned in camps in the US and yet they were willing to volunteer. This fact more then anything else lead the 442 to fight so hard to prove themselves. As you know they nicknamed themselves the Go For Broke unit.
Early in the campaign all of the officers were White but as things progressed more and more Japaneses Americans were added to the command structure. He has a great story about how his unit rescued a surrounded battalion of Texans in France. There was a movie about it that Tets said was fairly accurate.
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Post by Gordak on Mar 13, 2006 12:38:42 GMT -5
WOW great stuff, I have that movie, will watch it now -Gordak
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Post by Go4Broke on Mar 13, 2006 13:43:58 GMT -5
Thanks 2nd Bat! The battle is known as the Rescue of "The Lost Battalion". The 1st Battalion, 141st Inf Regiment, 36th Division (an old Texas National Guard unit) became cut off and surrounded in the Vosges Mountains in France near the end of October of '44. The 442nd was sent to rescue them, and after a week long battle finally broke through and saved them. The fierce fighting decimated the 442nd's ranks and by the end when they formed up for the general's review, after the battle, the general was angry and asked "Where's the rest of the regiment" The 442nd's CO responded, with tears in his eyes, "this IS the regiment". To give you an idea some companies were down to ten or less men. Many 442nd vets are proud of this battle and what they did. My great uncle won the silver star in the battle and proudly showed me the picture of the plaque the 141st gave to the 442nd. The movie he was talking about is "Go For Broke" it's pretty good, but best of all most of the main actors actually served in the 442nd!
On another note if your friend Tets was from Hood River his name might have been one of those removed from an honor roll in Jan. '45 by the American Legion post there, because he was Japanese American. After a national outcry all 17 names were restored, but still an ugly incident in history.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 13, 2006 15:05:50 GMT -5
Tets (My wifes uncle) had two additional stories, one somewhat humerous and one very sad. He said after the action in the Vogage mountains a Japanese American soldier in an Infantry unform in Texas never had to buy his own drink. (The story was that widely told) He also relayed that he proudly went back home in his uniform to see the towns people he had grown up with. His favorite teacher from grade school was one of the people he was most anxious to see.
She screamed at him and demanded he leave her house using language he had never heard. He was shocked. He later found out her husband had died in the Pacific. He said is was one of the most devastating days of his life. He lost many many friends in Italy and Southern France. The spokesman at his funeral said he was one of the bravest men he had ever known. He was an extremely soft spoken, sweet, sweet man and you'd never imagine him as a warrior.
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