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The Premier Northeast World War II Ranger Living History Association |
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CHARLIE COMPANY The
5th Ranger Footwear
Since the beginning of World War II living history and partially due to
smash Hollywood hits such as “Saving Private Ryan”, there has been
much public debate as to what the correct footwear for a Ranger
interpretation would be. First, each of the individual six World War II
Ranger Battalions had their own standards as to what was worn in the
field. This article is written strictly in the interests of what the 5th
Rangers wore. Please enjoy the article, and remember, stick to the 90/10
rule! Background:
A Brief Intro to World War II Ranger Boots (1941-1945)
Service
Shoes & Cut-Downs: The Type II Garrison Boot and Leggings in use by
the 5th Rangers
The
basic, stateside issue boot of the Infantryman in World War II was the
Type II russet cap-toed service shoe. This combat shoe was worn in
conjunction with M1938 dismounted leggings made from the same OD#3 canvas
that was used for web gear. The basic issue boot that was given to the men
of the 5th Rangers
at Camp Forrest were two pairs of Type II service shoes. In following the
tradition of Darby’s Rangers, all original photos (which number very
few) of 5th Rangers in service shoes, show drastically cut-down
dismounted leggings. This was done for style, and some claim, for comfort.
Most leggings appear to be cut to twelve or ten eyelets in height, leaving
them as short spats, and were usually left raw-edged.
It can be assumed that some of the nattier dressers in the Battalion
rebound the edges of their shortened leggings to prevent the duck from
fraying. This was the boot worn stateside, and there are a few very clear
photos of 5th Rangers wearing these shoes and leggings
overseas. For our living history interpretation, this should be kept to an
absolute minimum, but can indeed be done on occasion by very few members. "Our
Ranger Boots": Regulation U.S. Army Parachutist Boots in use by the
5th Rangers
This
is the boot associated with the 5th Ranger Battalion in the
European Theatre. The tall, brown jump boots, made by makers such as
Corcoran and Goodyear, were handsome, practical, and a mark of
distinction…much to the dismay of the Paratroopers of the 82nd
and 101st Divisions. It should be noted that the men of the 5th
Ranger Battalion referred to these boots not as jump boots, but rather as
their Ranger boots! Upon completion of Ranger training, the 5th
Ranger Battalion was issued these boots en masse. Original jump boots were
issued with flat 72’ inch brown, waxed laces. Once in combat, or
purchased through a PX, acceptable replacement laces consisted of waxed or
brown dyed rawhide laces and rarely brown cotton tubular laces or
parachute chord.
The actual issue date of these boots is, to our best collective
knowledge, is unknown. Some veteran documentation claims that the jump
boots were issued in New Jersey before shipping overseas, while other
accounts point to the boots being issued in England and still others claim
the boots were issued as late as in the marshalling area for the invasion.
One, two, or perhaps all theories are correct. Remember, supply lines were
very long and jump boots were at the bottom of the priority list for the
Normandy invasion. Regardless, photographs on D-Day show the 99% majority
of the 5th Ranger Battalion proudly wearing polished jump
boots. The
Hated Combat Boots (Mark of a Replacement): M1943 "Two-Buckle"
Combat Boots in use by the 5th Rangers
In
1943, the Army released a new Combat Boot that would replace the Type II
Service Shoes and Rough-out Shoes as well as the need for canvas leggings.
The M1943 "-Two-Buckle" or "Double-Buckle" boot was
first tested in theatre by some elements of the 3rd Infantry Division and
was fairly well received. With their elite status, the 5th Rangers would
continue to wear their jump boots throughout combat, and when the supply
train finally caught up to them in 1945, according to C/5th Ranger veteran
Thomas Herring, ETO command tried to issue the 5th Rangers a new pair of
combat boots. This was not well received as more jump boots were
preferred. Late-war period photographs tend to show no use to very minimal
at all of these combat boots. One studio photograph clearly shows one 5th
Ranger wearing two-buckle boots, but this is hardly enough evidence for
one to utilized these in a recreated interpretation. By all means, for
later war events, the jump boot should still be utilized.
The trademark of the 5th Ranger Battalion uniform is undoubtedly the brown parachutist boots. Unlike only a few years ago, living historians today have several options of where to buy very high-quality reproductions of these boots. Though they may take a bit of pain to break in, jump boots will undoubtedly become the living historian's best friend. As was in 1944, they provide support, comfort, and an easier march. That being said, they are also attractive boots and should always be polished and maintained. Even in field conditions, these boots were marks of distinction and should be worn as such: with pride!! So, in closing, for an interpretation as a 5th Ranger Infantryman, one must wear World War II jump boots. Works
Cited -U.S.
Army Heritage and Education Center at Carlisle, Pennsylvania Written by Thomas Edmund Frost, 2007 Revised with Added Photographs on July 12, 2007. Compendium
managed by Thomas E. Frost |
