WWII US Navy Corpsman - Early War

My original WWII Corpsman minifigure is one of my most well known, and requested, and I've wanted to pay homage to it for awhile. Delving into more in-depth research this time, I discovered just how much variety exists, as with just about any personnel in WWII, or across history for that matter. Giving up on creating "the Corpsman" I decided to start at the beginning and work on what they could have looked like early in WWII, tending Marines on islands like Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Tarawa.

Good photos or film from this era, however, are very sparse. Thinking about it, if bullets or shells are flying, necessitating a Corpsman in the first place, most cameramen would have their heads down, especially on the landscapes fought on early in WWII, of very small size, with less topographical cover. This would change later in WWII, in places like Okinawa and Iwo Jima, where much more documentation exists. That's for a future figure though. 

This figure is based on a conglomeration of these rarer, early photos, and operational documentation. On his head, he wears the standard M1 steel helmet issued to Navy personnel, with the short-lived white dot insignia. Knowing the Japanese specifically targeted combat medics when possible, the Red cross insignia was quickly replaced by this more subdued version. In practical use though, it presented just as large of a literal target on their heads, and was immediately replaced with the standard Marine Corps camouflage cover in future operations. Although Navy issued HBT (N3) uniforms did exist, Corpsman generally received uniforms and equipment via the same supply lines as the Marine Corps, and most often are seen wearing the same P41 "dungarees". To set this figure apart, I did include a stenciled on Pharmacists Mate insignia on the sleeve, seen on some original jackets in collections, as well as a pair of scissors in his pocket, famously one of the most useful yet short supplied items for medical personnel in WWII. Equipment wise, he carries the same pistol belt as other specialist roles, with two Marine Corps pattern canteens, a Ka-Bar knife, and a holstered M1911. US military medics, both in Europe and the Pacific, generally carried sidearms throughout WWII to protect their patients and themselves. As lessons were learned in the Pacific, you also see Corpsmen increasingly carrying longarms, as they were forced to more readily participate in combat than their european counterparts. On his side, he carries the unique 14-280 "unit 1" hospital pouch, intended for staff onboard hospital ships. Finding these small satchels too small, and unorganized for field use, they were quickly replaced with the collapsable "unit 3" bags later in WWII, similar to the army's cantle strap system. 

Original Proof Copy - 1 of 1, first complete minifigure out of the printer. Signature by Landon Reimer, serial numbered, and sealed plastic collectors slab with Brick Warp artwork. 

Collectors Edition - Signed by Landon Reimer, serial numbered, and sealed plastic collectors slab with Brick Warp artwork.

Base Model - Complete figure in hand-stamped numbered case inspired by WWII era packaging. Unsealed. This packaging again, is hand-stamped and is not intended to look perfect. 

• Custom printed BrickArms M1 Steel Pot helmet with Corpsman insignia  
• Custom printed minifigure head 
• P1941 HBT utility uniform with scissors and Pharmacists Mate stencil 
• Marine contract M1936 pistol belt  
• P2 Marine canteen cover x2 
• 14-280 "unit 1" Hospital Corpsman's bag 
• M1916 holster M1911A1
• M1924 army contract pistol magazine pouch
• Ka-Bar fighting knife
• White Early War USMC undershirt
• Navy N1 (Boondocker) boots
• Inside leg Marine leggings/gaiters printing 
• Holographically sealed packaging (original and collectors edition) 
• Hand stamped WWII inspired packaging (base model) 

Information Info: Art and printing by Lando (that’s me!) on genuine factory direct Lego bricks. This is a custom product created independently and not affiliated or endorsed by Lego.