WWII Medic: Medical Research and Reproductions

This is the first in an ongoing series of photographic analysis posts. WWII is the first war where lots of candid photography was created for both public information (propoganda) purposes as well as historical record. Regardless, it all has value to reenactors and historians.

The photo I selected here is one of my favorites. It’s from the 1st Infantry Division’s history website and shows predominately 1st ID soldiers during Operation Overlord. I’ve provided the full-size “untainted” photograph below, as well as one that I’ve marked up with numbers of interesting things that I’ve found. These numbers, of course, correspond to the key.

Finally, feel free to add your own observations in the comments.

A large group of American assault troops of the 3d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st U.S. Infantry Division, having gained the comparative safety offered by the chalk cliff at their backs, takes a breather before moving onto the continent at Colville-Sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, in Normandy, France. Medics who landed with the men treat them for minor injuries.

American Troops on Omaha Beach, number key in the post

1. This appears to be a red-cross brassard implying that this soldier is a medic
2. Instead of a medic yoke, he is wearing a fully-loaded invasion vest
3. To carry his medical bags with the invasion vest, he put a strap on the bag an slung it across his chest/shoulder
4. His canteen is the earlier style with an aluminum cap instead of a bakelite cap.
5. Helmet net and scrim on a medic
6. M1 Carbine M1A1 Carbine (notice the folding stock)
7. These two soldiers appear to be with a completely different unit. They appear to have different jackets, their pants have cargo pockets, and they aren’t wearing helmet nets and scrim like most everyone else.
8. If I was going to venture I guess, I’d say this soldier is an officer. He’s carrying a combat knife and a pair of binoculars.
9. This guy’s shoulder patch says he’s with the 29th Infantry Division
10. This corporal is wearing the chinstrap for his helmet. He obviously didn’t get the memo
11. I could be wrong — it could be the lighting — but it appears as if his cartridge belt is OD7 instead of OD3
12. US Navy life belts, inflated
13. The medical equipment bags on this guy and his pose would suggest he’s a medic working on someone that the photographer decided to crop out of the photo. His equipment bags are clipped right to his pistol belt, which is buckled over top of his jacket
14. His canteen is attached to his pistol belt at the very back, which is causing his entrenching shovel to tangle with it. I’m not sure I would appreciate this set-up in combat — my guess is he will change that configuration pretty quick.
15. This doesn’t look like it’s carrying a mess kit — if anything at all.
16. Wooden box, possibly with padding of some sort inside… No idea exactly this is, but it’s highly likely that it is delicate medical supplies. Ideas?

I’m sure you can find something I missed, so let’s hear it. Also, if you have any ideas about number 7 and number 16, I’d be really interested to hear about what you know