5 years at Beale AFB california and 2-1/2 at Altus AFB oklahoma 1985-1993. being a still photographic specialist and a graphic arts specialist i really only carried a Canon F1-n and an AE-1. i used my own gear primarily since the photo specialty was a secondary and i only did it 'outside' occasionally. standard issue stuff was Nikon F3. lenses were 24mm f2.0, 35mm f2.0, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8 and 200mm F2.8. not the fastest lenses but a full stop more than the 'normal' stuff hobbyists would buy. i worked for Gannett News prior to signing up...

other than that, i served for 3 years on the Base Honor Guard in california and i carried the American Flag, the Air Force Flag or a Garand in parades, but i also carried 8 caskets out of 17 funerals performed.........................

Talk about memories, I think this is the only picture I have from 23 months there. What you see, plus a c-ration spoon with hole bored in the handle on a string around my neck and a buck folding knife on my belt. P.S. - I'm the taller one.

P-38 on the dog tag chain, a swiss army knife. Most variants of the M16A1 and A2, M1911A1, M92, M39-2, PPK/S and a "pig" on a few occassions.

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You do what you are.

You could definitely dig a hole with a spoon from an Army dining facility.

One of my chaplain friends told me about a situation he once witnessed: his division commander was eating lunch in the mess hall and sat down at a table across from a young PFC. The two-star struck up a conversation with the young man and learned that he was about to ETS. The general asked, "So, son, what did you learn during your time in the Army?"

The PFC thought for a minute before answering, "How to say 'm*****f***er' and eat with a big spoon."

I was an MP 1967-70. I carried an M-16, .38 S&W Combat Masterpiece, my wits about me, my head held high, my butt with both hands and a desire to not get hurt. By the way, I own a .38 like the one I carried in my gun cabinet today. Nice shooter.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Served in Tikrit, Iraq in 2005.

The most unique thing I carried was a Red-tailed Hawk feather around my neck.

For years before I deployed, it was on a string on my bedpost.

Brought it with me when I deployed, it worked it's charms (don't know if the feather actually helped, but I survived).

Left it behind in Iraq...kind of an "offering" to the desert.

Always a P38 / a photo of my Mom and a jammed round I took off a soldier who tried to use it on me. I keep them still on my key chain and in my wallet. They remind me of how human we are and how lucky I am. I came home and the other fellow didn't. I am still trying to understand the why me instead of why him. Will let you know if I ever find the answer.

04-05, Kirkuk, Iraq, I was dual carry and carried an M16A2 the first 6 months, and an M4A-sumthin' the second 6 months. Plus an M9 the whole time. Kept the M9 in a drop holster because I was dismounted most of the time.

10-11, Baghdad, Iraq, I was blessed with a mostly desk job and only carried an M9, no rifle. They first issued me a compact SIG M11, but I hated the way it balanced (very top heavy) and traded it with a guy who desperately wanted a SIG. Apparently the M11 was some kind of status symbol to some soldiers.

I regularly shot my M9 in Iraq the first deployment, and am a true-blue M9 believer. As long as you kept your magazines clean and with fresh springs, you were good to go. For added good measure, I downloaded the mags to 13 rounds. That last round or two is what really wears out those springs.

My mom actually made me a little booklet with pictures of friends, family and other memorable moments. Besides that I carried grenades, Steyr AUG , Glock 17, dog tags, a Leatherman and Cohiba cigars from Cuba in Afghanistan

Dr. Pepper and Vodka...called it a "Redneck Russian" ...

TL29, 6" Crescent Hammer, Personal Dosimeter, Zippo lighter, Marlboros...a 1911A1 Condition 3 w/ 2 spare mags on watch ...

we traveled extremely light and fast. the basic must haves: condoms, a zippo lighter, cigarettes, weed, papers/pipe/ a spare screen, a paperback book whatever you traded for, water, bug repelant, spare socks and free Huey T-shirt, Swiss army knife. food we ate as quick as we got it so you didn't have to carry it or cuz we had the munchies. burn your draft card and ROTC BABY. run over to Canada, J.K. but funny that a lot of hippies and soldiers carried similar items. almost forgot the most important thing, dry toilet paper.

A p38 and a St. Christopher medal.

Haha the Dosimeter... Had to wear that **** all the time till the first time we were inspecting fuel trucks in Afghanistan... A friend of mine dropped his in a fuel truck and was called into the hospital in KAIA after his dosimeter was found, no human being would have survived the dose

Day-timer, a couple of pens, lock-back Buck knife, bunch of keys on a halyard-clip, hearing protection of some sort and a mini-maglight.

My usual weapon was an M16 with a 203.

It was my choice.

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Dum vivo cano

TL-29, small vice-grips. Good for opening access panels on RA-5C.
West-Pac '72-'73

I always carried a 5.56, 7.62 and .50 cal bullet in my pocket.

Just the bullet, not the whole round. I'm not sure why, It was just something I started and kept up.

Of course I had my smokes too.

Well, a lot of my time was spent wandering around Cecil Field helping to keep A-7's from falling out of the sky. While we had toolboxes assigned to us, the two things you generally had were cannon plug pliers and safety wife pliers. But the one thing I always carried (and still have) was a standard Navy issue TL-29. Note to anyone possessing and using a TL-29. If the screwdriver blade still has a sharp edge, run it lightly across a grinder or file to dull the blade. Do not ask me how I know this. Oh yeah, after I made E-5 I got my own squadron coffee cup with my name, a PO2 crow and the squadron emblem on it. Still have it.

CW

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μολὼν λαβέ

It Viet Nam I carried my dog tags with a Episcopal Servicemen medal and a p-38. A buck folder, a case 2 blade pocket knife. In my ruck sack a serviceman prayer book, socks, 2 c rat meals ammo a poncho liner a magnesium fire starter. In my shirt pocket a spoon, my cigarettes a zippo, in the other shirt pocket was a ziplok baggie my ID and a picture of my wife. I was issued a S&W combat master peace and 3 speed loaders my dad sent me. I was also issued an M-16 that was a ***, so traded some plywood that belonged to the army for a army Remington 870 shotgun. My flax vest was on the forklift or if in was inside the aircraft in was on the edge of the ramp along with the vest was spare ammo. in the rainy season the ruck and vest were wrap in a poncho.

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Carpriver.

10-4 on DeathGrips thoughts. In the CG if you could not pass the Aircrew physical you were sent back to the standard ratings. We worked on them and we flew on them so it made for more careful work and QCing.
As for personal gear I flew with 4 knives on me. My survival knife, a shroud cutter, my work knife and my personal 2-1/2" Case. My vest had Shark repellent, marker dye, smoke, mirror and pin flares. My flight bag had the usual junk, helmet, gloves, a couple of candy bars and what ever of the canned fruit/puddings I could scrounge up. Amazing how nice the pilots can be if you hand them something to nibble on when we would be out for a few hours on a mission. Good way to do my service.
Larry

I am really glad this thread came back up.. I am gathering info from the posts and will write the story soon...keep the posts coming

being 4-F all life I enjoy the read of what you carry as much as any thing I've read lately and yesterday was ARMED FORCES DAY!!!
Salute to you all,,,keep carrying!!!!

1959 an AM transistor radio; much later (1961-62) a 35mm camera (Ft Lewis had a good photo lab).

A clip board allowed you to go anywhere on base and nobody would bother you; later a clip board and a pipe in your mouth was the free pass, no one wanted to ask what you were doing

A copy of Kipling's poems and short stories, an LSU flag, personal camera, Sacred Heart medal, Ek knife.

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Gunner, Sabot Up!

As a Navy "doc" serving w/the Marines in Nam in 1966 I carried my personal Case folding knife (long since lost) and a well worn USMC 1911. It was carried w/a full mag, hammer down on an empty chamber (forgot the condition #). I was issued a R/H holster b/c there were no leftie holsters over there. Aside from all the medical stuff I always had my P-38 on my dog tag chain, poncho & bonnie hat. Back then I was so skinny I wasn't able to carry much more.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Thanks for your service Old Cop (and everyone else) Navy Corpsmen were some of the best warriors I ever served with and helped us grunts hump some of our weapons at times when they didn't have to.
I still have my crucifix, P-38 and dog tag that I wore around my neck, and my Zippo lighter. I use to keep my smokes and a book of matches in a plastic box to keep them dry. Extra dry socks and toilet paper, as others have mentioned, were a must.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

I served before either the M14 or M16 were widely distributed. Accordingly, my issue weapon was an M1 carbine; by choice I also packed my personal accurized and reliability-tuned Ithaca 1911A1. Dog tags and a GI pocket knife pretty much completed the ensemble.

Oh yes, I also carried this picture of my high school sweetheart in my wallet:



I was one of the lucky ones. I married her!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Hey Old Cop, I was an FMF corpsman too and I was in Vietnam in '66. I was in Chu Lai with the 5th Marines. At that time in that place the Marines did not yet have the M16s they were still with the M14s, arguably a much better weapon. I was classified as a NON COMBATANT because I was a medic but there was really no such thing as a non combatant. As non combatants the medics were not issued shoulder weapons. My only issue was the 1911. It was a real beater. Not all that accurate and pretty banged up.

We were allowed to have what ever we could get. There were always some guys rotating back to the world that had "personal" items of self defense for sale. At one time or another i had a Tompson .45, M14, and I had a shortened machete looking thing every one called a "Nago knife". I didn't keep the Tommy gun very long but I mostly had the M14 and always had the Nago knife and the 1911 on my web belt.

A Buck #120 General Knife taped to my LBS with green duct tape, a Zippo lighter from the PX at Sill, a P-38 can opener on my dogtag chain, a stainless flatware spoon, an Army lineman's pocketknife. In the field, I carried a AN/PRC 77 radio with a KY-38 encryption box, two spare batteries, an M79 with ammo vest and a M1911 '45, two smoke grenades, an M-2 lensatic compass, ruler and a couple of maps.

God, I hated wet weather.

Tom Kanis
LTC FA (ret)
RVN Central Highlands 70-71
USA and USAR 66-96

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Long Barrel
Retired Artilleryman

Generally a tool box. The only time I was issued a firearm it was a M16 on my way TDY from Japan to RVN in Feb. of 1968. We landed at Nha Trang and they promptly took it away and locked it up in a conex container near the flightline shops.

I never saw it again. I did manage to keep 2 loaded 20 round magazines in my tool bag though.

LTC

P-38 hanging from the dog tags. An Ek knife my Dad carried in WWII along with a Buck knife. If the CO allowed it we could carry a personal side arm. I carried my Model 19{and still do}. M60 machine gun on my Huey. Was issued an M16 but rarely used it as my main gun was the M60. A cross given me by my girl friend at the time. Still have it around my neck, but the girl sent a Dear John about 2 months in country. Picked a new gal when I got home and have been married to her ever since.
And the spoon. My sister would send me cookies. If and when they caught up to me, they would be nothing but a box of crumbs. Had to use the spoon to eat the cookies.

Browning Hi-Power, Boy Scout Knife (had since I was a cub), can opener, hockey stick tape, fire starter.

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Existimo ergo sum armis

I read a book by a General (cant remember the book or the General's name) one thing he always carried was a spoon. I guess you can eat anything with a spoon, and in a real pinch I guess you could dig a hole.

I believe that was General Joseph (Vinegar Joe) Stilwell. You could eat about any C ration with just a spoon so that made good sense. Not a lot of difference in size between the mess spoon and the e tool either.

In Vietnam I carried a 4" Buck knife, and a Swiss Army Knife. Used the tools on the SAK more than anything else. Also carried a Kodak Retina 2a rangefinder camera; nice and flat, fitted in any pocket of the fatigue uniform. I took over 10 rolls of film while in RVN.

Like so many vets here I still carry my P-38 on my key ring. It's part of me also dated Jan. 1951. I think I'll will it to my son. Opened a bunch of rations plus a lot of beer cans.

While I was in boot camp we were all going through grenade training...Heres grenade, Take grenade, Pull Pin, Throw Grenade. We did the first few throws with dummies, worked up to concussion grenades then finally the big day, we are throwing live frags at targets out in the field. Each of us got into a pit where there were boxes of grenades and a drill sergeant. They called for ready on the line and commence throwing grenades. It is still very vivid in my memory due to what happened. I seem to remember there being about six pits and we were to throw our grenades in order, I was down the line about 4 or 5. I remember we had to assume a semi covered position down in the hole. I could hear the D.I.s down the line giving the orders then a boom outside, getting progressively louder. Now its the guy right next to me and I clearly hear the D.I. Heres Grenade, Take Grenade, Pull-Pin, Throw Grenade, Throw Grenade, THROW GRENADE, there is a very brief pause and a very loud, earth shaking BOOM, dirt rains down. My D.I. says ON YOUR FEET, I get up and not 10 feet outside my pit is a smoking hole, my D.I. says "See if you can get yours a little further away from here". Heres Grenade, Take Grenade, Pull-Pin, Throw Grenade...I threw that ******** way out there. I carried that grenade pin all the way throw the service, attached to my first issued P-38 can opener and a small PROTO screwdriver that was little more than a small round handle and blade that was given to me by a PROTO tool dealer, I still carry the screwdriver it was all in the black when I got it, it is nearly all polished today.
My mother gave me a very nice St. Christopher medal on a silver chain, I wore it until one fine day I while body surfing at China Beach, RVN...Yes there really was a China Beach but I never saw a round-eyed nurse, I was riding in on a really neat wave, back arched, feet pointed, best wave I ever caught over there and the beach ended so sharply that before I could come to my senses and realize I was getting dumped, the wave broke and slammed me right onto the beach so hard it tore the medal off my chest...it was a great wave.

The 3rd P-38 that came my way in Basic (I was a slow learner) on my dog tags, M16A1, Gerber Folding Sportsman II pocket knife, lensatic compass, small roll of commo wire for making lean-to's when possible, laminated photo of my folks, and on my LBE, the GI wire cutters/case dated 1942 that my grandfather used in combat throughout WWII.

When Stateside in the field, several quarters wrapped tightly in paper in the water-purification tablet pocket of my canteen pouch, in case I ever got near a pay phone, so I could call my wife. (Hey, it happened a couple of times!) The near-useless GI angle-head flashlight with red filter. Small "Esbit" pocket folding stove I got for about $1.50 in the PX in Augsburg, Germany. Said to be a copy of the stoves issued to German soldiers in WWII, and still a very light, small and useful piece of gear!!

Like everyone else, a spare C-rat spoon at all times in the field...

I wore the dog tags and P-38 for many years after I got out of the service -- old habits die hard, and I figured if I got in a wreck and was turned into a crispy critter, the dog tags would be helpful to somebody. Finally retired the original P-38 for safe-keeping after I almost lost it, but still carry one every day on my key chain, plus a dog tag.

When I got out, I kept my canteen/cup/cover, and the quarters are still there, almost 30 years later, untouched -- although pay-phones have about become extinct. Still have the Wife (32 years and counting!), Gerber and Esbit. Wish I had kept some commo wire. It was strong as hell and always useful. It just now occurs to me that the Army probably doesn't use field phones (TA-312) any more, and hasn't for years... I saw so many miles of it over the years, it never occurred to me that it might ever become extinct!

John
Army Intelligence
Germany and 5th Infantry Div. (Red Devils), Ft. Polk, LA
1977-84

If the statue of limitations is over I will admit having an AK-47 with me whenever I traveled in Iraq (the army did not want to trust contractors with guns). Glad to say I never shot a bullet out of it!! I carried it in an Folding chair bag and passed it to my replacement who actually got to shoot it all the time on the range. Sadly, it got passed back into the system when he left country. Beside the AK I always had a benchmade switch blade knife with me.