Generic Bulge GI "Sojer"

[34thtcflyboy]

It snowed 4 inches so I thought I'd give this a go. This is my "dogface sojer" impression based on late Dec 44/Jan 45 photos. I don't have a specific unit I'm trying to do (just going for generic), but I'm sure I fit in somewhere. I was going for a "just made Sarge because I'm the only one left" thing.

Here is some reference:


www.strictly-gi.com/farybulge1.jpg
farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4410474708_15142d920a.jpg
classicfirearmsechoesofglory.com/web_images/gi_with_souvenirs_resized.jpg
www.hardscrabblefarm.com/images/ww2/matrix/sc197304s-cu1.jpg
i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy174/arte_et_marte/82dposter50pct.gif
www.americainwwii.com/images/galleries/2009/icy-battle-of-the-bulge/19-bulge-gi-city-wall.jpg
www.paulhochstein.com/imagesjpegsgifsetc/1944PaulBeforeBattle114-148.jpg


Here are my photos:

farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5376357474_0011dd6118_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5376285800_a68b63c4bd_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5375748351_362195b6ef_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5375695429_9e9f37d351_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5375737681_7325af6129_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5376288626_7327040095_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5376286376_7ae41e1173_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5376348580_0d567ced99_b.jpg


Gear (including pockets):

EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL EXCEPT THE TANKER.

M-1 Helmet
Winter Combat Jacket (ATF new run)
Jeep Cap
Wool Shirt, Coat Style
Scarf made of GI Blanket
Boyt Haversack
WWI-era meatcan w/fork, spoon, knife and meatcan
T-Handle Shovel
Cushion-Sole Sock with C-Ration (B-Unit) inside
US Special Services Baseball Glove
GI Wool Blanket
Issue Soap
Gillette Razor
Lifebuoy Shave Cream
"Protecto-Shield" Steel Cover Bible
Cigarette Case w/Old Golds
Kaywoodie Pipe
GI Web Belt w/Private Purchase Buckle
M37 Trousers
All-Rubber Overshoes dated 1942
Cushion-Sole Socks
1942 Gas-Impregnite Long Johns
Heer Belt w/Gott Mitt Uns Buckle
Homemade Fighting Knife w/Sheath
USO Message Record


Pocket Junk:

farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5375846617_a0c9881e48_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5375847913_05102a9c6b_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5375847491_cd20d73b49_b.jpg
farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5376447420_89bf0220b1_b.jpg

[34thtcflyboy]

PS The heavy pack was weighing down my cart belt so I had to constantly adjust it. About halfway through the photos I adjusted the straps and it all went okay from there.

[S/Sgt.Noble30thID]

Baseball glove is taking up needless space. I see no use for it. It is neat and all that, but why...a soldier that was in long enough to make S/Sgt would know better than to carry that around...especially in the snow.

Dirty face but clean hands?

Rest looks good.

Charlie

[GyreneGreen]

I agree with Charlie on the baseball glove, it's cool but totally pointless. Get a real Garand before you buy anything else.

[34thtcflyboy]

Jan 21, 2011 16:42:29 GMT -5 S/Sgt.Noble30thID said:

Dirty face but clean hands?

What I do is I burn cork and rub it in. I rubbed it on my hands too but it wore off pretty quickly. You can still see it in the tops of my hands though.

As for the baseball glove, it was just a fun oddball thing. I was going for "this glove is lucky" kinda thing.

[UPNATM]

I know they carried their C rats in Nam in socks hanging from their rucks, but I have never seen it done in WWII. Was it shown being done in any of your period pics you supplied, or did I miss it?

[34thtcflyboy]

Jan 21, 2011 17:24:23 GMT -5 UPNATM said:

I know they carried their C rats in Nam in socks hanging from their rucks, but I have never seen it done in WWII. Was it shown being done in any of your period pics you supplied, or did I miss it?

Was that a 'Nam thing??? A buddy of mine gave me the idea. Seemed practical seeing as I had no more room. Serves me right...

[S/Sgt.Noble30thID]

Yea..."Ration socks" are very Vietnam War.

Lucky baseball gloves get in the way and are as pointless as regular baseball gloves. Id rather have a lucky extra bandoleer full of .30-06 somewhere.

Charlie

[34thtcflyboy]

Jan 21, 2011 17:41:29 GMT -5 S/Sgt.Noble30thID said:

Yea..."Ration socks" are very Vietnam War.

I never knew that, never studied 'Nam myself so I stand corrected.

Jan 21, 2011 17:41:29 GMT -5 S/Sgt.Noble30thID said:

Lucky baseball gloves get in the way and are as pointless as regular baseball gloves. Id rather have a lucky extra bandoleer full of .30-06 somewhere.

Charlie

I'd drop the pack as soon as I got in my hole on the front. It really doesn't get in the way really, the glove. And a draftee like myself wants some sort of affectation of normalcy.

[S/Sgt.Noble30thID]

Jan 21, 2011 18:10:51 GMT -5 @34thtcflyboy said:

Jan 21, 2011 17:41:29 GMT -5 S/Sgt.Noble30thID said:

Yea..."Ration socks" are very Vietnam War.

I never knew that, never studied 'Nam myself so I stand corrected.

Jan 21, 2011 17:41:29 GMT -5 S/Sgt.Noble30thID said:

Lucky baseball gloves get in the way and are as pointless as regular baseball gloves. Id rather have a lucky extra bandoleer full of .30-06 somewhere.

Charlie

I'd drop the pack as soon as I got in my hole on the front. It really doesn't get in the way really, the glove. And a draftee like myself wants some sort of affectation of normalcy.

Still doesnt fly with me, but do as you want. I think it is a cop out. Especially since the Special Service stuff was in a kit and was meant to be stored together, means you sort of stole it. Water will ruin it and I think it is very "FNG" to carry a baseball glove around.

[34thtcflyboy]

Jan 21, 2011 18:56:55 GMT -5 S/Sgt.Noble30thID said:

Still doesnt fly with me, but do as you want. I think it is a cop out. Especially since the Special Service stuff was in a kit and was meant to be stored together, means you sort of stole it. Water will ruin it and I think it is very "FNG" to carry a baseball glove around.

It doesn't matter to me one way or the other I'm not married to the idea. I didn't put a whole lot of thought into it, I've just got a nice set of Special Service stuff (2 gloves, bat, ball) and figured I'd do something different. GIs stole stuff all the time so that ain't an issue. As for being an FNG, my serial # starts with a "3" so I can't be held responsible!

The way I see it: Ditch the sock rations, the glove, and finally save some money to get myself a rifle (never been a gun-guy so it was last on my list but should've been first).

[Buggnkat]

I can give you at least 5 instances of GIs (2 in the 504th, 4 in the 506th, 1 in the 505, 3 in the 30thIR and 2 in the 7thIR) that packed their gloves. If you are doing anyone of these units then I would say you would be OK.

Guys baseball was HUGE, bigger than football is now. It was a passtime and there were several major leaguers both famous and not who served in the front as infantrymen. If you like to play ball, then by all means pack the mit!

[34thtcflyboy]

Jan 21, 2011 19:46:05 GMT -5 Buggnkat said:

Guys baseball was HUGE, bigger than football is now. It was a passtime and there were several major leaguers both famous and not who served in the front as infantrymen. If you like to play ball, then by all means pack the mit!

Playing catch at events is one of my favorite (and period-correct) things to do!

Baseball photos:

Alaska:
farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3983727733_84d1ccfe63.jpg

Luxembourg:
www.mnhm.lu/Photos/Play%20Ball_Baseball%20at%20CONSTHUM%20(Lxbg)%20-%20Oct%5B1%5D.%201944%20-%208th%20U.S.%20Inf.%20Div.%20GIs.jpg

Rome:
static.howstuffworks.com/gif/the-battle-of-the-bulge-timeline-4.jpg

[whatthecrunchyo]

What's wrong with the Garand? I'm missin' it.

[34thtcflyboy]

Jan 21, 2011 20:04:34 GMT -5 whatthecrunchyo said:

What's wrong with the Garand? I'm missin' it.

It's a wood and steel replica, there are a couple things wrong with it.

[whatthecrunchyo]

Ah, gotcha. Garands are a solid long term investment. I suggest you get one from the CMP if you are looking for one.

[34thtcflyboy]

Here's some of the photos retouched:

Running in the snow:
farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5376315855_a547d45ec3_b.jpg

Fake war ain't pretty:
farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5376802234_7e73840cff_b.jpg

Posing for posterity:
farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5376901054_4943d12af3_b.jpg

[Buggnkat]

Jan 21, 2011 19:54:18 GMT -5 @34thtcflyboy said:

Jan 21, 2011 19:46:05 GMT -5 Buggnkat said:

Guys baseball was HUGE, bigger than football is now. It was a passtime and there were several major leaguers both famous and not who served in the front as infantrymen. If you like to play ball, then by all means pack the mit!

Playing catch at events is one of my favorite (and period-correct) things to do!

Baseball photos:

Alaska:
farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3983727733_84d1ccfe63.jpg

Luxembourg:
www.mnhm.lu/Photos/Play%20Ball_Baseball%20at%20CONSTHUM%20(Lxbg)%20-%20Oct%5B1%5D.%201944%20-%208th%20U.S.%20Inf.%20Div.%20GIs.jpg

Rome:
static.howstuffworks.com/gif/the-battle-of-the-bulge-timeline-4.jpg

A few years back we had enough guys in my old 506th unit that we actually had a game at Jefferson Barracks. There were a few other guys that drove home and got their period mits to play! It was a blast and one of my favorite times in reenacting!

[34thtcflyboy]

Jan 21, 2011 20:45:57 GMT -5 Buggnkat said:

A few years back we had enough guys in my old 506th unit that we actually had a game at Jefferson Barracks. There were a few other guys that drove home and got their period mits to play! It was a blast and one of my favorite times in reenacting!

I have to say baseball has been a huge part of my life. My mother has worked at Louisville Slugger for over 30 years and I worked at the Louisville Slugger Museum for close to 5 years.

I've met guys from Mickey Mantle to Joey D to Pee Wee Reese. I have autographs and baseball memorabilia GALORE just from being around it my whole life.

Thinking about it now I may just hang onto the mitt, it's a personal choice and I'm sticking to it.

[cco23i]

Yes Blake I agree with Greg, keep the mitt. Hell you know as well as I that baseball was HUGE and we ground crews ALWAYS have our mitts in a tool box somewhere.

Scott