Minifigure – U.S. Army Battle Casualty (KIA Corporal) WWII

Character Identification: WWII U.S. Army Battle Casualty (KIA Corporal)

This custom-printed building block minifigure represents a highly graphic, battle-damaged soldier of the United States Army during World War II. Specifically, based on his sleeve insignia and the extreme gore printing, he represents an “unlucky” Corporal of the 29th Infantry Division who has sustained fatal wounds (Killed in Action – KIA) during the brutal assault on the beaches of Normandy.

Specific Name and Uniform Details

• Specific Name: WWII U.S. Army 29th Infantry Division Corporal (Battle Casualty / KIA Gore Variant)

• Severe Head Trauma (The “Blown Scalp”): The most shocking and defining feature of this specific minifigure is the gruesome facial printing. The left side of his face and upper head features a catastrophic wound, depicting exposed pink brain matter and flesh, accompanied by heavy blood splatter across the right side of his face. His expression is vacant and shocked, representing the sudden, violent reality of a fatal artillery or sniper strike.

• Headgear: Despite the severe head wound, he wears the standard olive drab M1 Steel Helmet, complete with a printed brown leather chinstrap resting across the front brim.

• Torso and Chest Wounds: He is dressed in the standard-issue light khaki M41 Field Jacket. However, the jacket is ruined by two massive, bloody bullet or shrapnel holes printed directly on the center of his chest, indicating taking heavy, direct fire.

• Unit and Rank Insignia: * Shoulder Patch: On his left shoulder is the distinct circular “Blue and Gray” patch of the 29th Infantry Division.

  • Rank Chevrons: Below the patch are two upward-pointing chevrons, identifying his rank as a Corporal (Cpl.).

• Tactical Webbing: Around his waist, he wears a printed canvas M1923 Cartridge Belt, which was designed to hold en-bloc clips for the standard M1 Garand rifle.

• Footwear: The lower legs feature printed brown leather service shoes worn with M-1938 Canvas Leggings (gaiters), the standard infantry footwear for the D-Day invasions.

Historical Background

The 29th Infantry Division, known affectionately as the “Blue and Gray”, was tasked with one of the most perilous missions in modern military history: the frontal assault on Omaha Beach during the Normandy Landings (D-Day) on June 6, 1944.

Omaha Beach was heavily fortified by German defenders sitting in concrete bunkers equipped with devastating MG42 machine guns, mortars, and pre-sighted artillery. When the landing craft ramps dropped, the American troops of the first waves walked into a literal meat grinder. The 29th Infantry Division suffered catastrophic casualties—in some companies, casualty rates exceeded 90% within the first hour.

This specific minifigure, while gruesome, represents the dark, tragic reality of that day. The “unlucky” soldiers who were hit by high-explosive artillery shells, mortar shrapnel, or sustained direct machine-gun fire to the chest and head did not experience clean Hollywood deaths. The extreme battle damage printed on this figure (the exposed skull/brain and chest wounds) pays a dark but realistic tribute to the horrific physical toll paid by the young Corporals and infantrymen who sacrificed their lives on the sands of Omaha Beach.