This has been a great thread, and I've really enjoyed reading the stories about the venerable Army field jacket. Here's another one for the collection... On my first leave back home after Army basic, and on my way to Basic Medic school (AIT - Advanced Individual Training), I visited the local gun store where I was pretty well known. Of course, on the day I chose to visit, a local know-it-all blow hard was holding court. This guy knew everything about everything, and was really getting on everyone's nerves (think Foghorn Leghorn, only not funny because this guy actually believed his own lies). Someone mentioned that I was on leave from the Army, and this guy started talking about how he qualified as "high expert" with every weapon in the Army's inventory.
So, I began asking him:
Me: M-79?
Him: High Expert
Me: M-14?
Him: High Expert
Me: 1911?
Him: High Expert
Me: M-16?
Him: High Expert
Me: Krag-Jorgenson rifle
Him: High Expert
Me: 1903 Springfield rifle
Him: High Expert
By this time the other guys are hiding their smiles behind their hands. So I decided to play my trump card:
"Well sir, how did you do with the old M-65?" I asked him.
"Well, son, I of course scored high expert with it. In fact, I scored so well on the range with the M-65 that the commanding general took one of his medals off oh his own uniform and pinned it on my uniform."
"Uh, sir, you do realize the M-65 is a field jacket, don't you?" I said. "I bet it's hell when you put that zipper on automatic - ain't it?"
I don't know how we managed it, but everyone kept their laughter to themselves until the "high expert" slunk out of the door.
Regards,
Dave