In celebration of the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, DID released a WWII era US 101st Airborne Medic. Named “Gilbert Roe” - it is pretty obvious that they styled the figure from the character of the same name in the HBO mini-series “Band of Brothers”.
DID didn’t hold back in the medical gear for this set. You get a collapsible medic litter, medic yoke with two large medic pouches, red cross arm brassard, four sided red cross weathered M1 helmet ,shoulder strapped mussette bag with red cross on the top flap, and a large assortment of medical gear for Roe to use - gauze, field dressing, medical tags – you name it. The one standout piece is the small cloth fold-out pouch that holds a set of metal tweezers, three hemostats, and two scalpels - amazing!
Roe is equipped with a cloth pistol belt, two canteens with cloth carriers (medics generally carried two canteens to better service the wounded), and one cloth first aid pouch. He is armed with a metal .45 pistol and holster and a metal and wood Thompson Sub-Machine Gun with leather sling. I chose to leave the pistol with holster and Thompson off my Roe (put it on another Airborne figure) since I didn’t think (I could be wrong here) that medics carried weapons. I can’t fault DID on this for I can ALWAYS use extra weapons, especially when they’re as well made as their Thompson.
The set also includes a T5 Parachute with Reserve Chute. Attention to detail is top notch. The only gripe I have is that DID didn’t include a Mae West Life Vest nor a black rubberized Gas Mask Bag for him to wear in “jump” mode. I didn’t mind this so much for I rarely, if ever, pose my airborne figures with jump gear on, but rather have them combat ready.
Roe wears a rigger modified M42 uniform with re-enforced knees, elbows, leg pouches and lower jacket pouches, and leg straps to hold in the leg pouches. The name “Roe” is imprinted on white cloth and sewn onto the jacket’s left breast. DID’s maroonish brown Corcorans are, as always, well made out of leather. All in all, I have to say I am impressed with this set. I’m a sucker for medics so this one goes to the front of the line for me. I give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars.