Quote:
Originally Posted by 29aholic
There was a poet some years ago who did a short story titled "Things they carried" memory fails me who wrote it (ee cummings?) and it didnt deal with the normal gear, but what the Vets thought were important enough to them to hump. Family pictures, a favorite book, things they thought they might need in a pinch...a metal spoon for instance. I have long thought of writing a modern day version of the story, and would like to hear what you carried, or carry if you are still active.
I appreciate the replies.
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Sir, I was a grunt and thus did not like to carry anything more than absolutely necessary. "Extras" that I considered necessary included:
* "John Wayne" can opener, even though we mainly ate MREs
* Foot powder
* Extra socks
* Tabasco
* Spare MRE spoon
* K-bar
* Swiss Army knife (very handy--used this much more than the k-bar)
* Cigarettes and lighter
* Civilian compass (Silva)
* Field notebook, including a map protractor and various laminated "cheat sheets" (medevac, call for fire, etc.)
I also saved all my MRE matches, toilet paper and any MRE chow that I didn't immediately eat. Never know when you might need that stuff.
All this was in addition to the regular deuce gear, weapon and cleaning gear, etc.
Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.
Ron H.