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CHARLIE COMPANY
5th RANGER INFANTRY BATTALION
RESEARCH COMPENDIUM

Junk on the Bunk vs. The Environmental Display

     In the World War II living history community, there are two integral types of displays put on in the field by units. Though each unit has its specific ways, which are most likely successful for them, we find the most appropriate type of setup for our displays are those of an environmental nature. This way in setting up camp for the purpose of educating the public is what we find most effective, and after attending the Bedford “Prelude to Invasion” event and seeing what our brethren in the 29^th were doing, we decided that all “junk on the bunk” was not appropriate for our display purposes.

The differences:

Junk on the Bunk: This term for static displays has been around for quite sometime and has been used to describe setting up items on blankets to show basically, your collection. To display your flea market and antique show finds. This is great, and works superbly for some units, but not for ours. Due to the nature of research put into our interpretations, we try to base each event off a specific time frame. For instance: some displays may call for pre-D-Day, just post Normandy, Brittany, or even later time frames. Each event is gear and display specific. Some things, such as footlockers, have almost become a re-enactorism. Footlockers are meant for barracks, and barracks only. When a soldier went overseas and when in theater, his gear was carried in a denim “A” and khaki or olive poplin “B” bag, or after late 1943 in a duffle bag. Footlockers were certainly not in camp outside your pyramid tent. The same goes for extraneous gear. Junk on the bunk is appropriate to a certain extent, at barracks events only. Even then, when in a barracks, junk on the bunk should be kept to a minimum. Footlockers are meant to store your personal equipment in a regulation format (please see the Company Clerk or your Squad Leader for regulation diagrams) and should be displayed not in a manner to showcase your “stuff”, but in a military fashion, just as if you were expecting an inspection from your Platoon leader. Words of advice: keep it simple. Bring your kit, your pup tent if need be, and the basic field gear you need to the field. Think progressive, think campaigner, and not about what you can do to show of your great stuff. Remember, as a unit, this is a collective. We’re all in this together to create a seamless, period-authentic camp for the public to enjoy.

The Environmental Display:  The environmental display is a term coined by yours truly to typify our outlook on displays. When you show up at an event, you should be prepared to hop out of your Chevy Suburban and right into our 1944 camp. The Company will always display our 1942 Command Post and/or our 1942 Wall Tent and fly, as well as crates and other large equipment. It is up to the riflemen, however, to bring his pup tent and field gear as well as any gear he has specific to add to our environment. Now, the point of the environmental display. Instead of having something for the public to just gaze at, we want our display to be twofold in purpose:

1.)    To convey the image of what a 1944 5^th Ranger camp would have looked like, smelled like, and sounded like. For the public to come up and see weapons, personal effects, and soldiers in their natural environments and to ask questions intuitively.

2.)    To create an authentic environment for our members. There’s nothing like an Aquafina bottle floating around camp to ruin the entire setup. And remember, tents are not meant to hide your modern amenities. Try to keep modern things to a minimum. Think about getting yourself a World War II sleeping bag and other items like that. Ultimately the camp should not be just a place to hang out, but should be part of the overall experience of the weekend.

Conclusion: Very simply, our displays are meant to further our experience at events and to further the mission of our unit. Ultimately, its all about the details, so lets pay attention and keep it period! Self policing is also incredibly important. Keep your hat on our of doors, keep all non-period items out of camp, and for NCOs, remember to watch your men and their practices.

Written by Thomas Edmund Frost, 2008