I was invited to partake in a Living History display commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day at a museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The plan was to have a living historian represent each unit that participated in D-Day and interpret the uniforms, equipment, and history to the public. A huge fan of Alex Kershaw’s The Bedford Boys: One American Town’s Ultimate D-day Sacrifice, I volunteered to put together an 29th Infantry Division officer impression. I had never portrayed the 29th, but, based on Kershaw’s book and a few helpful websites, was able to find everything an officer likely would have worn while storming Omaha Beach. I will note that my helmet insignia is a bit too big compared to the originals, but otherwise, I felt incredibly honored to be a part of this commemoration.
The Smiley GI 