What They Carried: US 83rd Infantry Division in 1945

[@WorldWarWisdom]

Sign up for my Patreon using this link to get access to the full breakdown document with purchase links and info about how I shop for my gear! www.patreon.com/worldwarwisdom

[@Joe-f5u]

hey are you planning on going to the battle of the bulge reenactment at fort Harrison Indiana sometime in January???

[@luigiviking3667]

Fantastic word interesting keep it up

[@SeasideWitcher]

Pack it light freeze at night...

[@RetardOlympics]

Why do .45 ACP fudds say "won two world warssss" when sidearms weren't even issued to infantry?

[@0nomanland0]

You should do a what they carried for an airborne division and armored division.

[@andyd6431]

I think this series is a great addition to the channel. It’s great also for people who want to start reenacting

[@EchoesOfThePast_]

Had fun working on this one with y’all 🫡

[@WorldWarWisdom]

Thanks again for helping out!

[@jonathanbrowne4362]

Hi! I’m a huge fan of you videos!

[@brittainclement7951]

Are you going to the tactical on the 22nd of November

[@FistcrazzyMusic]

Hey I’m subscribed to you

[@ArneMoen]

My dad was in the 83rd Infantry 330th regiment HQ Company. I have a picture of him from February 1945 and the M43 jackets look new to me. In April I think the unit was somewhere between Jülich and Neuss. That’s when Dad earned his Bronze Star hanging off a tank relaying orders to the tank crew. Armor and Infantry used different radios and it was easier to send a radio operator than try to teach a tank crew member to use an infantry radio. No room inside the tank so Dad clung to the outside. Dad didn’t smoke and totally traded cigarettes for chocolate. His pockets had coins he picked up along the way. His unit also picked up a German Jeep somewhere and drove it through Germany. So nice work. Your description certainly agrees with some of the things Dad told me. I have an 83rd patch on one of my jackets. I’d love to see a reenactment of the 83rd someday.

[@kevensmith3041]

We have one veteran still with us who was with Hq Co 1st Battalion 330th. Joins the 330th July 7 ,1944 and made it through to the end of the war. Our association president s dad was A Co 330th.

[@ArneMoen]

@@kevensmith3041 That was Dad's unit. Hq Co 1st Battalion 330th. He was with Colonel Campbell, Captain Fritts and Lt Gordon. I'd love to know if your veteran remembers any of these guys. Dad was in the radio section. I talked to a couple of the guys from the unit. Dad joined in Bihain Belgium in January 45 during the Battle of the Bulge. We went there in 2004. You can still find the foxholes. A Belgian named Robert has a bed and breakfast called Remember You 45 with a little museum dedicated to the 83rd Infantry Division.

[@theinquisitor8112]

Can't believe they went back in time and got a GI to go over his gear for us. What a time to be alive.

[@rockymountainlifeprospecti4423]

A little something for starting this addition! We own a military boarding home during deployment animal rescue and have a small military museum for them to enjoy when they are staying with us during leave for a few days, or veterans for a getaway weekend in the Rockies. Awesome job, I started civil war reenacting when I was 15 thru 30 or so. All the best out there 🇺🇸 Lest we forget 🎗

[@WorldWarWisdom]

@@rockymountainlifeprospecti4423 thank you so much! I really appreciate your support

[@Centurion101B3C]

Following is the response from a survivor of 1945 fighting. To get that gear, I'll just have to dig up my ancient army-reserve duffelbag. My helmet leather sweatband still rates me at LT and it has the British helmet net covering with straps of burlap (stained with shoe-shine and olive-drab 'Blanco') for camo. The inner-tube rubber-band has long since crumbled into decay. My pioneer shovel is dated at 'Hayes IA 1943', but my webbing is British 37 pattern, which I preferred with its easy clips and tightly packed rubberized Poncho in my daypack with my mess tins and other stuff needed. My gear showed US and British issued stuff in equal measure and if we would have found anything Russky Soviet to fit in to give us a better edge, we would have taken it too. I carried an M1 Carbine (not in the dufflebag), but also a Sten inherited from an unfortunatly expired British former paratrooper sod (also not in the dufflebag) tucked behind my canteen, just in case we'd run into British resupply or would have captured German 9mm first. The Sten was absolutely devastatingly lifethreatening under any circumstance, but surely when used in combat. You shot around the target and when still standing just kicked it over. Logistics were a shambles and we'd use whatever we could our grapplers on. Unfortunately British .303 didn't fit the Garand, but By God!!! We could have benefited from that and it would have saved us more than a few casualties. In short: There was no standard. We made things up as we survived each encounter and evolved our chances of survival that way. Because by the end of the day, you want to be able to say 'hello' to the next one. We used what was available to us and if it saved us, we'd bless it and use it. If it didn't then we wouldn't.

[@Glove513]

I was just telling someone a week ago about the genius of the British WW2 webbing, how it allows one to balance the weight. Your quote also echoes my thoughts on ammunition commonality. It’s more important to have the same ammo type as your ally and/or enemy than to have the “best” ammo available. An automatic or semiautomatic weapon is an internal combustion engine, after all, so why have an exclusive fuel that it runs on, especially for expeditionary warfare. The U.S. and UK should have agreed to adopt 8mm Mauser before WW1 as standard for infantry weapons. As he says, it would have saved lives.

[@outinthesticks1035]

I have read a couple accounts of US units using captured 8 mm ammunition. Not that I want to test it

[@Centurion101B3C]

@@outinthesticks1035 Screwing around with enemy ammo is under the best of circumstances something that would rapidly and untidily interfere with conditions supportive of life and limbs.

[@lynnesears6254]

My father was 83rd Reconnaissance. As with many, he didn't talk much about his service. I did enjoy seeing many of the items he would have had and, in fact, I recall seeing around the house in my childhood. My siblings still have some of them (shovel, flashlight, sweater, and wool blankets. I think maybe the overcoat too!) Pop was a radio operator w/ bronze star and two purple hearts. Thanks!

[@VolksArmee]

My grandfather was in this regiment and division awarded bronze star, purple heart, and 3 others that i don't know the names of but he died of the age of 96 in 2016, he was the last family member that served in a world war. Edit : my grandfather has a war trophie its a German officer belt

[@iraqafghanistanmarine6905]

In the Marine Corps we also say, in a cold weather environment, “travel light, freeze at night.”

[@jordanthompson5998]

This is so well done- I love this series so far!

[@RevvyTone]

Thank you for this channel. I choked up now discovering it. I wish my Dad were alive so I could show him and ask him questions. My dad was a sergeant of a machine gun unit with the 33rd Division in the Philippines - I was just watching the "5 things the soldiers favored" and really would love to ask him wherehe got suspenders from, I have a pic of him and his unit and he's wearing a set, that look really thin. , I remember him talking about the BAR and how heavy everything was I'd love to see a "What they carried" for troops like my dad in the Pacific Theater. Thank you for this channel I look forward to digging into the rest of your videos.

[@the_lost_navigator]

When our Fathers said "uphill, in the snow, against the wind" - they never mentioned the 100lb pack they carried while doing it - because they thought we wouldn't believe them... Respect to our Fathers

[@jacksnyder7318]

Great job buddy ! My Dad a (WW2 vet) sent me a 22mag revolver durring my time in the Air Force as an 'air base defense' troop, in the 1970s. Many of the guy's carried extra (non-issued) gear" because the gov't is to "detached" to to know what's needed in the field. One thing I learned is that the strength and wisdom of our country comes from our regular civilian citizens. Thank you for posting your channel.

[@CaoimhinP61]

Would be nice to eventually see army units outside of the traditional ETO setting, like the 27th division on Saipan or Okinawa, early Americal division, or even Bataan defenders presented in this format. Definitely looking forward to this as a series 👍

[@cbeaudry4646]

Alutean Islands

[@taco_sean]

My grampy was in the 83rd. He told us a story about how in Luxembourg they stole a German motorcycle and raced it back and forth through the town they were trying to take. They were waiting for the armor and bored, so they stole an enemy bike and took turns driving through the town until the armor came up. He fought in the bulge where he got a bronze star, and was wounded in Germany near the wars end. The day he got back to the states was VE Day, talk about incredible timing.

[@stephencoleman3578]

My father back in the 60s showed me the same things. My son got his ammo belt and a captured Japanese bayonet. I have his k-bar. Eventually we broke his helmet, his canteen and other things broke from playing army. His leggings survived, but I don't know where they went. He had a camo net that he wore to cover his face and neck that also was great against the mosquitos. US Marines. 1943-1945.

[@ironteacup2569]

Thank you for the long form videos! I love the look back on what the old guys had vs what I carry now

[@Edward-qy4dp]

My dad and others threw away the M1 and used the carbine. He also used the Thompson across his lap pointed outward in the jeep. He was the runner for his company. No rubber boots or heavy coats til almost the end. He said when your feet got wet you were done.They wore their blankets.as coats. Most casualties were trench foot, pneumonia , frostbite. He chewed tobacco all the time. The guys did this to moisten their mouths. Hope you find this first hand account interesting.

[@Edward-qy4dp]

He was 103rd, Cactus Division Mcauliffe in comm starting January.

[@roflmows]

the gum too, it wasn't so much the flavor as it kept them from getting thirsty. chewing gum also helps keep anxiety in check - when mammals are eating, it signals to their brain to remain calm. it's why so many people chew gum on plane rides, too.

[@RitchNotRich6]

Thank you for not doing “patrol carry” It really kills the realism when everyone behaves like they’re carrying m4s

[@rpetersobr]

Pretty cool... You even sound excited and that makes it even more interesting. You are good at this. When I can afford it this is someone worth donating to.

[@Frank-ni4bz]

Or as we used to say: 'Travel light, freeze at night.'

[@TheDanGuy]

Travel light, win the fight.

[@anthonygerace332]

One of my uncles was a 19-20 year old private in the 83rd Infantry Division. He was in combat almost continuously from June of 1944 until Germany surrendered in May of 1945. He never talked about it.

[@mr.zondide2746]

Ah, the old ‘he never talked about it’ trope. So dramatic. Then how did you know his record?

[@anthonygerace332]

@@mr.zondide2746 I appreciate your cynical sarcasm. Actually, I learned what unit he was in and what battles (notably Hurtgen Forest and the Bulge) reading some materials at his wake when he died in 2011. I'm sure that you know better though.

[@SunnyD20]

My grandmother’s uncle was an officer in the 83rd Division during ww2 and was responsible for capturing more than 30 POWs personally. After the war he stayed in the army to help train new soldiers. After he discharged he became a politician.

[@brianjones7660]

At 12:50…Toilet paper…don’t want to go without it….😂 good one…

[@bramborovygulas1049]

This is awesome. If this is the start to a new series I'm definitely subscribing.

[@Godlovesya-j4o]

"how many times have you watched this in the span of 2 days?" me: yes

[@sparrow3439]

Awesome video, loved this format

[@BendySendy]

dude this content is so awesome. Love these vids.

[@tzehr2617]

Great new series, thanks! Regarding your paperbacks, there’s an interesting book titled When Books Went To War that explains how and why the US created and distributed the paperback book as a morale booster for its troops. No other nation did this (or perhaps COULD do this) and troops of other nations were quite jealous. A happy byproduct is that many GIs were exposed to topics they wouldn’t normally seek out and interests and viewpoints were broadened.

[@tessat338]

Yes. Many books that we now consider modern 19th & 20th century classics, actually didn't do well when they were first published, but then were published and more widely distributed in this form. When the US military troops read them, they then shared them with friends, family, romantic partners, and passing strangers. This is how a lot of these books came into much wider exposure than they experienced at first. Guys would also get stuck for a time out in the field with copies of just a couple of books, so a group of troops would end up reading the same few books over and over. Sometimes they would talk about them with each other, since there wasn't much else to talk about other than the weather and where they thought maybe they were. A whole lot of fellows came back from the war much more bookish than they were when they went in. My grandfather never had more than a high school education, but he came back from the war in Europe with a life-long love of books, reading, and self-education. He encouraged all of his five sons to get their college degrees, which is not something that his own immigrant father would ever have encouraged.

[@tessat338]

One lesson that we can take from this "Greatest Generation" is that war service got a huge chunk of the population out of their local bubbles and insular echo chambers. They were forced to interact with and work together first, with Americans from all over the nation for whom they might have already had a prejudiced opinion, then with troops and civilians from all over the world. It certainly broadened their outlook and challenged their preconceptions.

[@jamesmac357]

It wasn't until 1950 that half of America graduated high school. The U.S. Army in the past was very big into self-education (autodidact) and the service would sponsor educational classes for soldiers to improve their reading, writing, and math skills: Mostly on bases, I wouldn't expect these in the battlefield. Today, this 21st century, if you cannot read at least at a 9th grade level, you cannot enter U.S. military service, because instruction manuals aren't comic books. I served the modern U.S. Air Force, and they push education in a big way; I took on-base classes taught by officers or hired teachers, and they teach at the college level: It was where I got my first computer theory instructions from an officer, whom was big into computer technology; I also got my first exposure to an education in literature, and the Air Force hired a teacher for it. Finally, the fact that the Army would publish books for your educational experience is expected for WW2, I'm glad to hear of it.

[@carseye1219]

Thank you. That was interesting. My dad and uncles served in WWII but they have all passed on. I was always interested in their war experiences. My one uncle served in the Pacific. He was a small man (5'5", 135 lbs). Their unit faced a lot of Japanese infiltrations at night and he was always afraid of being unable to whip his heavy M1 Garand around fast enough. He eventually switched to a carbine and had a pistol shipped to him by my grandfather. He felt safer then.

[@TunnelRatoscarmike]

Awesome content keep it up brother!

[@SamTheElectrician]

We (I’m retired infantry) also used to say travel light, freeze at night.

[@christianwilson5956]

Somehow the sleeping bag makes up half the weight and bulk of your pack every time.

[@Lo-tf6qt]

Fight light, suffer at night

[@sandovalperry2895]

Buttons or Snaps, that was the question you had to ask when you paired up shelter half’s. A lot of the Army’s equipment in Germany in the late 60’s and early 70’s for support units was left over junk, the new stuff going to Vietnam.

[@littleNorwegians]

11:47 Let's get that onto a tray

[@CmndrSalamander]

Nice

[@anthonykirsch6482]

I really like the new content brother. keep em coming

[@Blog4Justice]

Outstanding work. Greetings from Bristol, England.

[@kevensmith3041]

My grandfather was a 1st Sgt. with F Co 329th when the 83rd was formed at Camp Aternury and made to Zebst Germany. No many men went from A-Z as I was once told .He was twice wounded and his rag tag vehicle was a German truck

[@0nomanland0]

15:46 Sir we pulled you over for speeding, step out of the vehicle and take everything out of your pockets.

[@livinghistoryresourcecenter]

Great stuff! You should try looking into the 36th or the 45th to get an MTO impression going! And congrats on the Carbine purchase!

[@brodyanderson7516]

I would love to see a video on the 36th

[@cmarkn]

How about the complimentary series, “what they lost” of equipment that was generally issued that no one used?

[@andyoli75]

Great video. I've recently come across an unissued wool overcoat. 1946 issue. It is wild to see something from this era that was in storage for almost 80 years.

[@henrysara7716]

Grear video thank you.

[@MeadLumber]

My Great Grandpa was in the 83rd Infantry. He was wounded on Dec. 13 1944 by a German mortar round that airburst in some trees just days before the Battle of the Bulge. He was the man I looked up to growing up. He was awarded a Bronze Star that we didn't know about until he passed away. We still don't know what it was for.

[@Leofan123]

I really love your ww2 reenactment videos

[@thekidd7650]

This is an amazing video. Absolutely enthralled. Please do more!

[@stevesarmory]

Great video! I really liked this new video format!👍👍

[@silvercommander]

New subscriber. Excellent content.

[@josephguzicki9643]

Well done video and narrative. Your work continues to get better and better

[@howardoller443]

Thank you for the video. 3:09 - The reproduction radio is cute, but you should get the real deal because they look more period accurate. Also. if you can find an actual working vintage radio, reception is much better than the reproduction radio.

[@josephgonzales4802]

Very good and informative video. As a Civil war Union reenactor,most of the same can be said of soldiers from the Civil war. They carried a lot of ammo, water and a little food. They carried pretty much the same except WW2 G I. carried more because they had more. The Civil war soldiers too mostly discarded their knapsacks and rolled their personal belongings in a blanket roll and wore it over their shoulders. They carried very little and traveled light. They relied on their baggage train. As a US Army Infantry veteran I too travel light. You learn this the hard way. Everything adds up to pounds and every pound adds pain on the march. Some things never change. 😏👍

[@ThomasMckay-dn4tt]

My Dad was in the 75th infantry and had a German piece of shrapnel hit him in his coat pocket and get lodged in a can of food. That probably saved his life. He said they always traveled light so he could run faster. Proud member of F CO, 291st infantry.

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

It's shocking the similarities of what I carry in my ecd system and what they had. My girlfriend always says I carry around way too much stuff. Wet wipes, extra handgun ammo, pemican , nicotine pouches, water purification/ boiling system, first aid, poncho and much more. I guess they wouldn't have had a power bank but they had bookks instead. I wonder what my grandfather would say if he took a look through my modern pack.or even a commander. Very well deserved good sir. You have a new subscriber.

[@blitzer1907]

Please do more I’ve been waiting for this to be made!

[@thedeathwobblechannel6539]

Before the Advent of the internet I had two or three book articles about the troops would pile all of their packs with all their gear in the area before the battle as the advanced trucks would come along and pick up the piles of gear and try to get them to the correct troops. They did not constantly wear their pack with their shelter half and all that garbage with them. Read the book by Bill Malden called up front. Look at his illustrations and it will show is how the gear was handled in some instances anyway. In bill was a bonafide infantryman he knew what he was talking about

[@ComfortsSpecter]

Immaculate History Incredible work Just a little too Good of a series idea

[@WorldWarWisdom]

Thank you!

[@Trve_Kvlt]

This series would be perfect for collaboration with other reenactors/youtubers. Especially if they're reenactors for other countries or even other branches of the period.

[@jonnybobby7409]

Very good content ! Thanks for all the effort you put into these

[@atlanticrf]

As an infantryman of the 1960's, many items and habits were not that different. In fact, sometimes were were issued WW II equipment.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

The grunts in Fury are probably the best portrayal of G.I.s in Europe.

[@danielnavarro537]

“Ideals are peaceful. History is violent.”

[@WorldWarWisdom]

Great depiction of late war infantry. There were plenty of other issues with that movie, but they nailed the 1945 GI look

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

​

[@dannyhoward3437]

Indeed. Those were some salty looking Doughs in Fury. Not to be trifled with.

[@Un_soldat]

Cool to see one of my great grandpas divisions i remember opening up his leather suitcase filled with his army greens and getting his captured German bayonet, German officer insignia, German heavy anti aircraft insignia, Berreta m1934. And a part cut from a certain flag that I can’t say in KZbin comments…..

[@Noah-pb5ew]

Pls do this on the 1st marine division 🙏🙏 love the content and how frequent it is now

[@longrider42]

Ah yes, in the movie "Battleground" about the Battle of the Bulge, when supplies where being finally air dropped in. A soldier opens up a box of rations, looks at them, and with some disgust in his voice said "All Suppers" reason being, no coffee. ;) Still to this day, I have friends in the Army who live on coffee ;) Good video by the way. Oh, the one major difference the Gerand Rifle has over other Allied rifles, was it was semi automatic.

[@ArneMoen]

I spoke with an 83rd veteran. He said Battleground was the most accurate portrayal of the Battle of the Bulge.

[@tedfernyhough3759]

Very helpful. I’m a New Zealand collector and am just completing a late war U.S. Infantryman’s load out. It’s good to get confirmation that I’m making the correct purchases. Cheers.

[@1993soldierboy]

You mentioned the m1 garand sling. I think it would be interesting if you did a video, on all the different variations of the slings that were used on the rifle. Great video.

[@danielmiller2076]

It's great to see the Ohio Division featured in your video! My dad was a tank driver/supply clerk in the 83rd in the late 50s and early 60s. His service was extended due to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[@robertw4230]

I was In the Ohio 83rd, our unit patch has Ohio spelled on it , I believe it was deactivated around 1994 .

[@tripltred65]

This was amazing. Good work!!

[@warrenholmes3311]

I simply cannot stop watching!

[@Another.melon_playground-maker]

I like watching videos of reenactments and I'd love to see one in person I hope to see a video on the 3rd armored division because that's what my great-grandfather was in

[@JoshuaMulhollan-e9t]

Great job, keep the content coming I love the history.

[@petekambe3279]

This showed up for me because I had interest in a man named Makoto Yoshihara. He was a Japanese American that somehow ended up with the 83rd and was killed in action as a medic "winning" a bronze star (almost all Japanese Americans served with the 442nd RCT or in the Pacific as Interpreters (almost because after all, it is the army). The 83rd organization had the grace to enhance his find a grave page with information. In these times it is touching that they took the time to do that for someone insignicant.

[@danielpusey4861]

This... This... this is brilliant. We've needed something like this for a long time. A proper reenactor showing exactly what kit was used by which divisions. Can I request a mid war Infantry division loadout, maybe 28th? Great work!

[@Mike-rx3mn]

Sooooo, like 1 minute into the video, your troops are lighting up. I was in the Air Force about 35 years ago and one of the worst chewing-outs I ever saw was when a guy tried to help out a couple buddies, in the middle of a snowstorm in Alaska by letting them use his lighter. This Airman got his butt chewed up one side and down another and his friends had to watch. Afterward, they always carried their own lighters and this was 1980, peacetime, but the sergeant wasn't going to have his troops picking up bad habits that could get them killed and had gotten many troops killed in the past. Hell, I didn't even smoke and I always carried my own Zippo and still do today, and like this was an exercise during peace. 3 on a match, or lighter, bad habit. So I guess my question is are soldiers still superstitious?

[@joewalker2152]

There's an old British saying from the great war about three lights (of cigarettes) from one match/lighter. Weather its true or not I don't know but it went "first light grabs the snipers attention, second light he zeros in, and the third light he takes a shot"

[@christianwilson5956]

Soldiers are definitely still superstitious. I think the main issue with multiple men lighting up on the same lighter is that you are bunched up while exposing yourself with the flame. This makes you an easy target as well as being more vulnerable if artillery hits since a single round can kill the whole bunch.

[@DHunt-w2h]

Nope that was Alaska. You cannot lighten up your gear. If you do, then mother nature will turn into a homicidal maniac. So yeah, I to would have gone ballistic if my Airman didn't pack what was in my pack list.

[@Mike-rx3mn]

@@DHunt-w2h Nawh, I took one of the Moors Kohanski classes over the summer, we would walk out in the forest in the middle of the winter with a pack the size of a lunch box and be able to walk out a week later. My Sargents thing was bad habits and training, 3 on a match is bad luck and gives bad guys time to focus on us. He always made sure to take new troops to Fort Rich and show them the memorial of all the soldiers who had such excessive training in winter exercises that were sent to Vietnam without having jungle training that got slaughtered during the conflict in south east asia. The military at the time didn't think we needed any training except what our AFSC called for, and they didn't want us knowing more so we wouldn't try to change jobs and do something more exciting than being a medic at the hospital 902 which was basically a cna today, or a clerk. They didn't want us to get ideas or want to strive to be better, thank god that's changed

[@jonesperkins1382]

Remember, if you already have your Zippo lit. You might as well ask around and see if anybody else wants a light instead of making everybody dig their lighters out, and put more wear and tear on them. . PS I'm a non-smoker and I always carry a lighter on me. Because, you never know.

[@juststuff1001]

Im a reenactor and i wanna know where is that group is at 0:30 ? Thanks !

[@OdinTaskforceAirsoft]

Loved this video. Would like to see this for other units too :)

[@0887114a]

Nice series!!!

[@seanr2968]

Great video - you have great knowledge and communicate it with superb skill - keep it up!

[@twostep1953]

Except for changing to man-made materials (and a folding metal handle for the entrenching tool), what you describe is what we were wearing in 1978. I still have mine; I bought it new so I wouldn't have to keep arguing with Supply while trying to turn in equipment every time I transferred. I checked out equipment when I got to a new base; then kept it in storage and turned it back in later. Instead of clips, the bandoleers held cardboard sleeves with 10 bullets each in two stripper-clips (120 total), and each bandoleer came with an attachment that held the clips as you pushed the bullets into a magazine. We had a MUCH larger rucksack, but carried a butt-pack for food and such. The newer, plastic, canteen is useless when it gets so cold (Korea 1978) that it turns into an icicle; a metal one can be warmed up. And the newer canteen cup has thin metal rods which will flex on you and burn your hands. So I went to a G.I. Surplus store and bought the better, old canteen and cup. Do NOT put drink flavors in a metal canteen, unless you want to taste that forever. I never ate a warmed-up C-ration in my career; always cold and from the can. And I still have my mess kit (again, private purchase); I never could understand why they made the spoon so damn big it barely fits in your mouth. If you don't tape up your P-38 on your dog-tag chain, it will eventually open up and slice you. I have a "demo" (Combat Engineer demolition / explosives / detonation-cord) knife; extremely useful and includes a can-opener.

[@allanburt5250]

Excellent work thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing more

[@paddy.7784]

Well done . Thanks for sharing, and appreciate the effort you have put into this.

[@johnaulenbach8285]

Great job! Especially, in educating others about the "Ragtag Circus".

[@salernototo]

solid work and great to see a well thought out late war impression. My Grandfather was an infantry replacement in the 90th and fought his way across Germany into Czechia. He stuffed his gas mask bag with gear and loot as part of his "combat load". Seconds count, so the faster you can move, the better. I suggest adding a few fuel tablets to your load out so you have something to easily heat coffee and rations.

[@danieljosiahcotton]

This is going to be a sweet series. Looking forward to it

[@skylongskylong1982]

Another superb video. I believe to find answers today , look back in the past history for how to solve problems. I was in the Reserves for over twenty years, and during that time period the equipment we carried increased by least 50% . The past WW2 equipment carried might provide some answers for today, and tomorrow.

[@ilayneeman]

Hey, I wanted to ask what is the first step of becoming a reenactor? because I would like to become one.

[@nobodyshereanymore]

A sleeping bag like that could make a half decent sleeping pad and you can put stuff in it like folded clothes or something too

[@warlord2pfa]

Good video. Keep working on that harmonica. You'll be playing on Broadway before you know it.😉😁

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Very informative & interesting ❤🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@ronbenoreiv1628]

This is a awesome series can you do the 66th infantry division for my great uncle who passed during ww2

[@moorshound3243]

This is great, thanks for posting.

[@oneeyejeff6809]

Great Vid! Thanks! 1 question: No Hanky or Bandanas?

[@trainknut]

You should do one of these for the 29th Infantry in 1944, they're one of the more popular and well-known units for good reason, but I don't know of many channels that have discussed the gear they used. Another one you could do is the 2nd Armored Infantry with their camo HBTs, again, a well known unit, but not well-discussed.

[@davestelling]

Marvelous tribute, well done...

[@fightertales]

Excellent work. I used to reenact the Fox Company of the 329th over 10 years ago. The unit dissolved but I still have all the kit ready to go for an event should the time come.

[@kevensmith3041]

My grandfather was 1st Sgt with F Co 329th

[@N_Wheeler]

4:56 and 10:39 What is the 1st Sergeant doing if his troops do not have their packs overnight for 'days at a time'?

[@thatwwiiguy2566]

Let’s gooo the goat has uploaded Hey you should do a 89th infantry division during the Moselle river crossing March 16 1945 that’s what my grandpa was in during ww2 But for real man i kinda get tired of all the German videos and we never get enough American stuff Your great dude

[@billietyree2214]

You could be a bit more realistic, that BAR had a closed bolt. It was so obvious.

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

My dad was a sapper in the Commonwealth Canadian army during the second world war his brother my uncle was in the artillery in Italy, both 44 to 47

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Uncle Harry was deployed earlier 43 possibly

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Dad was deployed North west Europe according to his service record discharged honourably

[@bob101579]

Something I’ve always wondered about ww2 is sustainment. when I was a grunt in the marines we would carry 7 to 14 days of supplies to live in the field. Hygiene, clothes, sleeping system everything so I always wondered if those guys just roughed it more or what?