LiLmissflamethrower ,

Please don't take this the wrong way , but you are certainly a rarity ....a gal with a pretty face being interested in WW2 and re-enacting....It is certainly a rarity in these parts. If I owned a repro kit store ,I would give you kit too , on the condition that you model it for my catalogue. I hope I haven't given offense , for that was certainly not the intent.....It is nice to see a pretty gal with a respect for military history , and something other than getting their nails done these days. Re-enacting is alot of fun and should be enjoyed by everyone.

JHR

Do they have any Italian Units around?

Not many , or at least there weren't but one or 2 five years ago worldwide. I guess they would have to e good at switching sides

JHR. No offense taken! One of the units I am in was talking about what they would have me do, as it is 99% male reenacting. They said they were going to make me into a French resistance girl in the village. They also said I would have to wear a French maids outfit! :]

NOT! I love military history and drive my friend's crazy discussing it all the time.

I am usually wearing a WAC uniform but I do wish I had more opportunity like the guys.

(at the maid kit) LilMiss ,

French resistance is a great idea! There was a young lady named Page who did French resistance here in TX , and she was damn good too(not ashamed to admit she nailed me a few times)!! It is so nice to see others take an interest in this hobby. I laud you for discovering this hobby and though one can never 'know it all' , it sure is fun to try!

JHR

I am reading a great book by Stephen Ambrose called Americans at War. Great!

Ambrose has written numerous good books on WW2 , and IMO he has been very fair in his analysis. Does he go into any detail about Audie Murphy??? Now there was a true American hero!!! Our former senator Bob Dole is also one. I am into a book I just received from the UK ' A History of the SAS regiment '.

Regards ,

JHR

Yes I know he is well known. This book starts with the Civil War and talks about the Battle of Vicksburg and how decisive a battle it was. He talks about the true strengths and weaknesses of General Grant, Sherman and McClernand.

Then he talks about General Custer during the civil war which I found extraordinarily fascinating. Apparently he was a boy wonder and the same successful tactics he used during the civil war tanked when he used them on the Indians. If he had died during the civil war he would have been famous as a successful leader.

He then goes into WWII, the Atomic Bomb - good decision or bad (good) and now I am at General MacArthur. I can't wait to read his other books.

Re: the book you are reading - what is it about?

The SAS(Special Air Service) was a Para-commando regiment formed in Sept. of 1941 by a chap named David Stirling. They are kind of similar to our US Army ranger unit Stirling conceived the need for a unit that could be dropped by parachute behind the German/Italian lines so that they could create havoc. The book details their WW2 exploits. I collect modern SAS stuff too...I have a parka with SAS major epaulets used in the Faulklands war , and well my SLR was the standard issue British rifle. Wow , the Ambrose book is into much more than WW2 I guess then huh? I am not familiar with that title , but he has written many good ones....Lilmiss , have you ever been to any museums like the Patton museum , or the Aberdeen in DC??

In Febuary, a friend treated me to a WWII tour in England. We went to the Imperial War Museum, Bletchley Park, Winston Churchill's secret war room cabinent, etc. Incredible.

I would love to go to the places you mentioned. I work on the USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier in Alameda, CA.