12-223 garand Picture of the Day - U.S.Troops in Normandy

[Mark in Rochester]

looks to be about 10:30 AM



Army troops on board a LCT, ready to ride across the English Channel to France. Some of these men wear 101st Airborne Division insignia.
Photograph released 12 June 1944.

Information

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[Sarge1998]

It looks like a grenade in the front ammo pouch of the guy in picture #1, maybe also in his first aid pouch?

[browningautorifle]

The front cartridge belt pouch? That looks like a little bottle when enlarged...I though maybe bore dope? His Carlisle pouch seems to be left open. Can't see it too well.

[Sarge1998]

The front cartridge belt pouch? That looks like a little bottle when enlarged...I though maybe bore dope? His Carlisle pouch seems to be left open. Can't see it too well.

Okay, I just tried, a grenade won't fit in the ammo pouch (at least not mine, maybe a stretched out & well used one) but it will fit in the Carlisle, hopefully it was an extra and he still had another Carlisle around back; a bottle does make more sense. Now look at the guy on the left's shirt pockets, there's something heavy in there, more bottles? It's fun to closely analyze these old photo's for the unorthodox uses of items when in theater.

[browningautorifle]

Hard to say. The things I saw the troops carry in their pockets was unreal. Lots of useless junk. Whatever it is, it's a bit heavy...taxing the button a bit.

[Mark in Rochester]

I say it is a bottle of calvados- Calvados (French pronunciation: [kal.va.dos]) is an apple brandy from the French region of Lower Normandy (Basse-Normandie). It is sometimes abbreviated to Calva.

[browningautorifle]

I've heard that stuff carried a real wollop...from the guys that it was poured for. Never thought of that...

[ABPOS]

Guy on the right has different trousers than the two on the left. But same shirt. Officer? Nice picture!

[Bill Hollinger]

His are wools. No epaulettes so not likely an officer.