Hi:
What era did the Army adopted the "Smoky The Bear" Hat?
In the Spanish-American War the Army Hat was a "Western" style Hat.
In WWI the "Campaign Hat" was here and used thru WWII.
When the Army Uniform became "Khaki" did the "Campaign Hat" began?
Jimmy

There is a history of the hat on Wikipedia. Looks like it was adopted in 1911 along with some sort of sidearm.

In 1966, at Fort Gordon Georgia, that is one hat you just didn't mess with.

__________________
Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

I think that was called a Cowboy Cap.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Actually, it's called a "Montana Peaked" hat and I got mine when I completed WoodBadge.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

What is the difference between a Campaign and a Montana Hat? I have seen both referred to in the period prior to WW1

I collect them!
Ron

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	medical.jpg (70.3 KB, 128 views)

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	MG Infantry.jpg (71.4 KB, 63 views)
	motor transport.jpg (81.7 KB, 68 views)
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The 1889 Campaign hat was to be worn with a center crease. There was a lot of leeway as evidenced by this photo of the 69th NY in 1898. The Montana peak style was soon adopted by the Army however, the Marine Corp kept the center crease until the First World war.

The Montana peaked service hat was sometimes known as the "campaign hat", according to U.S. Army Uniforms of World War II.

According to the above reference:In 1939 the garrison cap was adopted as a standard item for troops, and the "Montana peak" service hat was confined to mounted units and to departments outside the contiguous United States.

Here is my reproduction of an early Marine Corps cover. Marines referred to them as field hats. The Eagle, Globe and Anchor started on the side and then moved to the front. The Montana peak field hat was adopted by the Corps around 1912.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Ronald1-do the various colored cords signify branch of service?

In my Father's era (15th. Cavalry, B troop) yellow cord was Cavalry/ Mounted Troop, Blue Cord was Infantry, Red Cord was Artillary, Multi Colored Cord was Mechanial (spi) and Medical was White color.

Yes.
The first batch from l-r: Cavalry
Chemical
Engineer
Infantry
Medical

Second batch l-r : Machine gun Infantry
Transportation
Quartermaster
Signal Corp
Company Grade Officer

Seems to me, I might've seen some of those...maybe
in San Diego??
TACC1

I also saw them at Parris Island. One of the only times I laughed out loud was when my drill instructor's cover blew off of his head and rolled into a ditch... I did pushups for a long time but it was worth it!

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

Yes signifies branch within Army, same for the Stetson that you still see some Armor and Cavalry Soldiers wear. Stetson are tradition for cav so at some functions they will allow wear of them mainly ceremonial or some event at Bn or Sqdn level.

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US Army (Ret) 83'-05'

My Air Force TACP squadron went to Iraq with the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, 2004-2005. There was an entire CONEX (20 foot container) dedicated to packing everyone's slouch (sometimes Stetson, but also other manufacturers) hats. They were worn at specific ceremonies, even in Iraq. The 1st Cav takes their hats seriously.

The WW1 campaign is somewhat different than current made campaign hats. WW1 EM hats had 5 rows of stitching, slightly smaller and different wave silk band, shape to peak and weight of material. All minor and not that noticable unless you see and collect different models.
WW1 cords were solid colors. Some branches had cords with interwoven colors, (chemical, engineers, medical and so on).
The only exception was machien gun infantry and machine gun cavalry (which had blue cords with red acorns).
Post WW1 cords had cords of one color and acorns of another. Some more changes but not too important for this thread. Ron

Like this one?

As was pointed out, "Montana Peak" is just the name of the crease. There are many, many types of creases, all with their own particular name.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Spurs, too.

Regards,

Dave

I just hung one up. It has a star on the front.

That's true, too. I earned mine and wore them at my retirement.

Here's my Marine officer's field hat, made by the John B Stetson Co.

The enlisted version (DI version) has a leather head band, with the buckle centered in the front. The officer's version has the scarlet and gold hat cord.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

You need a hat board for that puppy!

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

I sure do! I had one, but it disappeared during the last move.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

In the 50's in boot Camp....When you saw that cover you automaticaly puckered up. and for darn good reason....

As a 1st Cav vet, I can attest it takes its Indian War history waaay too seriously. Between the Horse Platoon, the Stetsons, spurs, and the Robert Duvall Apocalypse Now image, I always felt I was in a bad John Ford movie. That was 81-84, though.

You can create a "hat board" by taking two square pieces of cardboard and cutting a hole in one to match the crown diameter.

Cover both "insides" of the cardboard squares with wax paper, cellophane, or aluminum foil.

Steam the hat brim very well off the stove with the "War Departments" tea kettle. Do this when she's out shopping so she doesn't know/object to what you are doing with her kettle...and the noise.

When still wet from steaming, place the "Cover" (as us Marines call it) inside the two pieces of cardboard with the inner covering of material to keep the cardboard from adhering to the wet hat. Clamp it shut with bricks, tape, big paper clips, etc., anything that will hold it TIGHT in place.

Take the hat to a "hide-away" so that the War Department doesn't ask, "What is that?" And then follows up with, "How did you do that?' Because then she will say, "YOU DID WHAT WITH MY TEA-KETTLE...ON MY STOVE!!"

The next day go to the hide-away and remove your hat. It will be stiff enough to once again get in the face of a "boot" and whack his forehead with the brim!

You could probably do this ONCE with the War Department as a joke!

__________________
Have guns...will shoot'em.

Here's a picture of a simple, homemade hat press.

__________________
Pack light and cinch tight.

Mule Packer,

The one I had was made like that except it was glued together, not laced.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

In many photos of troops wearing the single crease hat-the top appears to be pinched together-almost making a ridge. Also, a lot of the Montana peaks are differing heights. Particularly during the Spanish American War and Phillipine Insurection they had to equip thousands-and do it fast. So, hat sizes weren't exactly custom considerations. Same with the Montana Peaked hats-hence those punched in parts of the hat cold be deeper or made a bit more shallow.
Both hats aren't the best thing for the tropics-Pith helmets were issued when money was available.

In 1972 some wise acre took or hid our DI's campaign hat. It was a very rough week until the cover mysteriously reappeared. The thief was never apprehended but the entire platoon suffered the penalty.

If you spray a little starch or seizing on while damp from steam, it will hold up longer on those hot/humid days also, but after doing that would not recommend whacking "War Department" in forehead as it could break skin. (No Sir that's not a mark from that campaign hat on the privates forehead, he must have run into something getting to the latrine, I told them privates to walk when mopping latrine floor, as to not slip and hit their head)

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US Army (Ret) 83'-05'

Just another photo - On the firing line at Ft. Casey Washington