The Smiley GI

03/25/2024

Purging my reenacting closet more! Buyer pays for S&H, all are open for negotiation.
Mil-Tech/Sturm Modified Parsons M38 jacket (~size 42): $150
Mismatched original leggings (2R/3R): $15
M1928 pack (not sure if OG or repro—likely repro) with pack tail: $60
WPG Size 42 WWI M1912 Jacket: $100
XL “Cor Blimey” British WWI trench cap size XL (so probably 7 3/4 or 62cm): $20 (PENDING)
Original AAF A-10 pants size 38: $75
British Canteen (has rust, probably needs some work): $15
Original 3 cell gr***de pouch: $10
Original OD7 Pistol Belt (x2): $20
Free Vietnam (?) bandoleer with other purchase
Navy Belt $5
M43 Hood: $5
Assorted US GI Sweaters (S or L): $40 each
Postwar(?) Lineman Belt marked A Company, 2nd Platoon: $20
WPG British Khaki Trousers (size 38 or 40): $30 (PENDING)
Original 3R leggings (one missing lace): $25
White Navy Dixie Cap (likely repro): $5 (PENDING)
Repro canteen (x2): $5 each
WWII US GI Mechanic Sweater (Bronson) size 42: $50 (SOLD)
Assorted US GI t-shirts (size M or L): $5 each
Original USGI Mountain Rucksack with one missing strap: $50
RAF White Turtleneck size L (WPG): $50
WPG WWI US Leggings size 2R: $20
Partial Lifeboat survival kit: $30
Rubberized Assault bag with damage (frequently seen used on D-Day): $25 (SOLD)
White M43-style “Mickey Mouse” boots size 11 or 12: $75
ATF US Navy dungaree set with shoes (original) (size L for jacket, 16 for shirt, 34 for pants, 10 for shoes): $100 (PENDING for all but pants)
Postwar hand crank generator: $75
Original Navy Life vest survival ink pack and light: $25 (SOLD)
WPG A-N 6530 Goggles: $100 (PENDING)
Original rear seam swivel bail helmet with marine camouflage (no liner): $75
MTL M41 jacket size 42: $50
SMW Marine Jacket size 44: $75
ATF M42 jump jacket size 40: $40
Original M1923 cartridge belt: $75
X2 ATF Marine canteen pouches: $10 each
ATF Marine 782 straps: $15
Original Marine Haversack: $50
Original Marine Poncho: $100
Original M45 pack (top) with straps: $50
Original wool shirt (some damage, probably fits size 40 or 42 chest): $25
M1938 (?) USGI Mountain caps (size 7 3/8): Original $25, Repro $20
Original US Navy life vest with damage (missing a strap): $75 (SOLD)

02/25/2024

Thank you to Jack Redd aka Peter Fitzpatrick, , and for helping me recreate the linkup of American and British Troops during the Battle of the Bulge! This was a great event, even despite the brutal cold.

Check out Jack Redd’s great work here:
https://jackredd.photography/about-this-project

Learn more about the linkup between British and American forces in my recent article here:
https://thesmileygi.com/british-forces-in-the-battle-of-the-bulge-5th-queens-own-cameron-highlanders-153rd-brigade-british-51st-highland-division-scout-platoon-of-a-coy-circa-january-1945/

02/02/2024

Hey folks! I’ve been doing a lot of work on my website, thesmileygi.com, to make it a bit more user-friendly. Let me know if there’s anything you’d like to see/have any feedback on it! Hopefully in the next few weeks I’ll also be updating my CC2 guide to include the M42 jumpsuit. Happy Thursday!

Smiley's Adventures in Researching and Living History

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas all!

12/01/2023

Ever wonder about what the British were doing during the Battle of the Bulge? For an upcoming reenactment, I started poking around and discovered an interesting history!

Check out the whole article here:
https://thesmileygi.com/british-forces-in-the-battle-of-the-bulge/

10/31/2023

A spooky story that haunts many a reenactor. Happy Halloween! Ignore the stupid autocorrect typo in the second pic lol

10/30/2023

It’s well overdue, but as this crazy year winds down a bit, I’m planning on revamping the ol’ website a bit overhauling the organization and both adding new articles that have been sitting in drafts for a year and updating a few other articles. Let me know if you have feedback before I get going and I’ll let y’all know when articles are posted here!

10/11/2023

There’s been some times where I’ve thought about getting out of Living History/Reenacting but Rockford 2023 really brought back some of the passion that I think waned in 2022/2023. I’m trying to rethink how I do content here and on other platforms—I know reenactors love “aesthetics” and “vibes” but I want to figure out a way of sharing all the research I do. If you see me with an impression, I’ve likely read at least 5-20 books on that impression and have something like a 15 page document full of notes somewhere on my computer. I’m thinking of first trying to work on some topics to cover the Spanish Civil War and try to make as much sense of it as one can make in bite-sized chunks without losing the important nuances, but if there’s any other topics you’d like to see covered, let me know!

Pictured: American volunteer in training at Albacete, 1937

10/04/2023

Thank you for the fantastic shots at Rockford this year! On the Jarama front with the XV Brigada Internacional (Abraham Lincoln Battalion). March, 1937

10/03/2023

“Holding the line for months at a time” on the Jarama front with the XV Brigada Internacional (Abraham Lincoln Battalion). March, 1937

10/02/2023

An American volunteer in the Abraham Lincoln Battalion poses for a propaganda shot at Jarama during the first year of the Spanish Civil War. Early June, 1937

Another Rockford WWII Days in the book! It was amazing seeing so many old friends and meeting some new ones too! I’ll be making some posts about it and the history my unit represented in the coming days/weeks.

08/27/2023

.videos on TikTok/Instagram did a great vid on Germans using drugs in WWII-here's some more info with some book recommendations