Book Review of
G I Collector’s Guide Vol. 2
U.S. Army Service Forces Catalog,
Theatre of Operations
Author: Henri-Paul Enjames
Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 978-1-63624-203-3
ISBN: 978-1-63624-203-3
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $69.95
Copyright: 2022
MSRP: $69.95
THE BOOK:
Casemate is both a publisher of their own line of books and a distributor of other company’s books. They are located in Havertown, PA.
This book is hard-bound of 276 pages (4 pages are blank) in 9” x 12” page format.
The cover art is divided into four squares. The upper left square is red. It has a color photo of a cigarette lighter and a Purple Heart wound award badge on it. The upper right square is white. It has a color photo on it of an officer’s hat, a bottle of Royal Crown cola, a sack of Beech-Nut chewing tobacco and a pair of shoes on it. The lower left square has a color photo of a olive-drab canvas assault vest, with 6 pockets on it, posed against a dark background. The square on the lower right shows a black and white photo of 3 soldiers in a pill-box. Two are manning a machine gun and the third man is looking through a pair of binoculars.
The back cover shows 3 squares. The square on the left at the top shows a color photo of a German eagle insignia band, a baseball game wood award plaque and a fighting knife that has brass knuckles on it and its scabbard against a white background. In the square at the right of the top there is a black and white photo of a long line of soldiers on a pier, getting ready to board a troop ship.. On the red square on the lower right there is are color photos three posters and a camera. Also shown is a color photo of the cover art of Vol. 1 of GI Collector’s Guide book.
The U.S. Army of WWII supplied its soldiers with the most modern equipment and uniforms, suitable for any combat situation, but also seemingly anything else they might require, from waterproof matchboxes and collapsible canteens to handkerchiefs and sunglasses.
This comprehensive reference book brings together all variations of uniforms, insignia, badges, weapons and equipment issued to American soldiers in the European Theater of Operations, 1943-45. Each item is presented with its catalog numbers, described in detail and fully depicted in photographs, including close-ups of the labels to aid identification of the items.
Graphics and diagrams offer additional information and context. This second volume of the GI Collector’s Guide includes personal equipment, trophies and souvenirs, the wartime draft and stateside training and the life of POWs in German prison camps. It features over one thousand additional and supplementary artifacts with detailed captions.
As a complete catalog, with high-quality photos, this book is invaluable to both family historians researching grandpa’s kit found in the attic and to assist collectors in their quest to find authentic items among the reproductions that flood the modern market.
This book holds a thousand or more color photos and 28 black and white photos. Consisting of 24 chapters.
The TABLE OF CONTENTS and FORWARD pages show 9 pins with blue stars on them. The amount of stars on them tell how many men in a family are servicemen. There is a bracelet with stars on it too and a flag with one star that is hung in a house window of their home.
The INTRODUCTION page has a long listing of the names of infantry divisions order of battle 1944. Also a short list for the 10th Mountain Division, the Airborne Division and the Armored Division, all in 1944.
The WARTIME DRAFT section has 11 color posters asking for volunteers, 19 documents, 2 foot measuring sets,
The TRAINING CAMPS section has documents, a practice grenade, newspaper headlines, sandals, wood foot locker, a folding bed, dog tags, various religious medals, identity cards, a lieutenant’s and a captains metal insignias. Color photos of 4 candies (Hersheys, Walnettos, Overland Candies sour balls and Choclettos brands), 6 cans of pipe tobacco (Granger, Velvet, Edgeworth, Half-Half and George Washington brands), 6 boxes of pipe and cigarette tobacco (2 of Half-Half brand, Prince Albert, Edgeworth, Union Leader and Kentucky Club brands), a pipe, Dill’s brand pipe cleaners and a box of B & W brand cigarette papers. Fifteen cartons of cigarettes (4 Lucky Strikes, 4 Phillip Morris, 2 Chesterfield, 1 Golden Lane, 1 Old Gold, 1 Walnut, 1 Pall Mall, 1 Kool and 2 Raleigh.
Seven boxes of brushless shaving lotion (Molle, 2 of Barbasol, Burma Shave, Mennen, Williams Glider brands). Three boxes of soap bars (a brand-less one, Mirror Trench and Camay) Nola brand toilet soap and shampoo. Ammen’s brand wash powder, a tooth brush and 4 cases of Milk-i-Dent dental cream.
A razor, blades, shaving brushes. Cloth pennants for U.S. Army Camp, Lee Va and Fort Bragg N.C. a pillowcase with Camp Howze Texas on it, a pink woman’s apron with U.S. Army Remember Me on it, 3 cloth badges, one with Remember Me USA on it, one with Sweetheart USA on it and one with an eagle and U.S.A. on it, 2 cloth squares with crossed signal flags on them, one with a U.S. flag and circle of white stars on it, 2 badges with eagles on them.
Three cloth field hats, neck chains with army insignias on them, a statue of a pregnant gal, a pair of shorts that say Shoot the Pants of the Japanazi over U.S. Army on the butt. A Buy War Bonds button, a sword and its scabbard, a M1903 rifle and its wood case.
Casemate is both a publisher of their own line of books and a distributor of other company’s books. They are located in Havertown, PA.
This book is hard-bound of 276 pages (4 pages are blank) in 9” x 12” page format.
The cover art is divided into four squares. The upper left square is red. It has a color photo of a cigarette lighter and a Purple Heart wound award badge on it. The upper right square is white. It has a color photo on it of an officer’s hat, a bottle of Royal Crown cola, a sack of Beech-Nut chewing tobacco and a pair of shoes on it. The lower left square has a color photo of a olive-drab canvas assault vest, with 6 pockets on it, posed against a dark background. The square on the lower right shows a black and white photo of 3 soldiers in a pill-box. Two are manning a machine gun and the third man is looking through a pair of binoculars.
The back cover shows 3 squares. The square on the left at the top shows a color photo of a German eagle insignia band, a baseball game wood award plaque and a fighting knife that has brass knuckles on it and its scabbard against a white background. In the square at the right of the top there is a black and white photo of a long line of soldiers on a pier, getting ready to board a troop ship.. On the red square on the lower right there is are color photos three posters and a camera. Also shown is a color photo of the cover art of Vol. 1 of GI Collector’s Guide book.
The U.S. Army of WWII supplied its soldiers with the most modern equipment and uniforms, suitable for any combat situation, but also seemingly anything else they might require, from waterproof matchboxes and collapsible canteens to handkerchiefs and sunglasses.
This comprehensive reference book brings together all variations of uniforms, insignia, badges, weapons and equipment issued to American soldiers in the European Theater of Operations, 1943-45. Each item is presented with its catalog numbers, described in detail and fully depicted in photographs, including close-ups of the labels to aid identification of the items.
Graphics and diagrams offer additional information and context. This second volume of the GI Collector’s Guide includes personal equipment, trophies and souvenirs, the wartime draft and stateside training and the life of POWs in German prison camps. It features over one thousand additional and supplementary artifacts with detailed captions.
As a complete catalog, with high-quality photos, this book is invaluable to both family historians researching grandpa’s kit found in the attic and to assist collectors in their quest to find authentic items among the reproductions that flood the modern market.
This book holds a thousand or more color photos and 28 black and white photos. Consisting of 24 chapters.
The TABLE OF CONTENTS and FORWARD pages show 9 pins with blue stars on them. The amount of stars on them tell how many men in a family are servicemen. There is a bracelet with stars on it too and a flag with one star that is hung in a house window of their home.
The INTRODUCTION page has a long listing of the names of infantry divisions order of battle 1944. Also a short list for the 10th Mountain Division, the Airborne Division and the Armored Division, all in 1944.
The WARTIME DRAFT section has 11 color posters asking for volunteers, 19 documents, 2 foot measuring sets,
The TRAINING CAMPS section has documents, a practice grenade, newspaper headlines, sandals, wood foot locker, a folding bed, dog tags, various religious medals, identity cards, a lieutenant’s and a captains metal insignias. Color photos of 4 candies (Hersheys, Walnettos, Overland Candies sour balls and Choclettos brands), 6 cans of pipe tobacco (Granger, Velvet, Edgeworth, Half-Half and George Washington brands), 6 boxes of pipe and cigarette tobacco (2 of Half-Half brand, Prince Albert, Edgeworth, Union Leader and Kentucky Club brands), a pipe, Dill’s brand pipe cleaners and a box of B & W brand cigarette papers. Fifteen cartons of cigarettes (4 Lucky Strikes, 4 Phillip Morris, 2 Chesterfield, 1 Golden Lane, 1 Old Gold, 1 Walnut, 1 Pall Mall, 1 Kool and 2 Raleigh.
Seven boxes of brushless shaving lotion (Molle, 2 of Barbasol, Burma Shave, Mennen, Williams Glider brands). Three boxes of soap bars (a brand-less one, Mirror Trench and Camay) Nola brand toilet soap and shampoo. Ammen’s brand wash powder, a tooth brush and 4 cases of Milk-i-Dent dental cream.
A razor, blades, shaving brushes. Cloth pennants for U.S. Army Camp, Lee Va and Fort Bragg N.C. a pillowcase with Camp Howze Texas on it, a pink woman’s apron with U.S. Army Remember Me on it, 3 cloth badges, one with Remember Me USA on it, one with Sweetheart USA on it and one with an eagle and U.S.A. on it, 2 cloth squares with crossed signal flags on them, one with a U.S. flag and circle of white stars on it, 2 badges with eagles on them.
Three cloth field hats, neck chains with army insignias on them, a statue of a pregnant gal, a pair of shorts that say Shoot the Pants of the Japanazi over U.S. Army on the butt. A Buy War Bonds button, a sword and its scabbard, a M1903 rifle and its wood case.
Uniform section:
Enlisted man’s cloth side cap, 3 overcoats, shirt, pants, t-shirt, socks, 2 posters, 2 jackets, raincoat with hood, hobnailed shoes, buckle-up shoes, officer’s blouse, pants, belt, 2 jackets, belt buckles, socks, shoes and 2 billed dress hats. Scarf, overcoats, shorts, pants, 2 different assault vests, 4 types of high boots.
Individual Equipment section:
Belts and suspenders, canvas pouches, canteens in cloth pouches, axe and 2 spades with canvas pouches, 6 variations of bayonets with their scabbards, 10 variations of canvas sacks, a compass, flash lights, battery, lamp bulbs.
Weapons section:
Pistol holsters and accessories, M-1 Carbine accessories and storage pack, M-1902 carbine storage and accessories, Thompson sub machine gun storage and accessories, Mortar storage bags, .30 caliber Browning machine gun ammo can, pouches and accessories and tools, binoculars, watch, compass, canvas pouches.
Anti-aircraft Artillery section:
Repair kit, goggles, manuals,
Life on the Post section:
Water purification kit, canvas coal storage bag, 2 different gas lanterns, war dog leashes, manuals, dog delousing equipment, barber’s equipment and smock, marking sets, leather care supplies, button polish, whisk brush, sewing kit equipment, toilet items, dog tags, briefcase, ink, pencil sharpener, blush for cleaning a typewriter, erasers, pencil leads, fountain pens, postcards, cloth snap shot holders, stationary, greeting cards,
The Armored Force section:
Greeting cards, 2 leather helmets, 4 types of hoods, overalls, jacket, jodhpur pants,
Airborne Troops section:
4 different medal insignias, 3 tubes of camouflage paste, compass, phosphorescent disk, recognition scarf, clicker, U.S. flag arm band, 4 pen knives, fighting knife with brass knuckles on it, 3 variants of compasses, canvas sacks and suspenders.
Mountain Troops section:
Four cloth unit badges, 8 metal badge insignias, documents, foot locker, bronze star medal in case, black cloth side cap, dagger in scabbard, cloth arrow head shaped badge with white USA over CANADA on it, cloth billed cap, goggles and a case with of 10 of them, 2 types of face masks, fur caps, hooded jackets, socks, 2 pairs of shoes, instruction book, ski wax cans, wood crate, 2 jack knives, canvas sacks.
Female Personnel section:
Insignia badge, identity card, nurse’s cap, dog tags, full length nurse’s dress, skirt, blouse, cloth billed cap, phonograph record, song book, rosary beads, cloth insignia, metal pin, nurses uniform of white apron over blue blouse, officer’s hat, 2 variants of dress blouses, dark blue skirt, striped blouse, dark overcoat, bracelet, cigarette lighter, hand bags, postcards, data, olive drab evening dress, red dress, black bra, olive drab pants, sweater and socks, light tan jacket and skirt, olive drab dress blouse, grey officer’s cloth billed cap, handkerchiefs, jackets, 4 variants of over coats with hoods, leggings, shoes, toilet-trees, sun glasses.
Military Police section:
Posters, metal insignia of crossed pistols, documents, hand-cuffs, rope, belt, shotgun, safe conduct documents, prisoner of war identity papers, black and white prisoner of war jackets with white PW on them.
Army Rations section:
Menus, 8 bottles of colas (Red Rock, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Royal Crown, 7 Up, Canada Dry, Nehi and Sun Spot brands). Six bottles of beer (Fort Pitt, Golden Gate, Rheingold, Pickwick, Ballantine. Croft, Valley Forge, Piels, Schlitz, Schmidt's, Ruppert and Country Club brands). A can of Planters peanuts, a gasoline stove, wrench and spare parts for it, mess kit and tools, smoking supplies, can of coffee, can of evaporated milk (Libby’s brand), cans of water purification tablets, box of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, variants of chewing gums, cigarettes, tobacco, pipe, cigars, matches and a lighter.
Engineer Equipment section:
Documents, altimeter and its case, aerial photo interpreter glasses, magnifying stereoscope, wood case, rubber raft and paddle, dynamite plunger and its storage box, explosives and their boxes.
Army Signals section:
Postcards, signal flags, canvas sacks, belts, tools, telephones, wire, printer machine, documents, 3 different clocks, code practice equipments, radios, frequency meters, tuner unit, time interval unit and case, flash cameras.
Protection Against Gas Attack section:
Instruction sheets, gas masks, goggles, canvas pouches, mustard gas detection unit and its case and instructions, water testing set, gas alarm stick, olive drab jacket and pants, complete body coveralls with hood, decontamination spray bottles, canvas sacks, flame-thrower and its harness.
The Medical Department section:
Documents, hypodermic sets, canvas patient litter, stomach tube apparatus, box of wood tongue depressors, metal bed patients basin, adhesive tape, sulfur ointment, glass eye droppers, stethoscope, set of medical tools in canvas sack, 2 burner stove, sterilizing oven, syringes and needles, cleaners and polishes, sun glasses, abrasive powder, several more canvas sacks of medical instruments, wet arm dressing, scalpel blades, operation room smock with hat and carry bag, surgical gloves, blood pressure meter, watch, white tunic, crutches, urinal, pillow, olive drab jacket, scissors, chlorine test set, nurses hat, veterinary service tools in sack, thermometers, prophylactics.
Army Chaplains section:
Medal insignia, greeting card, Jewish medal and protestant cross medal, wood chest, folding wood desk with typewriter, steel helmet with cross on it, 2 different protestant neck sashes, white band with red cross on it, marriage certificates, wood chest of hymnals, phonograph records, metal crosses, cups, candelabra, black flag and pennant with white cross on them 2 wood crosses, 6 different altar equipment sets in carrying cases, identity card for one priest, service books, rosary beads, monstrance and its case, catholic chaplains set, suitcase full of vestments, jewish scarfs and cloth with Star of David insignia on it, prayer books.
Publications:
Instruction manuals for various things, language translator books, postcards, greeting cards, data sheets, identity cards.
Sports and Recreation section:
Baseball uniform shirt, baseball gloves, baseball wood award plaque, posters, tennis racket, playing cards, poker chips, chess and checker boards, bingo game set, roulette wheel set, dice, camera, leaflets advertising various things,
Personal Items section:
Rings, bracelets, sun glasses, identity cards, foreign and U.S. paper currency, dog tags, lengths of chains and rope, data.
American POWs section:
Air mail blank forms, news letter, wood storage box, money chits, prisoner’s photo, 3 U.S. unit cloth badges, brass U.S. uniform buttons, American flag, documents.
Souvenirs & Trophies section:
A souvenir of France is a pipe rack, pair of lighters made from .50 cal ammo rounds, matchbox and ashtray made by 91st Field Artillery man, a reproduction in wood of the famous Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris on top of a cigarette dispenser that has Germany carved into its side, an metal ashtray in the shape of a well, made from a spent 105mm ammo round, a British coin that has been soldered atop a .50 cal ammo round, 2 bayonets.
Homecoming & Discharge section:
5 black and white photos of soldiers returning home to the USA, red armband with yellow TPN. CORPS. U.S.A. on it worn by transportation corps troops, discharge papers and documents, posters, veterans medal pins.
The end of the book holds a one page ABBREVIATIONS list, six page INDEX, one page BIBLIOGRAPHY and a one page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. All their books can be viewed on their website at:
Enlisted man’s cloth side cap, 3 overcoats, shirt, pants, t-shirt, socks, 2 posters, 2 jackets, raincoat with hood, hobnailed shoes, buckle-up shoes, officer’s blouse, pants, belt, 2 jackets, belt buckles, socks, shoes and 2 billed dress hats. Scarf, overcoats, shorts, pants, 2 different assault vests, 4 types of high boots.
Individual Equipment section:
Belts and suspenders, canvas pouches, canteens in cloth pouches, axe and 2 spades with canvas pouches, 6 variations of bayonets with their scabbards, 10 variations of canvas sacks, a compass, flash lights, battery, lamp bulbs.
Weapons section:
Pistol holsters and accessories, M-1 Carbine accessories and storage pack, M-1902 carbine storage and accessories, Thompson sub machine gun storage and accessories, Mortar storage bags, .30 caliber Browning machine gun ammo can, pouches and accessories and tools, binoculars, watch, compass, canvas pouches.
Anti-aircraft Artillery section:
Repair kit, goggles, manuals,
Life on the Post section:
Water purification kit, canvas coal storage bag, 2 different gas lanterns, war dog leashes, manuals, dog delousing equipment, barber’s equipment and smock, marking sets, leather care supplies, button polish, whisk brush, sewing kit equipment, toilet items, dog tags, briefcase, ink, pencil sharpener, blush for cleaning a typewriter, erasers, pencil leads, fountain pens, postcards, cloth snap shot holders, stationary, greeting cards,
The Armored Force section:
Greeting cards, 2 leather helmets, 4 types of hoods, overalls, jacket, jodhpur pants,
Airborne Troops section:
4 different medal insignias, 3 tubes of camouflage paste, compass, phosphorescent disk, recognition scarf, clicker, U.S. flag arm band, 4 pen knives, fighting knife with brass knuckles on it, 3 variants of compasses, canvas sacks and suspenders.
Mountain Troops section:
Four cloth unit badges, 8 metal badge insignias, documents, foot locker, bronze star medal in case, black cloth side cap, dagger in scabbard, cloth arrow head shaped badge with white USA over CANADA on it, cloth billed cap, goggles and a case with of 10 of them, 2 types of face masks, fur caps, hooded jackets, socks, 2 pairs of shoes, instruction book, ski wax cans, wood crate, 2 jack knives, canvas sacks.
Female Personnel section:
Insignia badge, identity card, nurse’s cap, dog tags, full length nurse’s dress, skirt, blouse, cloth billed cap, phonograph record, song book, rosary beads, cloth insignia, metal pin, nurses uniform of white apron over blue blouse, officer’s hat, 2 variants of dress blouses, dark blue skirt, striped blouse, dark overcoat, bracelet, cigarette lighter, hand bags, postcards, data, olive drab evening dress, red dress, black bra, olive drab pants, sweater and socks, light tan jacket and skirt, olive drab dress blouse, grey officer’s cloth billed cap, handkerchiefs, jackets, 4 variants of over coats with hoods, leggings, shoes, toilet-trees, sun glasses.
Military Police section:
Posters, metal insignia of crossed pistols, documents, hand-cuffs, rope, belt, shotgun, safe conduct documents, prisoner of war identity papers, black and white prisoner of war jackets with white PW on them.
Army Rations section:
Menus, 8 bottles of colas (Red Rock, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Royal Crown, 7 Up, Canada Dry, Nehi and Sun Spot brands). Six bottles of beer (Fort Pitt, Golden Gate, Rheingold, Pickwick, Ballantine. Croft, Valley Forge, Piels, Schlitz, Schmidt's, Ruppert and Country Club brands). A can of Planters peanuts, a gasoline stove, wrench and spare parts for it, mess kit and tools, smoking supplies, can of coffee, can of evaporated milk (Libby’s brand), cans of water purification tablets, box of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, variants of chewing gums, cigarettes, tobacco, pipe, cigars, matches and a lighter.
Engineer Equipment section:
Documents, altimeter and its case, aerial photo interpreter glasses, magnifying stereoscope, wood case, rubber raft and paddle, dynamite plunger and its storage box, explosives and their boxes.
Army Signals section:
Postcards, signal flags, canvas sacks, belts, tools, telephones, wire, printer machine, documents, 3 different clocks, code practice equipments, radios, frequency meters, tuner unit, time interval unit and case, flash cameras.
Protection Against Gas Attack section:
Instruction sheets, gas masks, goggles, canvas pouches, mustard gas detection unit and its case and instructions, water testing set, gas alarm stick, olive drab jacket and pants, complete body coveralls with hood, decontamination spray bottles, canvas sacks, flame-thrower and its harness.
The Medical Department section:
Documents, hypodermic sets, canvas patient litter, stomach tube apparatus, box of wood tongue depressors, metal bed patients basin, adhesive tape, sulfur ointment, glass eye droppers, stethoscope, set of medical tools in canvas sack, 2 burner stove, sterilizing oven, syringes and needles, cleaners and polishes, sun glasses, abrasive powder, several more canvas sacks of medical instruments, wet arm dressing, scalpel blades, operation room smock with hat and carry bag, surgical gloves, blood pressure meter, watch, white tunic, crutches, urinal, pillow, olive drab jacket, scissors, chlorine test set, nurses hat, veterinary service tools in sack, thermometers, prophylactics.
Army Chaplains section:
Medal insignia, greeting card, Jewish medal and protestant cross medal, wood chest, folding wood desk with typewriter, steel helmet with cross on it, 2 different protestant neck sashes, white band with red cross on it, marriage certificates, wood chest of hymnals, phonograph records, metal crosses, cups, candelabra, black flag and pennant with white cross on them 2 wood crosses, 6 different altar equipment sets in carrying cases, identity card for one priest, service books, rosary beads, monstrance and its case, catholic chaplains set, suitcase full of vestments, jewish scarfs and cloth with Star of David insignia on it, prayer books.
Publications:
Instruction manuals for various things, language translator books, postcards, greeting cards, data sheets, identity cards.
Sports and Recreation section:
Baseball uniform shirt, baseball gloves, baseball wood award plaque, posters, tennis racket, playing cards, poker chips, chess and checker boards, bingo game set, roulette wheel set, dice, camera, leaflets advertising various things,
Personal Items section:
Rings, bracelets, sun glasses, identity cards, foreign and U.S. paper currency, dog tags, lengths of chains and rope, data.
American POWs section:
Air mail blank forms, news letter, wood storage box, money chits, prisoner’s photo, 3 U.S. unit cloth badges, brass U.S. uniform buttons, American flag, documents.
Souvenirs & Trophies section:
A souvenir of France is a pipe rack, pair of lighters made from .50 cal ammo rounds, matchbox and ashtray made by 91st Field Artillery man, a reproduction in wood of the famous Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris on top of a cigarette dispenser that has Germany carved into its side, an metal ashtray in the shape of a well, made from a spent 105mm ammo round, a British coin that has been soldered atop a .50 cal ammo round, 2 bayonets.
Homecoming & Discharge section:
5 black and white photos of soldiers returning home to the USA, red armband with yellow TPN. CORPS. U.S.A. on it worn by transportation corps troops, discharge papers and documents, posters, veterans medal pins.
The end of the book holds a one page ABBREVIATIONS list, six page INDEX, one page BIBLIOGRAPHY and a one page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. All their books can be viewed on their website at:
Very highly recommended.