News from the Front: Somewhere in Italy September 1944-Italian Allies supply mules go where vehicles can't easily reach. Rico Venzi and his mule "Testardo" (Stubborn) bring vital supplies to combat troops fighting the Germans. Although it appears that Testardo is giving his handler a difficult time and living up to his name.

Rico Venzi and his mule Testardo are metal pieces I painted this week.

Stand and be Recognized

It's cold, the enemy is somewhere out there and Pvt. Billy, "Gruff," Groatman is on guard duty.

He is sure he heard someone coming towards his post and quietly calls for the corporal of the guard.

Cpl. Ira Hagers joins "Gruff" to see what's up.

"Stand and be recognized. "'Susie-"'

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"Cue," comes the counter sign." It's friends, a Bazooka team to add some needed firepower to this forward posted squad.

These are all plastic pieces I painted recently.

OK, We're Going to Drop the Barrage on these Coordinates

Forward artillery observer, Brad, Boom-Boom, Donelly, is ready to call in a support barrage of 105's to support beleaguered American troops in the bitter Winter of 1944. 

As soon as the 105mm rounds are registered on target, it's time for "Boom-Boom and his men to move to the next location.

As staying in one place too long is asking for the enemy's snipers to make your day very bad.

B00m-Boom and his men are plastic pieces I painted last week.

Dam' We are Heading there as Fast as We can!

"Alpha-Echo, this is Bravo-Carlie, repeat, I say, repeat your position. Over."

"Alpha-Echo, this is Bravo-Charlie, no, we are in front of the dead pillbox where are you! Over." 

"Alpha-Echo, this is Bravo-Carlie, we have you in sight, what is your target? Over."

"Alpha-Echo, this is Bravo-Carlie, keep your heads down, we are moving on the double. The Mk IV is to your left, correct. Over."

 Bravo-Carlie are plastic pieces I painted last week.

"MEDIC"

"MEDIC,' the cry no soldier ever wants to make and the one every soldier wants answered.

Medic's the men who brave the battlefield with implements of succor not with weapons.

Their job is to aid and retrieve the wounded with only a red cross armband to protect them.

Maybe this time the enemy will honor that universal symbol, or maybe not. Regardless, when the call MEDIC goes out, these men respond.

These are resin pieces I painted this month to honor the 81st anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

Casualties of War

Being wounded in war is always terrible...in Winter

wounded and freezing in Winter is especially bad.

These casualties are resin pieces that I finished today.

You're Corporal is a BEAR!

Meet Corporal Wojtek of the 3522 Polish 22nd Field Artillery Supply Company II Polish Corps, and yes, he is a bear and an official NCO. Before becoming a corporal, Wojtek, a Syrian Brown Bear, was adopted by his polish comrades while in Iran in the Spring of 1942. Originally a mascot, he soon learned to salute, march on his hind legs and carry supplies. He also enjoyed wrestling with the men as well as relaxing with the soldiers even to the point of leaning to smoke/eat cigarettes and drink beer. 

When his unit was ordered to Italy in early 1942, the only way to bring the now fully grown Wojtek with them was to enlist his as a private, with his own official identity number and pay book. At the Battle of Monte Cassino, he quickly learned to carry artillery ammunition cases to resupply the 25 pounder artillery pieces in the rough mountainous terrain. Not only did this free up the usual four men who were normally required to hand portage the heavy crates, the sight of Wojtek doing his bit to help his comrades greatly raised their spirits. For his tireless efforts, the brave Wojtek was promoted to corporal. After the war, Corporal Wojtek retired to the Edinburgh Zoo where his exiled former comrades would continue to visit him and bring gifts of beer and cigarettes until his death in 1963.

is a Metal Piece I painted this month

Jeep Patrol '44

Somewhere in Northern France an intrepid group of US paratroopers patrols the countryside in their Jeep. Note the wire cutting bar that has been added to the front of the vehicle, the heavy loads of ammo boxes and the drivers commandeered MP-40 submachinegun ready for instant action.

The men and wheels are metal the Jeep is resin. I painted these pieces this month.

Soviet Infantry in the Great Patriotic War

 

A mixed squad of Soviet soldiers ready to punish the German invaders.

Equipment is what was at hand, wounds don't matter, loses are replaceable only victory counts!

All are plastic pieces from Warlord Games for my Soviet WWII Bolt Action Army.

Scouts Sometimes Need To Fight

Scouts are not expected to duke-it-out with the enemy-their name says it all they are to scout out the foe's positions.

But sometimes the situation calls for action.

Here we have three US troopers who are using a variety of weapons to take on the enemy in hopefully a short firefight.

The iconic American weapons are in use, the 12-gauge trenchgun, the 1911 Colt .45 and the .45 Tommygun SMG.

These are 28mm plastic kit bashed pieces that I created and painted in March.

I'm Here To Light You On Fire

When you need a clear and deadly message to be sent to stubborn, fortified enemies, call in a flamethrower team.

The M2 Flamethrower, with a range of 20 to 40 meters (65.5 to 132 feet), delivers a searing jet of burning napalm that is as deadly as it is fearsome.

This unit is resin that I painted in March.