Prospective and Hopeful Recruit - Introduction

[Deleted]

Greetings, Gents!

        My name is Ryan Giguere (some folks call me Gigs, but that's up to your discretion haha), I'm an 18 year old in Pittsboro, North Carolina, just west of Raleigh.  I'm a huge history buff, and have always been one to preserve it in any ways I can.  I am an avid relic hunter, genealogist, I volunteer with my local cemetery census to record abandoned and reported burials across the county, and now hopeful reenactor!  I have been interested in the hobby for years now, but only now after turning 18 can I really pursue it, and thanks to my life-long love for militaria, I have a decent collection to start with.  My first firearm I ever bought is my January of 42 M1 Garand, so I have plenty of M1 accessories and gear relating to the Second World War to begin with.  I am very much a firearms enthusiast as well, so I know my weapons systems and proper military terminology, and I even speak some [rusty] German!  I feel I have a lot to share with the group and hobby, and I hope to learn a lot myself from participating and from all of you folks!  I could go on a long rant here about every little detail about what I know and why I want to be a part of living history, but I'll share as I'm prompted to I suppose, because I don't wanna chew anyone's ear off, as I routinely do regardless.  Anyways, I hope to hear from some of y'all soon, and I look forward to becoming a part of what you do, because I respect this type of preservation, I respect all preservation.  This history, as well as all other history, deserves to be remembered, and so long as there are people passionate about it, it will be.  Thank you for reading this far, and if you have any questions or comments or anything, I'd love to hear 'em!  Thanks again, and I'll hope to see y'all in the field in time!

[jim]

Welcome.

You available for the Lugoff tactical March on Berlin on March 5-7th?

You can meet most of the gang.  We'll have 20 plus members there.

Need any equipment?  Uniform, etc?

[Bruce "Face' Dale]

Good chatting with you Gigs! Good to have you on board, based of this you're going to fit in well with our unit.

[Deleted]

Feb 22, 2021 14:04:22 GMT -5 jim said:

Welcome.

You available for the Lugoff tactical March on Berlin on March 5-7th?

You can meet most of the gang.  We'll have 20 plus members there.

Need any equipment?  Uniform, etc?

Lugoff as in Lugoff, South Carolina? I was unaware there was even an event there in all honesty!  I'm unsure as of right now, I'll see what I can do.  In terms of loaner gear, I have my M1 (which does have an At The Front Shop made sling, so that's all set), I do have plenty of M1 helmets but they're either Vietnam era with incorrect straps and bales and light-green paint, or they're original World War II but needs to be re-serviced back to original to be passable.  So, I have the most expensive part, the rifle, but everything else would have to be loaned, aside from possibly a bayonet, because I do have a 1942 arsenal cut-down M1 Bayonet, but the scabbard is one that was sent to the Greeks and so has that metal toe on the bottom.  I have a correct canteen that is from the era, cleaned out and stuff (I'm not too afraid of the lead, kids grew up in the 50's eating lead paint from their matchbox cars, I can survive drinking out of a sanitized canteen for a couple days, maybe three times a year haha), but the cover is Korean war.  So most things I will need to be loaned, but in time I do strive to have everything myself.  My biggest thing when it comes to hardware for the helmet I'm restoring is original parts.  I'm very much realism-oriented, and if that means having to track down an original NOS chinstrap hook and sewing it on myself, I'd rather have to do that than assault it with incorrect parts, because my stuff is almost always collection based as well, as I'm sure many of you can understand.  I'm rambling on a little too much here, so I'll cut it off now while I'm ahead haha.

[Deleted]

Feb 22, 2021 14:22:53 GMT -5 Bruce "Face' Dale said:

Good chatting with you Gigs! Good to have you on board, based of this you're going to fit in well with our unit.

Same to you, Bruce!  Glad to be a part of it!  Looking forward to using this new hobby as an excuse to acquire more stuff for my collection as well! haha!

[jim]

Most important thing about loaning uniforms is what's your size, height, shoe size?

Unless you're a XXL tall with size 13 feet most of mine will not fit you

[jcoyle]

Let us know your sizes. We probably have stuff that will do until you get your own. Same with field gear

[Deleted]

Feb 22, 2021 15:49:03 GMT -5 jim said:

Most important thing about loaning uniforms is what's your size, height, shoe size?

Unless you're a XXL tall with size 13 feet most of mine will not fit you

Well, I am size 11.5 to 12 shoe, so who knows?  With some wool socks 13 might not be too huge, worst case I'll have space in the toe for an extra pair of socks lol.  I'll get back to you on height.  Last I checked I was 5 foot 10, but I am a senior in high school, and that was about 8 months ago, so a boy can dream of breaking that 6 foot barrier, right? hahaha.

[frank]

Hey Ryan,
Welcome to C Company, 505th PIR!
As one of the original members of the unit I have a pile of loaner stuff.
Since you have a Garand I have to ask if you have a BF for it so you can fire blanks?
Our unit is so fortunate to have more than a few ex-Vets. I think you will truly enjoy being with us.
Can't wait to meet you.
Captain Frank Cachia

[Richard Meyer]

Ryan, I will have recruit information for you at Lugoff regarding uniform and gear field gear requirements.

Chief Meyer

Admin officer

[JayJones]

I'm coming in late on this, but I have a bunch of loaner uniforms and an extra rifle. I'm happy to help you get sorted also.