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CAP, GARRISON, OD with insigina and Piping
Sometimes called an overseas cap (after its Great War predecessor) this item of headgear was made in olive
drab wool serge, for those occasions where the helmet was not necessary. Early war caps had an expanding box
pleat in the top, which are pattern preferred for the D-Day period we depict. To simplify construction and
conserve material, the caps were re-designed very later in the war to have a square cut top. The edges of the
cap were invariably piped in the colour of branch of service.
UNDERSHIRT, COTTON, SUMMER, SLEEVELESS, OD
Like the under shorts, each GI was issued five singlets. These too, were initially white at the start of the war,
but due to camouflage reasons, production was changed to olive drab cotton. Original undershirts are
available as are very good reproductions and, like the GI under shorts, the choice between original and
reproduction is left to the individual's scruples.
SHIRT, FLANNEL, OD, COAT STYLE
Like the wool trousers, every GI received two wool shirts. The phrase coat style is because it opened fully at the
front unlike the "pull over" predecessors and had two breast pockets with button down flaps. The shirt came in
two types - 'regular' and 'special', the only difference being the special had a gas flap behind the buttons and
gussets to protect against vesicant chemicals. Some shirts also have a pair of buttons underneath the collar
intended as fastenings for the gas hood. Many soldiers removed the gas flaps as they added thickness and bulk
when worn with their Class A & B uniform.
NECKTIE, COTTON, MOHAIR, KHAKI
With the adoption of the open necked service coat, the US Army adopted a black cotton tie for formal functions,
however by 1940 this had become black mohair which, by 1942 had become substituted for a light olive drab
mohair finish. Photographic evidence suggests ties were never worn in combat although General Patton was
insistent that all soldiers in the 3d Army carried their ties and fines were issued for soldiers that refused to
wear them. One presumes his logic is that would smarten the troops up or give them a potential tourniquet.
Fortunately, after Sicily, the 1st Division and Patton seldom worked together.
JACKET, FIELD, OD (SECOND PATTERN)
Prior to 1939, the US Army's intention was to fight in the service coat. However as the clouds of war closed in,
the Army decided to search for a more practical garment for fighting in, and which would ultimately consign
the service coat to dress occasions. The resulting garment was based on a civilian jacket it was short olive drab
jacket made from windproof, water-repellent cotton poplin with a flannel lining. It had two slash pockets at the
front, adjustable cuff and neck closures and had pleats at the shoulder allowing more flexibility. As one might
expect, the jacket was not a particularly successful as the poplin material tended to wear out quickly in
combat, was hot in summer and cold in winter, lacked a decent pocket capacity, and tended to show up against
dark backgrounds. While attempts to improve the garment resulted in the M1943 combat jacket, such
quantities had been produced that these were the most common jacket until well into 1945. Collectors
anachronistically call these jackets as M41 (after the pattern date) to differentiate them from the later M43
pattern. The real GIs, untutored in designs, patterns and model numbers simply call them field jackets.
SHOULDER PATCH
This is the Divisional Patch, Located on the upper part of the outer half of the left sleeve of the service coat. It
was also authorised to be worn on the overcoat, field jacket and shirt (when worn as an outer garment). The
top of the patch was to be 1/2 inch below top of the shoulder seam.
DRAWERS,COTTON,SHORTS, OD
According to the table of issue, every GI received five pairs of under shorts. Early in the war, they were white,
but as the war progressed, and interests of camouflage, they were produced in olive drab colour. They had
three buttons at the waistband and had -in lieu of elastic tie fasteners for final adjustment. While unissued
and reproduction underwear is available (and surprisingly comfortable) this is one area of authenticity we
leave to the individual's conscience!
BELT, WEB,WAIST, EM, M-1937
Every soldier was issued one of these trouser belts. At 1 1/4 inch width, the belt had a metal tip and an "open
face" buckle, which is a design still in service today. While "Closed face buckles", akin to those worn by officers,
were sold at the PX, we insist on the "open face" type, which was more typical of the type issued to the enlisted
man.
TROUSERS, WOOL, SERGE, OD, LIGHT SHADE
On entering the service, every soldier was issued two pairs of wool or more accurately 18-ounce serge
trousers. The trousers have two side seam pockets, a watch pocket on the right front waistband and two rear
hip pockets. Because they are made from a lighter shade material than the service coat and, to differentiate
them from the darker, later war production runs, they have earned the anachronistic term of "mustards" by
collectors. The cut of the wool trousers was improved following combat experience in North Africa, the most
notably being the increase of the seat by two inches and the addition of an anti-gas flap across the fly. Later
runs had flaps covering the rear pocket opening and button and tab adjusters at the bottom of the leg.
LEGGINGS, CANVAS, M-1938, DISMOUNTED
Leggings were issued to all enlisted men and came in four sizes. They were made of canvas duck material, and
fastened over the service shoes with a webbing strap. The leggings were then laced up by means of hooks and
eyelets, which made them notoriously unpopular with the soldiers, being awkward and time consuming to
lace up (especially when wet and cold).
SOCKS, WOOL, CUSHION SOLE, OD
There were two types of socks for the infantryman cotton and wool and every soldier was issued three pairs of
each. While original socks are available, modern military examples are acceptable and, longer lasting.
SHOES, SERVICE, REVERSE UPPER
The service shoes were ankle height, of russet leather with a composite rubber sole. The leather was flesh
outwards. The laces were of the brown flat type.
Sometimes called an overseas cap (after its Great War predecessor) this item of headgear was made in olive
drab wool serge, for those occasions where the helmet was not necessary. Early war caps had an expanding box
pleat in the top, which are pattern preferred for the D-Day period we depict. To simplify construction and
conserve material, the caps were re-designed very later in the war to have a square cut top. The edges of the
cap were invariably piped in the colour of branch of service.
UNDERSHIRT, COTTON, SUMMER, SLEEVELESS, OD
Like the under shorts, each GI was issued five singlets. These too, were initially white at the start of the war,
but due to camouflage reasons, production was changed to olive drab cotton. Original undershirts are
available as are very good reproductions and, like the GI under shorts, the choice between original and
reproduction is left to the individual's scruples.
SHIRT, FLANNEL, OD, COAT STYLE
Like the wool trousers, every GI received two wool shirts. The phrase coat style is because it opened fully at the
front unlike the "pull over" predecessors and had two breast pockets with button down flaps. The shirt came in
two types - 'regular' and 'special', the only difference being the special had a gas flap behind the buttons and
gussets to protect against vesicant chemicals. Some shirts also have a pair of buttons underneath the collar
intended as fastenings for the gas hood. Many soldiers removed the gas flaps as they added thickness and bulk
when worn with their Class A & B uniform.
NECKTIE, COTTON, MOHAIR, KHAKI
With the adoption of the open necked service coat, the US Army adopted a black cotton tie for formal functions,
however by 1940 this had become black mohair which, by 1942 had become substituted for a light olive drab
mohair finish. Photographic evidence suggests ties were never worn in combat although General Patton was
insistent that all soldiers in the 3d Army carried their ties and fines were issued for soldiers that refused to
wear them. One presumes his logic is that would smarten the troops up or give them a potential tourniquet.
Fortunately, after Sicily, the 1st Division and Patton seldom worked together.
JACKET, FIELD, OD (SECOND PATTERN)
Prior to 1939, the US Army's intention was to fight in the service coat. However as the clouds of war closed in,
the Army decided to search for a more practical garment for fighting in, and which would ultimately consign
the service coat to dress occasions. The resulting garment was based on a civilian jacket it was short olive drab
jacket made from windproof, water-repellent cotton poplin with a flannel lining. It had two slash pockets at the
front, adjustable cuff and neck closures and had pleats at the shoulder allowing more flexibility. As one might
expect, the jacket was not a particularly successful as the poplin material tended to wear out quickly in
combat, was hot in summer and cold in winter, lacked a decent pocket capacity, and tended to show up against
dark backgrounds. While attempts to improve the garment resulted in the M1943 combat jacket, such
quantities had been produced that these were the most common jacket until well into 1945. Collectors
anachronistically call these jackets as M41 (after the pattern date) to differentiate them from the later M43
pattern. The real GIs, untutored in designs, patterns and model numbers simply call them field jackets.
SHOULDER PATCH
This is the Divisional Patch, Located on the upper part of the outer half of the left sleeve of the service coat. It
was also authorised to be worn on the overcoat, field jacket and shirt (when worn as an outer garment). The
top of the patch was to be 1/2 inch below top of the shoulder seam.
DRAWERS,COTTON,SHORTS, OD
According to the table of issue, every GI received five pairs of under shorts. Early in the war, they were white,
but as the war progressed, and interests of camouflage, they were produced in olive drab colour. They had
three buttons at the waistband and had -in lieu of elastic tie fasteners for final adjustment. While unissued
and reproduction underwear is available (and surprisingly comfortable) this is one area of authenticity we
leave to the individual's conscience!
BELT, WEB,WAIST, EM, M-1937
Every soldier was issued one of these trouser belts. At 1 1/4 inch width, the belt had a metal tip and an "open
face" buckle, which is a design still in service today. While "Closed face buckles", akin to those worn by officers,
were sold at the PX, we insist on the "open face" type, which was more typical of the type issued to the enlisted
man.
TROUSERS, WOOL, SERGE, OD, LIGHT SHADE
On entering the service, every soldier was issued two pairs of wool or more accurately 18-ounce serge
trousers. The trousers have two side seam pockets, a watch pocket on the right front waistband and two rear
hip pockets. Because they are made from a lighter shade material than the service coat and, to differentiate
them from the darker, later war production runs, they have earned the anachronistic term of "mustards" by
collectors. The cut of the wool trousers was improved following combat experience in North Africa, the most
notably being the increase of the seat by two inches and the addition of an anti-gas flap across the fly. Later
runs had flaps covering the rear pocket opening and button and tab adjusters at the bottom of the leg.
LEGGINGS, CANVAS, M-1938, DISMOUNTED
Leggings were issued to all enlisted men and came in four sizes. They were made of canvas duck material, and
fastened over the service shoes with a webbing strap. The leggings were then laced up by means of hooks and
eyelets, which made them notoriously unpopular with the soldiers, being awkward and time consuming to
lace up (especially when wet and cold).
SOCKS, WOOL, CUSHION SOLE, OD
There were two types of socks for the infantryman cotton and wool and every soldier was issued three pairs of
each. While original socks are available, modern military examples are acceptable and, longer lasting.
SHOES, SERVICE, REVERSE UPPER
The service shoes were ankle height, of russet leather with a composite rubber sole. The leather was flesh
outwards. The laces were of the brown flat type.