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Old 08-11-2020, 11:38 AM
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Default WW2 US Army Uniform, sort of, and other thoughts

I was watching coverage of Sec of State Pompeo's attendance at a ceremony honoring the US liberation of Czechoslovakia today, and caught a glimpse of the right sleeve of what I thought was a WW2 Ike jacket wearing a 101st AB patch. I thought "that's nice, they have a re-enactor there."

However, a few moments later I realized that I was seeing an active duty Lt. General, wearing the new uniform. Man, that looks sharp, including the hat with the crush in it. I sure wish that we had something like that when I was in the Army, the Class A greens were terrible, and the abolition of Khakis was a sad day. I would have worn that new uniform more than the BDU's that I wore day in, day out, even while in garrison,

Not a great picture, but here he is on the left:

Thinking more about this, I realized that when I was in, there were three places that you looked for rank, depending upon uniform worn: collar, epaulets, or sleeve. Today, I can see that the use of rank in the center of the chest could get some troopers in trouble:

"Soldier, my eyes are up here!"

"Yes, ma'am, I was just looking to see whether I should salute you or try to ask you out on a date."
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Old 08-11-2020, 11:44 AM
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You should have been there the day that I called a captain sir, she didn't like it.
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Old 08-11-2020, 12:14 PM
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The US Army has always changed its uniforms every 10 years or so, it seems that every conflict has to have its own "look". Compare the sky blue waist length jacket and wheel cap of the Mexican War with the dark blue sack or frock coat and forage cap of the Civil War. The Spanish War kept the Civil War color scheme but in a different arrangement. In the 1920s the Army adopted an officer's uniform directly inspired by the British, the Navy adopted the 3 button jacket popularized by David Beatty. Black footwear worn with the blue uniforms, when they switched to brown it was brown footwear. The Ike jacket came from the British battle dress and was adopted because it used less material. The Sam Browne belt was dropped in 1942 as an economy measure. Fatigues were developed because they found that trying to have an all purpose uniform for off post, garrison and field was impractical.
One thing they did right, when the various women's services were established the had the Fifth Avenue fashion houses design the women's uniforms so they looked sharp and fitted properly.
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Old 08-11-2020, 03:10 PM
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One thing they did right, when the various women's services were established the had the Fifth Avenue fashion houses design the women's uniforms so they looked sharp and fitted properly.
I can just see the kind of uniform women would have been wearing if a guy straight from 2 years of combat designed it. (Such illustrations are forbidden on this family friendly forum!)

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Old 08-11-2020, 04:17 PM
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Think I see 5 "hash marks" ( or whatever they're called ) on that sleeve too .... each of them represent 5 years service? Three?
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Old 08-11-2020, 04:26 PM
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Think I see 5 "hash marks" ( or whatever they're called ) on that sleeve too .... each of them represent 5 years service? Three?
The "hash marks" you see are combat service stripes, one for every 6 months deployed in an active combat zone.

Service stripes are generally worn only by enlisted soldiers and are displayed on the left sleeve, one diagonal slash for each 3 years of active duty.
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Old 08-11-2020, 04:36 PM
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.......and the 101st patch on the right shoulder is the last unit he served a combat tour with. The patch of the current unit is worn on the left shoulder.
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Old 08-11-2020, 06:45 PM
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That LTG has the "50 mission" crush in his service cap, that always looked chic and macho though we plain old soldiers were told to keep the stiffeners in our saucer caps. I would like them to go back to the garrison cap with glider patch for airborne troops, that is a genuine US tradition.
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Old 08-11-2020, 06:50 PM
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It looks like the crush comes standard with that hat. Reading some of the sites it looks like all incoming soldiers will be issued it by the end of this year, and it will be mandatory by 2028. There is also an optional leather bomber jacket that can be purchased by the soldier.

And, they are wearing this uniform with brown oxford low quarters. Guessing that Airborne qualified troops can wear with brown jump boots.
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Old 08-11-2020, 07:26 PM
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Typically military, trying to deal with serious morale problems through trivia and eyewash. Back in 2001 the then Chief of Staff of the Army Eric Shinseki became alarmed when the retention rate for junior officers nosedived, well below the replacement rate. Those who answered his surveys cited bullying and back stabbing and harassment by superiors, the favoritism shown to women. His answer-berets for everybody.
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Old 08-11-2020, 07:33 PM
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Didn't they used to refer to the WWII uniform as "Pinks"? Due to the dye fading on the dress shirt, the Khaki would turn a very slight pink, which looked great on the green blouse and trousers. That uniform with a Sam Browne belt made sense to me as far as function went. I think the new uniform looks good.
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Old 08-11-2020, 07:51 PM
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One thing that I am proud of is that I served with a unit that had pride in the uniform we wore and we did everything we could to live up to the history of the 101st. The uniform made us better.
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Old 08-11-2020, 07:58 PM
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"Pinks and greens" was the term, I think it referred to a uniform worn by USAAF officers, the "khaki" wool pants often had a pinkish look to them, I have seen officers "blouses"-many were custom made back the-with a very dark green tint to them. Because of the vast numbers of uniforms required manufacturers were allowed some leeway in dye colors. Back then officers and men's service uniforms were usually quite different, the Army Green uniform introduced in 1958 reduced those differences to the minimum.
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Old 08-11-2020, 08:26 PM
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Looks like all ranks are getting "pinks and greens" this go round, and not just officers:

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Old 08-11-2020, 08:42 PM
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Too much of a peaked cap, too European for my taste. And that "maternity uniform-give me a break !
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Old 08-11-2020, 10:15 PM
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Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

For those of us who never had the pleasure of serving, tell me please .....

Woman on the left .... what do the white "cords" on the right side of her uniform represent?

Man 2nd from left, that's a good pic showing the different "hash marks" on each sleeve.

What is the rank of the man in the middle? Assuming they are all Army, is the difference in the uniforms just due to transition to new styles?

Yeah, the maternity uniform ..... oh boy, well, I don't know what to say. LOL
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Old 08-11-2020, 10:41 PM
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The E-7 second from left, the horizontal stripes each represent 6 months service in a combat zone, the diagonal "hash marks" each represent 3 years of service. The man in the middle looks like the Sergeant Major of the Army in Dress Blues which I presume will go back to being a "dress " uniform. The new uniform is a copy of the WWII officer's uniform. I note that the service cap the officers are back to the leather chin strap of WWII, in my day with the Army Green uniform the chin strap,was black for leather for EM, gold cord for officers and WOs.
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Old 08-11-2020, 10:44 PM
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The "man in the middle" is the Sergeant Major of the US Army, the highest ranking enlisted man in the service.

Blue cords, for Infantry, are the only authorized cord that i am aware of. That white cord with device might be a German marksmanship award, which I think is authorized: German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship - Wikipedia
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Old 08-12-2020, 11:40 AM
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The crush hat came from the AAC flyers who mashed them to get their headphones over it. Ground pounders wearing them are little boys playing dress up.
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Old 08-12-2020, 01:12 PM
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Always been partial to the WWI uniforms myself, both Army and Navy. The tie looks too "civilian" too me.
And I hope they'll go back to requiring the Class A or summer uniform to worn while traveling.
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Old 08-12-2020, 01:33 PM
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Default Read This, just put out today.

New Army service uniform will be issued to recruits this winter
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Old 08-12-2020, 01:49 PM
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Woman on the left .... what do the white "cords" on the right side of her uniform represent?
In the US Army under AR 670-1 and 600-8-22 the German Marksmanship Award (Schuetzenschnur) is authorized for wear only by enlisted personnel. Officers may accept, but may not wear the Schuetzenschnur.

If authorized, personnel wear the award on the right side of the uniform coat, with the upper portion attached under the center of the epaulette, and the bottom portion attached under the lapel to a button mounted specifically for wear of this award.
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Old 08-12-2020, 03:24 PM
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I'm sorry, but I think the new Army Uniform looks like a costume. It's a poor copy of the originals. It doesn't look sharp. Maybe if it was taylored I'd change my mind, but just looks baggy and sloppy.
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Old 08-12-2020, 05:46 PM
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I don't care for the SS style cap, reminds me of the Politzei cap I saw back in the 70's. I didn't care for berets for everyone either, although a heck of a lot better than the old garrison cap. I wasn't crazy about baseball caps, never been a fan of baseball caps. I liked the old school fatigue cap with ear flaps much better, we wore those in the field, I started wearing mine around the company area, as long as I had my rank on it nobody ever said a thing.

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Old 08-12-2020, 08:03 PM
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Looks like all ranks are getting "pinks and greens" this go round, and not just officers:

A little nit-picking here:

If this photo was taken indoors, the Sergeant Major is in proper uniform and the rest are not.

If this photo was taken outdoors, the Sergeant Major is out of uniform and the rest are properly uniformed.

Explanation: The only time headgear is worn indoors is when the soldier is under arms. Headgear is always worn when outdoors and in uniform (other than certain training conditions, and then everyone complies to one standard). The five soldiers shown are obviously posing for a photograph to display the Army's new Class A uniform, and some minor adjustments to the usual requirements are apparent.
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Old 08-12-2020, 08:32 PM
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Is it me, or does the uniform, on the far right, look like a maternity dress? Really?!
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Old 08-12-2020, 08:33 PM
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You're spot on there Lobo. That is the CSM of the Army, definitely a photo op.
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Old 08-12-2020, 08:41 PM
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Just wait until they stuff them into a duffel bag and try to go to their next duty station. If in doubt PM me and I will tell you how do I know.
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Old 08-12-2020, 09:02 PM
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Note the ridiculous amount of "fruit salad" they are wearing. I enlisted in 1967, met officers and NCOs who had served in WWII, Korea And Vietnam and they didn't have that much. I have read that now people get a ribbon for graduating from Basic-?
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Old 08-12-2020, 09:33 PM
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Note the ridiculous amount of "fruit salad" they are wearing. I enlisted in 1967, met officers and NCOs who had served in WWII, Korea And Vietnam and they didn't have that much. I have read that now people get a ribbon for graduating from Basic-?

All the services are giving out ribbons for stupid $h**. The Army and the Air Force are the worst , followed by the Navy and then the Corps. Just getting worse as time goes by. I did 24 years with two tours in RVN and was around for Desert Shield/Desert Storm and have three rows of ribbons.
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Old 08-12-2020, 09:45 PM
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Note the ridiculous amount of "fruit salad" they are wearing. I enlisted in 1967, met officers and NCOs who had served in WWII, Korea And Vietnam and they didn't have that much. I have read that now people get a ribbon for graduating from Basic-?
There has been some generalized cheapening of awards over many years. The trend began with an executive order by President Truman awarding every returning WW2 veteran a Bronze Star for meritorious service (prior to that act the Bronze Star was awarded only for valor in combat).

For several decades (perhaps even today?) any service member who completed 90 days of active duty was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. There have been several theaters of operations, both during wartime and during the "cold war" years, that merited awards such as service medals or campaign ribbons for every service member participating honorably. Nearly all combat operations result in some type of campaign medal or ribbon for all participants.

By my time in Vietnam the awards were largely done in "packages", depending on rank and/or assignments. Enlisted soldiers with clean records of service were frequently given one "package" (such as the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Army Commendation Medal, perhaps a Good Conduct Medal), while more senior NCO's might receive another package (such as Bronze Star/meritorious service, Army Commendation Medal, etc), company grade officers might receive another package, and staff officers might receive another package. The higher ranking officers seemed to think nothing about awarding each other every possible medal.

Our Vietnamese allies frequently conferred Vietnamese medals and commendations on US troops following liaison assignments or joint operations. The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry was fairly common, but came in multiple classes denoting the level of recognition.

The soldiers shown in these photos are all combat veterans as nearly as I can tell. Several show "combat service bars" indicating multiple combat tours, and they probably served in multiple theaters, with each combat theater providing authorization for service ribbons, campaign medals, etc.

There is a "pecking order" in the Army, and one of the basics is the awards and decorations in a soldier's service record, which all have weighted value at promotion boards and eligibility for advanced training or higher postings. Some of the ribbons may be "been there, done that", others may denote genuinely outstanding service in some critical capacity, and a few may reflect some act of selfless sacrifice or valor in the face of enemy action.

As I recently noted in another thread, I received all of my decorations after returning from Vietnam, mailed to my "home of record". Each came with copies of the orders authorizing the award, most came with fancy certificates (suitable for framing on your "I love me" wall), and some came with written citations describing the events involved. A half-century later I can read those citations without having a clue what the heck is being described because my memory seems to be a bit different from an enterprising young lieutenant's narrative skills.

The one that seems to get the most public attention is the Purple Heart medal, which actually requires no skills, no personal initiative, and nothing more than choosing the wrong place to be or the wrong time to be there.

The one that means most to me is the Combat Infantryman Badge. Only one way to get that one, and that is to be actively engaged in ground combat with hostile forces while serving as an infantryman. One of those things that just seems to say it all, at least to other infantrymen. I can spot a "CIB" from across a crowded room at the VFW hall, but most folks don't have a clue what it means.
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Old 08-12-2020, 09:58 PM
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Yes, as Anthony Herbert put it, "There's nothing like a chest full of of ribbons and the old war record when the promotion board meets. "In Vietnam so many generals received the Distinguished Service Medal that it became known as the "generals good conduct medal ", it was a source of considerable embarrassment when Samuel Koster had to be stripped of his for his role in the MyLai coverup. There was a veritable flood of complaints
about senior officers receiving awards they really hadn't earned. Like the pictures I have seen of Soviet generals in their full dress uniforms after WWII. Some of whom-like Budyonny-were not very good commanders. Or Dmitri Ustinov, Soviet Minister of Defense 1976-1984. Wore rows of fruit salad, but never commanded troops in action or was a staff officer. He was Stalin's Commissar of Defense Production, a critical position, think of Henry Kayser in WWII. But not a real soldier.

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Old 08-12-2020, 10:15 PM
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Yes, as Anthony Herbert put it, "There's nothing like a chest full of of ribbons and the old war record when the promotion board meets. "In Vietnam so many generals received the Distinguished Service Medal that it became known as the "generals good conduct medal ", it was a source of considerable embarrassment when Samuel Koster had to be stripped of his for his role in the MyLai coverup. There was a veritable flood of complaints
about senior officers receiving awards they really hadn't earned. Like the pictures I have seen of Soviet generals in their full dress uniforms after WWII. Some of whom-like Budyonny-were not very good commanders. Or Dmitri Ustinov, Soviet Minister of Defense 1976-1984. Wore rows of fruit salad, but never commanded troops in action or was a staff officer. He was Stalin's Commissar of Defense Production, a critical position, think of Henry Kayser in WWII. But not a real soldier.
For proper perspective, Anthony Herbert is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, entered the Army as a private during Korea, rose to Master Sergeant, and was publicly acknowledged as America's most decorated soldier of the time. Left the Army, graduated college, received a reserve commission and later a Regular Army commission. One of the earliest Special Forces officers. Commanded a battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. Author of "Soldier", his autobiography, which includes some incidents dealing with the "institutional army" mentality and practices.

Very interesting man, and probably one of the best sources for insight into the US Army during the 1950's to late 1970's.

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Old 08-12-2020, 10:39 PM
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Note the ridiculous amount of "fruit salad" they are wearing. I enlisted in 1967, met officers and NCOs who had served in WWII, Korea And Vietnam and they didn't have that much. I have read that now people get a ribbon for graduating from Basic-?
I graduated from boot camp in October of 1969, I got my first stripe and if memory serves me correctly we were given the National Defense Ribbon. I remember how proud I was to get my "mosquito wing" and thankful to my ma for teaching me how to put a button on a shirt. I remember how odd it was when I was stationed in Germany and we got a new Company Commander. He was a Captain with nothing more than the NDR ribbon on his greens, "I had more time in the *******..."
I was eligible for a good conduct medal but never wore one because I felt that it should be either issued or handed to me.
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Old 08-12-2020, 10:53 PM
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This is President Johnson giving General Westmoreland some sort of metal. All the upper brass was there, important people, even the President of South Viet Nam

Several of us were chosen from our unit (101st) to go somewhere in the next few days. We were told to be clean, wear our best jungle fatigues and clean our weapons and web gear. We were told to shine our boots, which we never shined our boots. Only thing was, no one had anything to shine our boots with, but someone did find several cans of black spray paint in supply. So, this is what we used. At least it was flat and not glossy. The Battery Commander was impressed with the results. The rumors was we were going to the Bob Hope Show, but as I pointed out and someone else, why clean our weapons and web gear. Well, everyone was sure it was Bob Hope but instead we landed at Camn Ran Bay airport, to see and hear the President of the United States.

All forces were there, some from the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. While several hundred men were in formation, on the tarmac, as the President had landed and about to depart the plane, the Secret Service noticed that EVERY ONE was armed with our M-16's and the Officers with 45's and we always carried at least a basic load of ammo. 7 magazines, each holding 20 rounds each. Before President Johnson would depart the plane, everyone had to go and stack arms and equipment. I guess someone would have taken a shot at him otherwise. Anyway,
there we were, without any weapons and feeling naked without them and listened to the President talking about why we were there, how important a job we were doing, how we were winning and it was only a matter of time before this would be
over. We knew when to clap as he would pause with his speech.

Also, the Secret Service was walking up and down and in and out of the ranks looking for anyone either with a weapon and anyone that could harm the President and when they would go through the ranks they didn't say anything, they just pushed anyone out of their way to get through. Afterwards, everyone thought it was so funny and we told everyone when we got back at base camp. This was Dec. 23, 1967. I thought, the President would be home for Xmas but I would still be here.
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Old 08-12-2020, 11:00 PM
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Herbert was subjected to a smear campaign because he tried to expose war crimes and other problems, was denied Command and General Staff School and basically squeezed out of the Army. The same thing happened to Hugh Thompson, the pilot hero of MyLai. Current scholarship has found that Herbert understated the problem.
Korea took the Army-and everybody else by surprise, hence it had a WWII look to it-for shame.
There was the attempt to establish the "Distinguished Warfare Medal"-which would have ranked ahead of the Bronze Star-for drone pilots and people seeing "combat" on a computer screen from thousands of miles away. That led to a great hue and a cry and was quickly shot down, one critic stated the system was already overloaded with non-valor awards.
From WWI:
The captain got the Purple Heart, Parlez-Vous
The captain got the Purple Heart, Parlez-Vous
The captain the Purple Heart
He tore his pants on a laundry cart
Hinky Dinky Parlez Vous
The general got the Croix de Guerre, Parlez-Vous
The general got the Croix de Guerre, Parlez-Vous
The general got the Croix de Guerre
The son of a gun was never there
Hinky Dinky Parlez Vous

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Old 08-13-2020, 01:21 PM
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"... and it will be mandatory by 2028."

The uniform will probably change before then.

No matter what they try, the army will never look as sharp as the Marines.
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Old 08-13-2020, 01:47 PM
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"No matter what they try, the army will never look as sharp as the Marines.
I am in full agreement with you when it comes to dress uniforms.

However, I found it quite humorous that when BDU's came out, we were required to roll up the sleeves so that the outer camo showed. You could tell who the "Jar Heads" were a mile away since they had a light region at the elbow where the sleeves were rolled up willy nilly.
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Old 08-13-2020, 03:35 PM
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The thing I remember about the old wool and cotton uniform was that if you had the ability to take the jacket off the dress greens and shirt with a wife-beater and loosely tied tie was more comfortable than the heavy t-shirt and cotton khakis. For a short period during the summer I worked in Battalion where greens or khakis were the order of the day, once in the office and out of the jacket greens were far more comfortable. I have to agree with Gil, the Marines have always had the best looking uniform...however Army dress blues look very sharp and professional. Wool and cotton have their advantages being natural they breath a bit better than polyesters, wool will keep you warm when wet and will dry from the inside out.
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Old 08-13-2020, 03:40 PM
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I am in full agreement with you when it comes to dress uniforms.

However, I found it quite humorous that when BDU's came out, we were required to roll up the sleeves so that the outer camo showed. You could tell who the "Jar Heads" were a mile away since they had a light region at the elbow where the sleeves were rolled up willy nilly.
There was the white tee shirts too.
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Old 08-13-2020, 05:55 PM
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Thanks you for this information, i find this interesting enough that i just purchased a copy of the book off eBay.
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For proper perspective, Anthony Herbert is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, entered the Army as a private during Korea, rose to Master Sergeant, and was publicly acknowledged as America's most decorated soldier of the time. Left the Army, graduated college, received a reserve commission and later a Regular Army commission. One of the earliest Special Forces officers. Commanded a battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. Author of "Soldier", his autobiography, which includes some incidents dealing with the "institutional army" mentality and practices.

Very interesting man, and probably one of the best sources for insight into the US Army during the 1950's to late 1970's.
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Old 08-13-2020, 11:28 PM
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I am in full agreement with you when it comes to dress uniforms.

However, I found it quite humorous that when BDU's came out, we were required to roll up the sleeves so that the outer camo showed. You could tell who the "Jar Heads" were a mile away since they had a light region at the elbow where the sleeves were rolled up willy nilly.
That's the way we have always rolled up our long sleeves. Here's a funny little story: When I was in Kosovo, we (the US international police officers) wore navy blue BDUs. One of my co-workers, a retired cop from Illinois, who had never been in the military, rolled his sleeves up like the Army did, where the cuff is above the elbow and buttoned. He tried to tell me that was the proper way and that ALL of the services did it that way. He wouldn't believe me when I told him that us jarheads didn't do it that way. I had to find a picture on the Internet of Marines with their sleeves rolled up and he STILL didn't want to accept it! YANKEES!
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Old 08-13-2020, 11:59 PM
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None of you guys should be complaining. I was kinda in the military and our dress uniforms were designed by the chromatically challenged.
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