Weapons depended on my job at the time, I was a SAW(M249) gunner for a few months, and then an RTO for a line platoon leader, a company XO, and eventually for the company CO for the better part of my four years in the regular Army. When I was an RTO it was an M16A2 and a SINCGARS PRC-119 (with the ANCD device in my left cargo pocket tied down with dummy cord)
I always had either a Camillus K-Bar or a pilots survival knife on my LBV, a folding SOG or Spyderco in my right BDU trousers pocket, a Leatherman, camo stick, matches, a lensatic compass in my BDU breast pocket with the lanyard running through the little slot that was allegedly not for pens according to every Sergeant Major I ever met.
Also, a red lens Mini-Maglite, varying map protractors, markers, erasers, call for fire and medevac cards, signal mirror, VS-17 panel, an extra hand mic that was waterproofed, 550 cord, commo wire to make a "Two-niner-two", and a neatly folded map that was the envy of any new Lieutenant, and the required packing list items.
I always carried an extra battery for the radio (over the packing list requirments), pyro if issued for signal, and a tommy cooker (tablet stove). That stove was used to warm water in a canteen cup to make instant coffee, tea, or cocoa-to cheese up to whomever I was humping a radio for at the time....I ain't gonna lie guys.
With that being said I never saw combat as an 11B but did catch a nasty case of foot rot in the ROK (Camp Giant A 1/506 Inf)....
Tim O'Brien's book was one of the first I read after leaving the Army and entering college..........basically in LIT 101 or Writing About Lit 102........O'Brien strikes at your heart with his account of his friend's mocassins and the disposition of them. If you are not familiar, look it up-very worthwhile.
When Joaquin Jackson wrote "One Ranger" he titles a chapter something to the effect of "The Things I Carried......with no offense to Tim O'Brien".
God bless you all, thanks for your service, and I mean that....
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