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Post by worldwardrew on Mar 22, 2006 19:56:12 GMT -5
I read in a book that early in the war rangers had shorter leggings than the rest of the army, and I saw several pictuers that proved this I found some short leggings at a local army surplus store so I bought them then I noticed the string wraps around the way the marine leggins do. So can anyone tell me if the ranger leggings laced up in the same fasion, or if I bought some weird marine leggings?
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 23, 2006 5:25:06 GMT -5
Marine Corp leggings had seven hooks instead of eight. I never heard anything about Rangers using shorter leggings. Perhaps they cut them down?
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Post by CPL. Mills 2nd Rangers on Mar 23, 2006 8:06:04 GMT -5
I've seen pics with rangers that have the shorter leggings, and the standard ones, I think the guys cut them down.
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Post by worldwardrew on Mar 23, 2006 11:13:09 GMT -5
So I guess the ones I have are cut down ranger leggings? Well at any rate they do look cool.
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Post by 5thrangerinfantry on Mar 25, 2006 6:20:50 GMT -5
The 1st, 3rd, and 4th rangers cut the leggings down to fit better on speed marches. However, by the end of the war, many many other units did it too.
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Post by mauser98k on Mar 25, 2006 14:54:27 GMT -5
They did this because they were trained by the brits, so they wanted to have the look of their trainers. And they also liked that they could move around a LOT easier and make sharper moves.
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Post by 5thrangerinfantry on Mar 25, 2006 15:46:43 GMT -5
thats why they got the VB boots, yeah. the cut down leggings was something that had already been started on a small scale in the US army.
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Post by indy on Mar 26, 2006 12:47:24 GMT -5
Yes, many units had cut down leggings. Specifically in Normandy...the 5th rangers (since they trained with the British) cut down their leggings. The 2nd rangers are said to have kept them at normal length. Here's a picture of some 5th rangers with cut down leggings.... The guy laying down on the far left actually is wearing British leggings.... Cheers Thomas
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 26, 2006 19:40:44 GMT -5
I'm not sure that I'm convinced based on the photos. In the top photo of the 5th rangers It just looks like the pants simply bloused lower (Not uncommon at all even with full length leggings) In the photo immediately above the fellow on the right looks like he band bloused his trousers about mid leggin (again not uncommon) and the fellow laying on the left has British leggings on, not cut down US leggings. (Note there is no sole strap) I just noticed that you mentioned that. Ooops.
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Post by mauser98k on Mar 26, 2006 20:35:01 GMT -5
Edited by Capt. Zak: Mauser, keep it on topic. We're discussing leggings, NOT "the bird".
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 27, 2006 0:55:59 GMT -5
Wow you are a observant soldier Mauser. It certainly looks like he's flipping off the camera. At the time thumbing ones nose was the more common offensive gesture. The origin of "giving someone the bird" however dates back to English long bowmen who used their index finger and ring finger to draw back their Yew constructed bows that were so lethal they were considered inhumane by their opponents.
My guess is that he is trying to work the spring in his carbine mag which probably clogged in the sand and water of the landing.
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Post by 5thrangerinfantry on Mar 27, 2006 6:08:49 GMT -5
The 5th rangers wore leggings during training only. They got the jump boots and wore them throughout the war. Ranger Tom Herring (RIP) said that his jump boots lasted all through the war and most of the way through college afterwards. The second wore the leggings on D-day and a little after, but did start wearing the jump boots during or after the Brittany Campaign.
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Post by indy on Mar 27, 2006 10:40:45 GMT -5
[tr][/tr] The 5th rangers wore leggings during training only. They got the jump boots and wore them throughout the war. Ranger Tom Herring (RIP) said that his jump boots lasted all through the war and most of the way through college afterwards. The second wore the leggings on D-day and a little after, but did start wearing the jump boots during or after the Brittany Campaign. Very true...I have heard the same, 5th had jump boots and wool trousers, BUT there was always the exception. I spoke with a 5th ranger veteran during the 60th anniversary of D-day in Normandy and he told me some of the men wore the jump boots and some wore the roughouts with leggings. It was a matter of who got their hands on the jump boots.
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Post by 5thrangerinfantry on Mar 27, 2006 16:15:38 GMT -5
Do you remember the vets name? (no, I'm not trying to imply anything) We have conducted interviews at the WW2 ranger reunions and all members of the 5th have stated that the jump boots were issued to the entire BN in the days/week before Normandy.
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Post by indy on Mar 27, 2006 16:39:27 GMT -5
His name was John Reville. I have read an article that mentioned his name sometime ago.... perhaps you have heard of/know him?
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Post by 5thrangerinfantry on Mar 27, 2006 19:24:17 GMT -5
Heard of him. I believe he made the rank of captain in Fox Co. in the 5th BN. Not sure of any other details......
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