It seems that half of the things on this list are only relevant to guys who served in Europe. I would love to see a list of gear loved by the Marines or soldiers in the Pacific
Good comment, hopefully he's also knowledgeable about the Pacific Theatre too, but even if he's only specialized in the Western Front he's nonetheless awesome. Hopefully he is knowledgeable on both, or will endeavor to become so.
In fact the Majority of the U.S. Army was in the ETO. The PTO would have been greatly enlarged for Olympic and Coronet, then one would have maybe seen a change in these. But Japan had a rather cool climate like Europe.
What always amazes me about WW2 gear is just the sheer amount of cloth the factories must’ve gone through. I mean literally everything is canvas, wool or cotton and millions of troops had 10-20 pieces of gear all made of the stuff. Not to mention the different versions that got phased in and out. Just incredible
My wife had a couple of relatives working in one of the factories. I'd wonder if they made any of the stuff I had, but one was a secretary and her husband was a handyman, so they didn't actually make any web gear themselves. The brother of the lady was in the army, although it was the Wehrmacht as my wife's relatives were immigrants from Germany a decade before WW2.
They were US citizens by that point and he was registered for the draft but was a bit old to be likely to be called and was much more useful to the war effort keeping the machines that made web gear running.
The War Production Board forced the cotton growers to use mechanical cotton pickers so they could plant more acres in cotton and sell it for less due to now having much lower labor costs. The WPB also was able to buy wool from around the World after the US entered the war. The US Government economists figured out just what neutral countries needed to sustain their economies so the US Navy could restrict what they were receiving so the excess cargo wouldn't be passed on to Germany, Italy and Japan. The US in turn bought up their excess production of fibers, leather, foodstuffs, rubber and metals.
My dad had some of those. But remember that back then a lot of materials we have today did not exist. No plastics, no polyester, etc. Just metal, leather, cotton, wool.
It's the classic American look. Contrasted by the bearded hipster dudes of these recent generations. The old'school clean look is underappreciated I guess.
It’s because he’s clean shaven with good haircut! In the videos where he’s growing his beard he looks like any other white guy you’d see on the street haha
Thank you for the video. My father was in WWII. The interesting thing is that he wore suspenders most of the time that I knew him and we had that same folding shovel for digging the car out of snow. His group didn't have winter coats or boots for a long time so they cut holes in their sleeping bags and wore them upside down. One of his favorite memories was getting to sleep in a barn in France one night instead of in the snow. One of the other reasons for the suspenders was that they didn't get much to eat, so it kept their pants up as they got really thin.
That last paragraph made me laugh. Through some of our training, I lost 15 pounds (fat) then gained 10 (muscle) over 4 months. I bought suspenders for my combat pants. They were actually meant for mess dress (basically a tux), but they fit and reduced belt chafing a lot.
1. Suspenders to hold up ammo belts 2. Sweaters high neck, warmth 3. M43 shovel, folded to a pick, 4. Hoods, better warmth for neck, face and ears 5. Shelter half, fox hole liners, covers, camo, dry Thanks for this piece!
When I was a Boy Scout in the 1960s, some of our gear was WWII surplus. We almost all used the belts, various pouches, and the canteens. We didn't do much entrenching or foxhole digging so only a couple or three boys in the patrol would carry that great folding shovel for fire pits and latrines. We even used shlter halves occasionally, though we preferred more modern tents. Our most exciting use of surplus was that one of the parents owned a WWII deuce-and-a-half. One time we got to ride out to the campground in it, just like the soldiers we saw in the TV dramas and movies. Imagine the freak-outs if someone suggested doing that today 😀
Imagine how fast the parents would retain a attorney if their kid was hurt riding in it. You'll be amazed how quick a conservative leaning parent can become woke when money is involved.
I was infantry in Vietnam. We still used barter and field expediency for our equipment. We all had web gear which was a suspension system on an outside web belt. Electrical tape was used for everything (duct tape not invented yet). We made silent slings out of GI green handkerchiefs and electrical tape. For ammo and grenades we used canteen covers. We bastardized two kinds of packs to get a decent rucksack. I got four sets of camouflage gear from a departing Marine as the Army did not issue camouflage fatigues. I traded for a Marine KBar knife as the Army knife was ridiculous. The trade may have involved an AK-47 or liquor. I can’t remember. I really wished someone had thought of knee and elbow pads. That would have been a godsend. Thanks enjoyed the video:) PS I don’t know when the Army started issuing web gear. But I’m pretty sure the C-rats were from the 50’s:)
Duct (duck tape) tape was around in some version long before Vietnam. We actually used duct tape to temporarily patch bullet holes in our helicopter rotor blades. We called it 200mph tape.
@@choprjockThanks! I stand corrected. So either we didn’t have access to it for some reason. Or we just didn’t use it. Or my memory is worse than I thought haha:) Thanks for your service too!
I was Army stationed stateside in the 90's. We weren't issued the sweaters but I bought one and LOVED it! I was Infantry and would wear polypro top, sweater, and field jacket liner under BDU top. That would keep you warm in 20-deg weather.
Two points: G.I. wool sweaters are awesome and very warm. A very similar version was still being issued in the 1980s in brown. An entrenching tool is invaluable when you need to defecate and there is not a restroom or outhouse nearby, especially if you were in a defense and had to stay close to where you were making a deposit. It's called digging a cathole.
It’s great that a young person has such a devoted interest in WWII. My parents were both 23 in 1941, although I wasn’t born until twelve years after war’s end. Especially this time of year when I hear classic Christmas carols from WWII like, “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” I imagine living through that time, and what it was like for my parents. The disruption that Covid caused a few years ago was but a blip compared to WWII. While the time brought great anxiety, it also, as Japanese Admiral Yamamoto feared, awoke a sleeping giant. The U.S. was filled with a great sense of togetherness and resolve…something that we lack today. That spirit that was ignited over 80 years ago, is now sputtering and if today’s divisions aren’t overcome, this country will see its greatest years only in the rear view mirror.
My father, a US Marine in WW II, told us that one of the uses of the shovel was combat. The edges would be filed sharp. That helped cut roots when digging, brush when moving, and the enemy when in CQC conditions.
In the zombie survival anime "Gakkou Gurashi" (School Live), one character carried a shovel as a weapon, citing its role in war as an improvised close-quarters weapon.
My infantry service began in the mid 80s. We still used the sweater & shelter half you showed. Fortunately, suspenders were standard issue. Unfortunately, they were “Y” harnesses. Many of us bought “aftermarket” (e.g. Ranger Joe’s) “H” harnesses since they were much better at distributing weight. Your comments about Soldier ingenuity are right on target. Soldiers will get very creative when it comes to functionality, comfort and enhanced survival.
Your interest and knowledge of WW2 is beyond words. I love seeing a young man so interested in history no matter what aspect of history it is. WW2 was a major event in the history of the world so i love your enthusiasm and knowledge in this time period. Thank you for all the work you do to bring these things to our undetstanding.
Two items from a Vietnam 11Bravo. The rucksack we carried had all of the weight on your shoulders. The ruck came with a hip belt, but we never used it Without the belt, we could just drop and roll out of the ruck and start returning fire. The big negative was that it forced us to walk bent over to move the weight over the hips. I can't remember ever using the entrenching tool in the straight position to dig. Since our holes were only use for the one night, they weren't much more that a shallow ditch. The 90 degree position was used. The straight position could be used as a hatchet is close combat. Luckily, I never got that low on ammo.
I was stationed in Germany in the middle 80’s, and a lot of the field gear you mentioned-or at least variations of these things were still issued. We often wore the brown sweater; typically, over top of the BDU shirt. It was a compromise from wearing a field jacket all the time (especially if one were going from inside to outside often). Every soldier was issued a shelter half, but many times we erected GP Medium tents complete with kerosene heaters in which a dozen troops slept on cots. The shelter half canvas was reserved for use as a tarp (because it rained so damned much over there). Staying dry was a constant battle in the field… on training exercises that could last over a month. Since we were all issued the new Kevlar helmets, many of the uses people found for their steel pots could no longer be done, and the design of the new helmet made keeping one’s head warm underneath difficult. We did not have the WW2 “Jeep caps” by then, so most used watch caps, or these head covers that came with the sleeping bags. They were thin canvas head coverings that covered the ears down to Velcro straps that attached under the chin. One could loosen their helmet bands to wear the helmet over top these head covers. We of course did have suspenders as part of the LBE (Load Bearing Equipment), before the advent of MOLLE gear, and WAY before soldiers were issued body armor. Typically, on the suspenders one had the first aid pouch (a field dressing in a pouch) attached to the suspenders up near one’s shoulder, and a canteen/cover/cup with two magazine pouches hooked to the pistol belt. This was a standard uniformity that looked nice in formations, while in the field, far more items were attached. For example, some carried compasses in a similar pouch to the first aid kit (on the opposite suspender); most carried two canteens; many carried knives like the pilot survival knife sold in the PX, or butt packs attached to the pistol belt in the back containing miscellaneous stuff like candy bars, 100 mile an hour tape, lighters, etc., while others wrapped rain jackets or ponchos around the belt. The entrenching tools we were issued (“E-tool”) were usually either attached to, or kept inside the soldier’s Alice pack. I do not remember those being as beloved as the troops in World War 2 might’ve claimed. They folded into three sections, and frequently failed at some point. They did have a serrated edge which made them good chopping tools for thin branches or roots (probably leading to them becoming bent or broken much faster). We usually liked to sneak a few long-handled shovels along in our deployments for the daily chore of digging fighting positions… “Daily” because each day the soldiers were required to “move their fighting positions,” which invariably means filling in the old foxhole and digging a new one. E-tools we’re not ideal for this level of excavation. We were still issued the wool shirts and trousers, still issued the “Mickey Mouse” boots, and still issued the long underwear-all items in use during WW2, but other than than the long underwear, I don’t think I ever took any of the other items to the field. It’s interesting now to see interest in these relics of that bygone era. At the time i was in the Army, we were 40 years removed from the war (as much time as has passed since). We didn’t think much of the gear the Army issued. We simply assumed that’s what you got. Things like Gore-Tex jackets were coming on the scene, but unless one bought it themselves, the wool sweater with the rain jacket easily sufficed. As soldiers, we always looked for ways to make wearing or carrying the gear more comfortable, but we seldom thought better options were available. The field gear was just part of Army life, and we just took it in stride.
I was in Babenhausen with the 41st FA BDE. loved my tried and true wool field gear. Even the odd wool pants with the button-in liner. No matter how old, dirty or worn that stuff was it still kept me warm. Toasty warm. I can remember sleeping on the ground at Graf in the winter and being warm and cozy in my wool outfit. I'd take the extra 20 mins of rest rather than bedding in somewhere. Even in FL I have my wool OD green blanket and wool OD sweater. I use them every winter. Now, if I could just find my OD Green socks.
I hated our entrenching tool because there was no sensible way to carry it without the long handle becoming a pain in the ass. I wanted one of the cool all-metal folding ones. Then I got one. So handy to carry - so shitty to use! I went back to the wooden one. LOL.
I was in the 507 USASA HQ CO.. and stationed in Baumholder in 1967. We were up on the hill where the antenna fields were looking down into the city. We never went into the field until we moved to Augsburg from 1968 till I got out in 1970. While there We went on Reforger 1. That's the only time we were out in Manhime Woods and our job was to confuse the other side. Apparently we did a good job so the next year we didn't go.
Anybody been to Wildflecken? That is some of the craziest weather I’ve ever seen. Going up that mountain you might go through three different types of weather!
My first field exercise was to Alaska in January of 1981. My unit issued the five button sweaters and they were like gold. Not everyone had them and I got many offers to buy the one I had. At 35 below zero, the difference between a parka with a sweater under it and a parka without seemed much like the difference between having a coat and going bare-chested. I hope those are still issued to cold weather troops. It was one of the best pieces of gear I was ever issued.
These poor guys not only had to worry about being killed by the enemy, they also had to deal with very harsh weather conditions. It amazes me, that they had the strength to do both. My hat is off to all of them. Thank You!
My father served in Italy, He kept his sweater for use on his delivery route in his business in the 1950's and 60's. When I went with him, I always wondered why the men and women who had served in in the European theatre smiled differently at him when they saw him coming. He was a BAR man as well, but did not need the suspenders ( he kept his uniform for 20 years.) to support the weight of his product we delivered. The sweater finally wore into a one armed vest. I remember him carrying it out and burning it, like he had lost a friend. This was in my 20's.
The Wehrmacht entrenching tool was meant to be used as a weapon. In the book "Hitler Moves East" close quarters assault is referred to quite a bit as "Pistol, grenade and entrenching tool work"
In WWI and WWII I believe most were killed by artillery. In Viet Nam a lot of soldiers said once the M-60's and M-2's opened up they couldn't hear their own M-16 and stopped shooting. I spent time in war zones. No combat zones. Just sayin'.
I’m not a military person but I like the choices you made. As a power lineman for 41 years I can appreciate the train of thought that infantry men had. Sometimes the best tools are not the expensive fancy modern varieties. 😁 Sometimes they are! Men can usually see a “need” and find a way to fill it. Then after some use tweak and modify it to perfection. Bless all service people!
i love these gear type videos, just as archeologists learn more from a refuse pit than a mosaic floor, you learn from about army life from their gear than from their weapons
I definitely agree with the part about the sweater. When I started reenacting, I stuffed a modern sweater in my pocket so it wouldn’t look empty, but I ended up wearing it nearly every night at nearly every event because it’s much warmer than even my wool blanket.
If you spend a lot of time outside wool is good because if you sit it keeps you warm. If you move it breaths a bit, if you sweat you are warm when wet, it wicks sweat away from your skin. I would put in bold -> wool keeps you warm when wet!! I’m a big wool fan. All my socks are wool. All. They last longer and don’t get smelly as easy. Did I mention they keep you warm when wet.
I'm a geographer, in my field we use WW2 shovels to dig field wells, for tsunamis investigations. They have the perfect size, weight and resistance to be carried on the field!
USMC 77-80, had em also. In the field you would sometimes hear someone yell "Who has snaps?" or " Who has buttons?" In case you had nobody else to make the tent with.
The poncho liner, or "woobie" as I have heard it called working with current active duty personnel, is one of the greatest pieces of issued equipment the military ever came up with. It served me well from the time I enlisted in 1977 until present day as I sit here typing this.
When I was in Bosnia (IFOR 95-96) I wore my polypropylene long johns, my sweater, and BDU's throughout the winter. I only used my Gortex when it was raining. I stayed nice and warm without overheating. That sweater was also a 5-button design and was in brown. Shelter half's I only used in Basic Training (OSUT) and one time when I was active duty in Korea. That time was because my Platoon Sergeant threatened me with an Article 15 if I tried to sleep on the ground outside of my shelter half. An incident on that field problem ended his career, but that's another story.
The same sweater in the same olive drab was in production for decades. As reenactors we loved that as we could have an original one in the collection plus one to actually wear. Ideally you'd go for a 1950s or 60s one as the 70s and 80s ones were a synthetic mix.
@@wbertie2604 I had one from my service in the late 70s and used it for state military and reenacting. Kept you warm even wet. Always had it in my kit.
Ditto on 5-button sweater love. My problem was getting one in my size from CIF (extra large-extra long), they were still issuing the wool ones in the late 80’s, at least in the ROK.
@6:14 "soldiers who wouldn't let go of shovels because they liked them so much" Yeah.... those were probably "shell shock" casualties, what we call PTSD and TBI today. Under intense shelling troops would literally dig for their lives and fixated psychologically on what saved them.
He also looks like he’s straight out of ww2 since he has the accurate gear on, even little details like the tilted helmet make him look even more like a ww2 soldier of the marines
Great video! Very informative. My dad was in the 99th Infantry Division. They left Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas in August of 1944. It was over 100 degrees when they left Texas. After some additional training in England, they became the first full division to land at the repaired harbor in Le Harve, France in October of 1944. The 99th was moved into a “quiet” sector in the northern Ardennes. The division was still waiting for their cold weather gear when the Germans counterattacked during The Battle of the Bulge. The old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention”, was certainly true in the ETO in December of 1944 and January of 1945. The lack of PAC-boots led to many cases of trench foot and frostbite. The cold was as deadly (on both sides) as enemy fire. The GIs improvised all kinds boot wraps to try and keep their feet warm. Dad always said, “The US Government, especially the Army, needs to be reminded every few years, that water freezes at 32 degrees.” Thanks again for a very informative episode.
@ Yes. On December 16, 1944, the 394th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Division was located at Losheimergraben on the German-Belgium border. After the first few days, running low on ammunition and food, my dad organized a “strategic withdrawal” back to the west toward Rocherath and Krinkelt. From there, the Division moved north to the Elsenborn ridge. I was fortunate to visit the Bulge battlefield through a tour organized by the National WWII Museum, located in New Orleans, La. I stood by the monument dedicated to the 394th Infantry Regiment at Losheimergraben and at the memorial in Krinkelt dedicated to the 99th Division. My dad related to me that in Krinkelt, the GIs found out that the invention by our Russian Allies, the Molotov cocktail, worked well against the German armor as they advanced through town. I had dreamed all my life to be able to see where my dad saw combat in the Ardennes. Thank you for your question.
@@robertbenson9797 many thanks for the much appreciated info, Elsenborn is known for the coldest place of Belgium. if you plan a visit,you can always contact me.
@@robertbenson9797 The sacrifices that those man and woman did is unbelievable,it is our duty to keep their stories alive. I'm glad he make it back to his family and loved ones.
I 100% agree with what you said ar the end. Simple equipment just works. Ive probably spent what amounts to years in field environments, and one of my favorite pieces of equipment is the humble canteen cup. Shave out of it, eat out of it, pair it with something like a jet boiler, and you can cook/have hot drinks.
My father served in Korea and died when I was a kid. We had a bunch of his gear when I was growing up. I remember loving his entrenching tool, in particular. I played with that thing a lot. Alas, it was finally lost. Wish I had it back, for nostalgia, if nothing else.
One aspect of the M43 folding shovel that was not likely to be mentioned in reports was its innate suitability as a close quarters weapon. It became a part of the training regimen for special units to learn how to wield it effectively when required in combat situations.
100 % right you are, I warned a friend of mine who joined the Military Police, that a shovel is deadly weapon. He laughed at it first, then I told him that the sharp narrow side of a shovel can go through his flesh and bone. He was not laughing any more.
The old style folding shovel - yes. The new E folding shovel - not so much. Too flimsy and the handle is not designed to hold like an axe being a D ring.
In Marine Corps boot camp during the summer of 1975 instructions on how to use the M1943/M1945 included both lethal (shovel extended, used as an axe and a short spear) and non-lethal (shovel folded to form a shield for the knuckles and the handle used like a nightstick). Advanced baton techniques with the E-tool included using the handle to immobilize a limb or reinforce a neck hold.
It was good to know that the Quatermaster Corp was taking notes from the soldiers in the field. I hope that they used the feedback for improvements and get the material to those in dire need.
Yeah, suspenders or LBE - load bearing equipment - are a godsend for an overloaded belt. Sweaters - hell yeah - travel light, freeze at night. M43 shovel - genius design - my wife stole mine to use in her garden and eventually, all of her friends who gardened ended up hitting army/navy stores to score one. Hoods - lived in PA for 35 years and a hood is hands down the way to go in freezing temperatures - I normally wore a light vest under my jacket because it had a hood - we just called the full, face covering "hoods" ski masks. Shelter halves - a big sheet of canvas - heck yeah, as there are countless uses for it, even just for something to sit on, never mind all of the shelter and element protection it can provide. No surprise all of this stuff is popular as it's all basic boy scout and camping gear that any experienced outdoorsman won't head into the woods without.
I still have the suspenders and web belt I was issued in Vietnam. Great piece of gear. I once used my m-43 shovel in hand to hand combat. Used it mostly to fill sandbags Heat tabs. M-34 can opener. Canteen kits with metal cups. C rations.
All of these make a lot of sense as they're almost all items that are generally recommended for just basic survival situations. Having a shovel, a tarp and warm clothes especially that which can keep the wind out of your face is essential in winter survival scenarios. Having some better way to distribute weight like suspenders is always useful.
My dad was in the 35th Infantry Division, Patton's Third Army. I remember him talking about some of this gear. He had a lot of good things to say about the old steel helmet, especially about being able to fill it with water and place it on the radiator of a Jeep, for cooking or cleaning purposes. He carried a Tommy Gun briefly but preferred the M1; he said that it was the perfect weight to carry and yet batter down a door.
When I was in combat training at Camp Bullis, TX, 1986, they had wash tables with holes cut in them the shape of the steel helmets so we could place our helmets in them and use them as sinks. Probably not there anymore.
I bought a 5-button sweater shortly after enlisting back when we had the woodland/M-81 BDU's. By that time they were acrylic rather than wool, but they were still warm. I bought a few wool originals a couple years later. While the focus is on WW2, I would enjoy seeing a video covering some of the later changes in gear (Korea, Vietnam, etc.) that covers the improvements and made to adapt the gear to how the troops used it. Like the suspenders that showed up in the 50's.
As a former security officer, I can vouch for the usefulness of the sweater. It is more comfortable than a jacket while being just as warm, and it improves an officer's appearance as well. Sweaters were extremely popular with my co-workers, so the company stopped issuing them.
The sweater...in the early 80s troops lobbied to be allowed to wear "wooly pullies", but the Army modified them to be black and worn with class Bs. Then we were issued with brown 5 button sweaters...the samw as wwii issue. We loved them.
This 71 year old sailor is impressed by your knowledge. My great uncle had gear like this with a WWI bayonet as well. He served in WWII as well. I had tons of surplus to use when I was a scout as a kid in the mid sixties. It was cheaper that buying it new from BSA. You have a new sub.
Good presentation ! As a kid our camping equipment was army surplus stuff and we used it a lot of different ways. Even today , (76 ) I like to carry a lot of EDC items etc. No way can I hold my pants up with a belt alone so I have experimented with several suspender set ups . The best , for the weight I carry , is “ one suspender” fastened to the belt with loops or the loops sewn into the pants ( still use the belt too ) it has buckles that clip to the loops so it can be removed quickly and easily, like if you fall in deep water , plus it takes much of the hassle out of wearing it . I make them on my hand crank sewing machine .
I just restored (properly) my dad's 1965 pioneer shovel. It is Nam ,but sort like the WWII. I always remember it being around since childhood. I finally restored it. De rusted/cleaned, oiled, then lathered with ren wax. They are cool shovels. I kinda like the Russian sf sperry shovel a little better.
The sweater is nearly, if not actually, identical to the one issued to me in 1986 and used all the way through the 2000s til the advent of the accursed ACUs. Maybe they even made a comeback with the multicam uniform. I hope so. There were a LOT in inventory. The sweaters were key to staying warm when the command wanted everyone to be macho and never wear field jackets or parkas in the winter. Sometimes they wouldn’t even permit the sweaters. But many soldiers would wear them anyway but leave them unbuttoned and tucked under the BDU collar. Then just stay far away enough from officers and senior NCOs so they didn’t see the bulk.
There was a lot of gear that went basically unchanged from WW2 - ~2000. The M3 Grease Gun was still being used as a crew weapon for tankers in 1991. The if-it-ain't-broke principle was very strong!
@@bluntcabbage6042 Well, sometimes it's just laziness too. I served when the Grease Gun was still being used. The only people using them were tank and self propelled gun mechanics. Because there weren't that many of those guys, the Army didn't bother replacing the Grease Gun. Which is pretty bad for a gun designed to be cheap, easily replaceable, and quickly manufactured AND with a low service life expectancy but used for 60 years. The barrels were so shot out they were basically smooth bore. A weapon designed for a 50-100 meter effective range became a boat anchor with a 25 meter effective range. Only the base design crudeness kept it from breaking down all the time.
The folding blade of the shovel also came in handy as a kind of portable toilet. They could dig a hole, bend the blade over, sit one cheek on it, and bombs away! I know several army & marines from serving in WW2 all the way to Iraq 1 who spoke about using them this way as it beat squatting with no support.
During my Dutch Army days one of our soldiers had to take a dump, so he went into the bushes. When he was finished, he looked down and there was nothing there. He was totally flabbergasted. Of course, another soldier had followed him and placed his shovel under him. Collecting the brown stuff and quietly moved out. The greatest joke of my Army days. 😆
Marius had long ago showed us that the legionary has a weapon that is the bane of the civilized world, one more formidable than the dual-edged Roman short sword, more effective than the bronze-headed javelin, of greater defensive strength than the concave bronze-sheathed shields. It is a weapon in which the legionary is trained from his first day of induction and which he uses daily, in peacetime or in war, on the march or hunkered in camp under siege from flaming missiles. And upon their arrival at The miscyra, every able-bodied Roman immediately whipped out this most fearsome of all weapons: The Legionary's shovel. Before even breaking to rest or scouting for supplies, the Roman troops had unpacked their shovels and commenced digging, and the dirt flew, and the dust rose. In the space of an afternoon, a Roman camp for thirty thousand men had been constructed just beyond range of our catapults. Before dark it had been ringed on all sides with a trench twelve feet deep and three feet across, the dirt thrown up into an embankment ten feet high inside the ring. Topped with a thick palisade of sharpened stakes. Inside, four sturdy walls were constructed of felled trees, guarded by squat log towers twenty feet high, stationed every fifty feet and surmounted by bolt-hurling field catapults. Inside, a space of a full two hundred feet was left between the walls and the tent line, a distance calculated to prevent our missiles and burning arrows from reaching the tents. This space was occupied by prisoners, cattle, plunder and supplies. Withing a few hours, the Romans had constructed a stronghold that would be the envy of a lifetime's work of many civilizations poorer then theirs. A fortress impregnable. Yet this was not a permanent stronghold they had built. This was the Roman's usual daily campsite, Every day of a legionary's working life he would dig such a trench, construct such an embankment, hew trees, and build such palisade. All to be torched at sunrise, when the legions marched off to their next encampment. Javelins, when thrown, may miss their mark entirely. Shields may cave upon impact with a Scythian battle-ax; and a sword, though reliable at close quarters, still dulled, broke upon ribs. Or shivered if struck upon armor. But the shovel...the shovel was the legionary's best friend, his most faithful protector, the one weapon that allowed him to sleep soundly at night, behind his magnificent trenches and embankments. The shovel could stop a cavalry charge cold, stymie hordes of barbarians. Rome conquered not with its brutal leaders, not with the strength of its soldiers, not with the ingeniousness of its weapons...but with the most rustic, pigheaded, inglorious, gods-bedamned tool of them all...the shovel. Michael Curtis Ford “The Last King. Read one of the best books you'll ever read; Gods and Legions”.
Joined the Army in 1985 was issued a brown wool sweater with my TA-50, loved it bought my own. Sadly as time passed they became a mixed blend and not all wool. But man before goretex and poly pro those things were absolutely gold!
I loved to wear that sweater under my BDU shirt. I also liked suspenders. I used the suspenders that were issued with extreme cold weather pants. They formed an x Iin the back over the shoulder blades. You put your arms thru them and they resembled a shoulder holster rig. On each side under your arm a strap came down with a small hook on the end. You would tuck the hook between your trousers and belt with the hook clasped under the bottom edge of your belt. They were very stretchy and because the hook was tucked in like that, as long as your belt was buckled, it was virtually impossible for them to come unhooked. Loved those things.
My father was a farm boy from North Dakota who found himself in the Battle of the Bulge.. He was used to extreme cold so having a choice between a blanket or a shelter half, chose the latter.. He also said most important for him was keeping his feet dry.. Most men discarded their gas masks but kept the bag to store a supply of dry socks.. As socks became wet, he would change to dry and stick the wet ones inside his shirt to dry from body heat.,
My dad, a Marine BAR carrier in the Pacific, said the shelter halves his unit carried were made of substandard canvas. If you set it up as a tent in rainy weather, you had to be careful where you touched the fabric. Wherever you touched the cloth, a leak would form, and make you miserable. I was a combat Marine in Vietnam. I notice pictures of soldiers and Marines carrying grenades attached on the outside of their packs or attached to the outsides of jackets or on their suspenders. I shudder. If something caught on the spoon (the handle) or the ring the grenade can go off. BOOM, and you end up having a really bad day. The flak jackets we wore in Vietnam had these smallish pockets sewed on the outside. I think they were meant for cigarettes, but they were perfect for the good old M26 grenade. That’s where I carried mine.
Our Marine shelter-halves were not water-proof (1960s). You are correct that if your shoulder was against the tent while it was raining, the water would wick onto you. As long as you weren't in contact with the tent, the water would simply flow down the outside. Re: Grenades. A strong cotter=pin keeps the "spoon" attached to the grenade. It takes a lot of force to pull the pin. Pulling the pin with your teeth, as in the movies, is PURE BS; your teeth will come out before the pin does.
I remember an episode of Leave It To Beaver they were camping and Beaver was talking to Wally about how Eddie Haskell told him about not touching the tent in the rain or it would leak. Beaver touched it and both he and Wally were wet and miserable.😁
It's all about those small comforts. Hands down the best thing I was ever issued was a THICK wool shirt/jacket. That kept me warm in so many situations, it was my favorite piece of gear. I also really liked having one or two ponchos/shelters (the shelter half's descendent). They're light, pack down small, and can be used as an adequate shelter, poncho, waterproof ruck cover, litter, sleeping/bivvy bag, all sorts of stuff.
It's easy to see how these few portable comfort items made life easier on the troops. Increased comfort removed distractions and allowed the troops to rest and recover from the stress of combat more effectively, leading to more effective troops.
My dad, who was a veteran of Korea, gave me one of those folding shovels when I was a boy in the late '60s. He taught me the term "entrenching tool." I haven't heard anybody say that term in decades. Thanks.
It is so amazing to see such a young person interested in history as much as you are. I love history but none of my kids cares anything about it. Your videos are very interesting and entertaining. Thanks!
It was a gift to me. A simple scarf woolen. It was used along with the scarf issued by my reserve unit. This was real scarf not rayon/cotton ..real wool. I guarded it well it seemed to radiate warmth. For the 20 years . I still have it from 1970 till now. 😊😊😊
The folding shovel is/was a great H2H combat tool, and you can also use it to sit on, using the blade as a seat, and the handle with your two legs forms a 3 legged stool.
I retired about 10 years ago, we still love the stuff that keeps you warm, or is a life saver. 1. Field jacket liner(American express, never leave home without it!) 2. Poncho liner (woobie) 3. Ninja hood 4. Gloves w/ liner 5. Cold weather boots 6. A good personal heater (the ones that use lighter fluid) 7. Eye pro 8. Padded pistol belt (yes, we still use them. If you drop your cheat rig a pistol belt comes in handy, a couple of rifle mags, knife, and pistol if you have one.)
I had a winter hood in Missouri in the winter at Ft. Lost in the Woods. Everybody tried to buy it off me. I was using surplus shelter halfs as a boy scout in the 1960s and found myself the unit expert at basic and ROTC on them in the 70s.
We loved our '60's/70's sweaters. A slightly cheaper version of the WW2 version. Served in the Army's Special Forces and never went to the field or on deployment without it in the bottom of my truck, sealed into a waterproof bag. Lots of us wore Brit Commando sweaters, but the U.S. version had covering for the back of the neck. Summers/tropic deployments we used the Vietnam Era Jungle Sweater. Still have both and wear them working outside. Shovel? Handy, even for Spec Ops types. Digging has to get done plus it makes a GREAT Battle Ax. Yup, still carry one in my vehicles.
My grandfather was a WW2 infantryman in the ETO, and said 8 men would carry Jeeps across rivers too deep to ford using shelter halves. Set them on the ground, drive the Jeep onto them, then the soldiers would grab the shelter halves, lift, and wade into the water. Once deep enough the shelter halves would support most of the weight of the Jeep.
The greatest piece of kit the US military has ever made was the m1910 canteen and canteen cup. I’ve shaved in, cooked in, drunk tea and coffee from and dug holes in the ground with my canteen cup.
The metal canteen came in several configurations. The canteen cap was fastened to the canteen via a flat metal chain, some of which were steel, and rusted. The canteen tops could be either of metal or Bakelite plastic. I never had a metal cap, but the Bakelite caps had a cork insert to seal it. The cork would shrink and fall out when you removed the cap. I was happy when the plastic canteens came out because you couldn't dent them, they had a plastic restraining strap for the cap, and no cork to lose, and I felt they were more sanitary to drink from.
The real issue that most people miss is that the majority of the weight you carry should be on your hips(legs) because they are the largest( strongest) muscles on your body. And the weight should be closest to your center of gravity so you don't feel like you're going to do an unintentional back flip. Other than your ammo belt your weight should be high and centered above your shoulders. Uncle Sam just seems unable to figure that out.
Do you ever review Navy equipment? USN 72-78. The warmest coat I ever had was the Navy issued pea coat. The green foul weather gear jacket was really useful in winter out at sea during refueling details and UNREP. The Navy issued watch caps were always heavier than anything bought out in town. My dad talked about sewing to army blankets together to make a sleeping bag liner. He was 337th field artillery 88th DIV Italy WWII,
Yes the old entrenching tool was fantastic. So fantastic that when I actually got issued one with a pick I went out and brought the crap new folding entrenching tool to turn in when I PCS'd. Oh and that happened twice and I still got them. Both of them are from the early 1950's and I got the first one over in Germany back in the mid 1980's and the second one when I was over in Korea for the last time in 1990-1991. As for the shelter half you take a few of them and snap them together and along with that great trenching tool you can dig out an area on a hillside and cover it with those snapped together shelter halves. Did that with two other G.I.'s over in Germany and we made one very cozy little shelter.
Another popular item was apparently the M1938 enlisted man's waterproof raincoat, which was made in a few style, colour and material variations. I only had one, and when a storm blew through a reenactment, it was very handy. The OD7 pup tent was also useful as I'd scotch guarded mine and it was the only one that was waterproof. We got five of us in it at one point
I have an after action report from the 29th where many men complain about the “new” folding entrenching tools in Normandy. The beef was that the blade rang too loudly when it hit stones and that they preferred the m1910 tools which were quieter and were better tactically. You frequently see folding shovels being worn at the same time pick mattocks. The pick was (is) better when digging holes, especially when used in conjunction with the helmet steel pot .
We were using all of that equipment in the Army in the 70s. The shovel eventually became a trifold, full metal. The sweater neck was a little lower with a couple less buttons. In the 2nd Armored Cavalry in the 80s, officers and NCOs were expected to purchase a British Woolly Pully sweater, much heavier and warmer. Most of the troops liked and bought them as well. The lined hoods disappeared in the early 70s, but were replaced with a water and wind proof version that buttoned to the field jacket. We seldom used the shelter half for the intended purpose, but it was a great sleeping bag cover or ground cloth and used as a wrap for a backpack in rainy weather. That steel pot was missed by us old timers when we switched to the Kevlar in the 80s. We lost our wash basin and water heater.
I've got one of those M43 shovels and can confirm they're the GOAT. In tight spaces like in crawl space they dig better than anything else I've tried. The Hoe feature is great for digging trenches and pulling dirt out of holes. The construction is extremely tough, I've had to chop through thick tree roots and break rocks and it's held up with no damage. I can see why they were so popular.
As I understand it, number 7 on your list might easily be the lightweight gas mask bag. With several internal pockets, a great item. A friend of mine on private reenactments of a weekend of urban fighting, etc., tended to dump all his web gear but that bag, and stow canteen, ammunition, etc., in various sections. He seemed to make it work for him. I can vouch for the gas hood being potentially warm, although mine was unissued and covered in original anti gas compound, so I never really put it to the test. The USAAF had a "mechanics cap" that was much like a jeep cap without the brim, and I found I much preferred that. The later M1943 cap had a fold down, lined skirt which wasn't bad, but it wasn't easy to get a good fit for it under a helmet as it was slightly squared off. An item I loved were the gaiters as they could give really good ankle support. The buckle boots look smart (hard to get back when I was reenacting although Italian army surplus ones were very close) but seemed less supportive.
11:04 Toque normally rhymes with duke and nuke, not joke. I am in complete agreement though, with the sweater and balaclava, especially in cold weather. In the Canadian Forces back in the 1980s we were given a very wide scarf made from waffle weave cotton in olive drab. That scarf was as comfortable and practical as one could get which could be worn in a bunch of ways allowing for great temperature regulation.
If I remember correctly there was a report that the folding shovel saved many lives as on could be used lying down while under fire and still be able to dig in without having to be upright and a bigger target. with a regular shovel you at least have to be somewhat upright to some degree.
You presented some very interesting items that the boys needed or wanted…..but unfortunately you didn’t mention THE most coveted item that a U.S. soldier serving in Europe or in the Pacific wanted the most no matter what and that is the Zippo lighter. The Zippo lighter was such in high demand by our boys that ALL the Zippo’s made in the U.S. were sent overseas and the most one in demand was the black crackle. A shinny Zippo would give your position away to snipers so the Zippo company started covering their lighters with a zinc or lead base black paint ( also since all the good metals like brass, good steel, nickel and other metals had to go to the war effort the only metals that were used were second grade steel which in the harsh conditions they were exposed to quickly corroded) and after heat treated it produced a crackle effect resulting in a better grip. These lighters were so highly prized that now an original will cost thousands of dollars today on eBay or other sites. Zippo produces a 1941 replica in different finishes including a black crackle which I have one….a great piece of American history!!!
When I was in the Army from 89-91 in Europe the sweater they issued us was definitely a must have for cool weather - I also loved our poncho liner which made an excellent blanket. Great video 🫡👍
If you're an older Army brat, there's a fair chance you still have an M-43 e-tool kicking around. You probably used one to dig forts as a kid. A PRICELESS bit of kit, and I've kept one in the trunk of every car I've ever owned.
My brother and I have 2 USMC WW2 shelter halves. We used them for bed spreads in the dorm. Our uncle who died of Beri Beri in Cabanatuan P.O.W. camp was reinterred in the national cemetery north of Manila in a shelter half. I found this information from graves registration/
having served with the british army in the last 80s, i so loved webbing, which was the same idea, but it was suspenders and belts all in one, also we had things called in squaddies own language... chinese fighting suits, quilted top and leggings that were short and held heat well around body and legs, but didnt hinder movement - as shelter half was like a poncho/tarp in the british military when i served... sooooooooooooooooooooo handy LOL - at the end of the day its all about making someone get comfort from their kit, be it age old kit or not, while serving keeping morale up is important - the same now as it has been for centuries
The rubberized poncho was also a favorite item of gear for both foul weather and to keep in heat in place of an overcoat, sleeping bag, or cover for a fox hole. There are many pictures of GIs carrying the poncho folded over the back of their pistol belt on patrol when other items were left in the unit area. They could also be converted into shelters as well.
The shovel was also *extremely* useful as a weapon when storming an enemy trench. Many soldiers sharpened the edges of the blade to make the shovel even more lethal.
It seems that half of the things on this list are only relevant to guys who served in Europe. I would love to see a list of gear loved by the Marines or soldiers in the Pacific
Good comment, hopefully he's also knowledgeable about the Pacific Theatre too, but even if he's only specialized in the Western Front he's nonetheless awesome. Hopefully he is knowledgeable on both, or will endeavor to become so.
They all loved your mom.
In fact the Majority of the U.S. Army was in the ETO. The PTO would have been greatly enlarged for Olympic and Coronet, then one would have maybe seen a change in these. But Japan had a rather cool climate like Europe.
You should never make fun of someone’s mother
@@Godlovesyaj4o was your mom not as popular?
What always amazes me about WW2 gear is just the sheer amount of cloth the factories must’ve gone through. I mean literally everything is canvas, wool or cotton and millions of troops had 10-20 pieces of gear all made of the stuff. Not to mention the different versions that got phased in and out. Just incredible
My wife had a couple of relatives working in one of the factories. I'd wonder if they made any of the stuff I had, but one was a secretary and her husband was a handyman, so they didn't actually make any web gear themselves. The brother of the lady was in the army, although it was the Wehrmacht as my wife's relatives were immigrants from Germany a decade before WW2.
They were US citizens by that point and he was registered for the draft but was a bit old to be likely to be called and was much more useful to the war effort keeping the machines that made web gear running.
That's why there was Rationing of civilian clothing.
The War Production Board forced the cotton growers to use mechanical cotton pickers so they could plant more acres in cotton and sell it for less due to now having much lower labor costs. The WPB also was able to buy wool from around the World after the US entered the war. The US Government economists figured out just what neutral countries needed to sustain their economies so the US Navy could restrict what they were receiving so the excess cargo wouldn't be passed on to Germany, Italy and Japan. The US in turn bought up their excess production of fibers, leather, foodstuffs, rubber and metals.
My dad had some of those. But remember that back then a lot of materials we have today did not exist. No plastics, no polyester, etc. Just metal, leather, cotton, wool.
I like this kid. He knows his stuff, and has a certain clean-cut, corn-fed, Arsenal of Democracy look about him.
He really does look like you grabbed a guy his age out of the forties and stuck him in front of a camera, huh?
It's the classic American look. Contrasted by the bearded hipster dudes of these recent generations. The old'school clean look is underappreciated I guess.
@@aeg9462some would say aryan look…
@@TexasNationalist1836Hahahaha yeah totally
It’s because he’s clean shaven with good haircut! In the videos where he’s growing his beard he looks like any other white guy you’d see on the street haha
Thank you for the video. My father was in WWII. The interesting thing is that he wore suspenders most of the time that I knew him and we had that same folding shovel for digging the car out of snow.
His group didn't have winter coats or boots for a long time so they cut holes in their sleeping bags and wore them upside down. One of his favorite memories was getting to sleep in a barn in France one night instead of in the snow.
One of the other reasons for the suspenders was that they didn't get much to eat, so it kept their pants up as they got really thin.
That last paragraph made me laugh. Through some of our training, I lost 15 pounds (fat) then gained 10 (muscle) over 4 months. I bought suspenders for my combat pants. They were actually meant for mess dress (basically a tux), but they fit and reduced belt chafing a lot.
1. Suspenders to hold up ammo belts
2. Sweaters high neck, warmth
3. M43 shovel, folded to a pick,
4. Hoods, better warmth for neck, face and ears
5. Shelter half, fox hole liners, covers, camo, dry
Thanks for this piece!
When I was a Boy Scout in the 1960s, some of our gear was WWII surplus. We almost all used the belts, various pouches, and the canteens. We didn't do much entrenching or foxhole digging so only a couple or three boys in the patrol would carry that great folding shovel for fire pits and latrines. We even used shlter halves occasionally, though we preferred more modern tents.
Our most exciting use of surplus was that one of the parents owned a WWII deuce-and-a-half. One time we got to ride out to the campground in it, just like the soldiers we saw in the TV dramas and movies. Imagine the freak-outs if someone suggested doing that today 😀
Imagine how fast the parents would retain a attorney if their kid was hurt riding in it. You'll be amazed how quick a conservative leaning parent can become woke when money is involved.
I was infantry in Vietnam. We still used barter and field expediency for our equipment. We all had web gear which was a suspension system on an outside web belt. Electrical tape was used for everything (duct tape not invented yet). We made silent slings out of GI green handkerchiefs and electrical tape. For ammo and grenades we used canteen covers. We bastardized two kinds of packs to get a decent rucksack. I got four sets of camouflage gear from a departing Marine as the Army did not issue camouflage fatigues. I traded for a Marine KBar knife as the Army knife was ridiculous. The trade may have involved an AK-47 or liquor. I can’t remember. I really wished someone had thought of knee and elbow pads. That would have been a godsend. Thanks enjoyed the video:) PS I don’t know when the Army started issuing web gear. But I’m pretty sure the C-rats were from the 50’s:)
Are you kidding! I was eating Rats dtd 1945. Crazy war.
Or older, duct tape was around just not as common as now .
Having a B1A can, meant you were the squads trade king. That “John Wayne” cookie was the cats meow
Duct (duck tape) tape was around in some version long before Vietnam. We actually used duct tape to temporarily patch bullet holes in our helicopter rotor blades. We called it 200mph tape.
@@choprjockThanks! I stand corrected. So either we didn’t have access to it for some reason. Or we just didn’t use it. Or my memory is worse than I thought haha:) Thanks for your service too!
A wool sweater was the best under a BDU top when in Germany. This was in 83-85. Kept you warm, but no need for a bulky field jacket.
Hell yes!! I LOVED my 5 button brown sweater.
I was Army stationed stateside in the 90's. We weren't issued the sweaters but I bought one and LOVED it! I was Infantry and would wear polypro top, sweater, and field jacket liner under BDU top. That would keep you warm in 20-deg weather.
The same held true in Korea in the late 90s. Excellent piece of kit.
add a good drive on rag and you were G to G
The brown sweater was a welcome item every winter back in the 80's.
Two points: G.I. wool sweaters are awesome and very warm. A very similar version was still being issued in the 1980s in brown. An entrenching tool is invaluable when you need to defecate and there is not a restroom or outhouse nearby, especially if you were in a defense and had to stay close to where you were making a deposit. It's called digging a cathole.
I retired from the Navy in 2005 and that brown sweater was still in the supply system but only authorized for E-7 and above.
This dude would be so cool to hang out with
He is!
A range LARP with this guy would be bad ass.
Yeah
I bet this guy has some stories retained from sitting and listening to old vets wish more of them told their stories
@ he does:)
It’s great that a young person has such a devoted interest in WWII. My parents were both 23 in 1941, although I wasn’t born until twelve years after war’s end. Especially this time of year when I hear classic Christmas carols from WWII like, “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” I imagine living through that time, and what it was like for my parents. The disruption that Covid caused a few years ago was but a blip compared to WWII. While the time brought great anxiety, it also, as Japanese Admiral Yamamoto feared, awoke a sleeping giant. The U.S. was filled with a great sense of togetherness and resolve…something that we lack today. That spirit that was ignited over 80 years ago, is now sputtering and if today’s divisions aren’t overcome, this country will see its greatest years only in the rear view mirror.
I agree. 14 years after war's end for me. Cheers to our patriotic youth!
My father, a US Marine in WW II, told us that one of the uses of the shovel was combat. The edges would be filed sharp. That helped cut roots when digging, brush when moving, and the enemy when in CQC conditions.
I heard it was used quite a lot that way in the Korean war where so much fighting from entrenched positions occurred.
In the zombie survival anime "Gakkou Gurashi" (School Live), one character carried a shovel as a weapon, citing its role in war as an improvised close-quarters weapon.
My infantry service began in the mid 80s. We still used the sweater & shelter half you showed. Fortunately, suspenders were standard issue. Unfortunately, they were “Y” harnesses. Many of us bought “aftermarket” (e.g. Ranger Joe’s) “H” harnesses since they were much better at distributing weight. Your comments about Soldier ingenuity are right on target. Soldiers will get very creative when it comes to functionality, comfort and enhanced survival.
Your interest and knowledge of WW2 is beyond words. I love seeing a young man so interested in history no matter what aspect of history it is. WW2 was a major event in the history of the world so i love your enthusiasm and knowledge in this time period. Thank you for all the work you do to bring these things to our undetstanding.
Two items from a Vietnam 11Bravo. The rucksack we carried had all of the weight on your shoulders. The ruck came with a hip belt, but we never used it Without the belt, we could just drop and roll out of the ruck and start returning fire. The big negative was that it forced us to walk bent over to move the weight over the hips. I can't remember ever using the entrenching tool in the straight position to dig. Since our holes were only use for the one night, they weren't much more that a shallow ditch. The 90 degree position was used. The straight position could be used as a hatchet is close combat. Luckily, I never got that low on ammo.
Trouble is that I have seen an awful lot of shovels used in the right angle position break at the joint.
I was stationed in Germany in the middle 80’s, and a lot of the field gear you mentioned-or at least variations of these things were still issued. We often wore the brown sweater; typically, over top of the BDU shirt. It was a compromise from wearing a field jacket all the time (especially if one were going from inside to outside often). Every soldier was issued a shelter half, but many times we erected GP Medium tents complete with kerosene heaters in which a dozen troops slept on cots. The shelter half canvas was reserved for use as a tarp (because it rained so damned much over there). Staying dry was a constant battle in the field… on training exercises that could last over a month. Since we were all issued the new Kevlar helmets, many of the uses people found for their steel pots could no longer be done, and the design of the new helmet made keeping one’s head warm underneath difficult. We did not have the WW2 “Jeep caps” by then, so most used watch caps, or these head covers that came with the sleeping bags. They were thin canvas head coverings that covered the ears down to Velcro straps that attached under the chin. One could loosen their helmet bands to wear the helmet over top these head covers.
We of course did have suspenders as part of the LBE (Load Bearing Equipment), before the advent of MOLLE gear, and WAY before soldiers were issued body armor. Typically, on the suspenders one had the first aid pouch (a field dressing in a pouch) attached to the suspenders up near one’s shoulder, and a canteen/cover/cup with two magazine pouches hooked to the pistol belt. This was a standard uniformity that looked nice in formations, while in the field, far more items were attached. For example, some carried compasses in a similar pouch to the first aid kit (on the opposite suspender); most carried two canteens; many carried knives like the pilot survival knife sold in the PX, or butt packs attached to the pistol belt in the back containing miscellaneous stuff like candy bars, 100 mile an hour tape, lighters, etc., while others wrapped rain jackets or ponchos around the belt. The entrenching tools we were issued (“E-tool”) were usually either attached to, or kept inside the soldier’s Alice pack. I do not remember those being as beloved as the troops in World War 2 might’ve claimed. They folded into three sections, and frequently failed at some point. They did have a serrated edge which made them good chopping tools for thin branches or roots (probably leading to them becoming bent or broken much faster). We usually liked to sneak a few long-handled shovels along in our deployments for the daily chore of digging fighting positions… “Daily” because each day the soldiers were required to “move their fighting positions,” which invariably means filling in the old foxhole and digging a new one. E-tools we’re not ideal for this level of excavation.
We were still issued the wool shirts and trousers, still issued the “Mickey Mouse” boots, and still issued the long underwear-all items in use during WW2, but other than than the long underwear, I don’t think I ever took any of the other items to the field. It’s interesting now to see interest in these relics of that bygone era. At the time i was in the Army, we were 40 years removed from the war (as much time as has passed since). We didn’t think much of the gear the Army issued. We simply assumed that’s what you got. Things like Gore-Tex jackets were coming on the scene, but unless one bought it themselves, the wool sweater with the rain jacket easily sufficed. As soldiers, we always looked for ways to make wearing or carrying the gear more comfortable, but we seldom thought better options were available. The field gear was just part of Army life, and we just took it in stride.
We’re from the same era and place- I was stationed in Hanau .
I was in Babenhausen with the 41st FA BDE. loved my tried and true wool field gear. Even the odd wool pants with the button-in liner. No matter how old, dirty or worn that stuff was it still kept me warm. Toasty warm. I can remember sleeping on the ground at Graf in the winter and being warm and cozy in my wool outfit. I'd take the extra 20 mins of rest rather than bedding in somewhere.
Even in FL I have my wool OD green blanket and wool OD sweater. I use them every winter. Now, if I could just find my OD Green socks.
I hated our entrenching tool because there was no sensible way to carry it without the long handle becoming a pain in the ass. I wanted one of the cool all-metal folding ones. Then I got one. So handy to carry - so shitty to use! I went back to the wooden one. LOL.
I was in the 507 USASA HQ CO.. and stationed in Baumholder in 1967. We were up on the hill where the antenna fields were looking down into the city. We never went into the field until we moved to Augsburg from 1968 till I got out in 1970. While there We went on Reforger 1. That's the only time we were out in Manhime Woods and our job was to confuse the other side. Apparently we did a good job so the next year we didn't go.
Anybody been to Wildflecken? That is some of the craziest weather I’ve ever seen. Going up that mountain you might go through three different types of weather!
My first field exercise was to Alaska in January of 1981. My unit issued the five button sweaters and they were like gold. Not everyone had them and I got many offers to buy the one I had. At 35 below zero, the difference between a parka with a sweater under it and a parka without seemed much like the difference between having a coat and going bare-chested. I hope those are still issued to cold weather troops. It was one of the best pieces of gear I was ever issued.
My father was in WWII. We had one of those shovels. Dad didn't talk about the war much. I understand now. All those men are heroes to me.
These poor guys not only had to worry about being killed by the enemy, they also had to deal with very harsh weather conditions. It amazes me, that they had the strength to do both. My hat is off to all of them. Thank You!
That's pretty interesting I've never seen pictures of US troops utilizing German suspenders
My father served in Italy, He kept his sweater for use on his delivery route in his business in the 1950's and 60's. When I went with him, I always wondered why the men and women who had served in in the European theatre smiled differently at him when they saw him coming. He was a BAR man as well, but did not need the suspenders ( he kept his uniform for 20 years.) to support the weight of his product we delivered. The sweater finally wore into a one armed vest. I remember him carrying it out and burning it, like he had lost a friend. This was in my 20's.
Shovel vs. rifle.... A shovel can be used as a weapon, but a rifle makes a very poor digging tool. 😮
The Wehrmacht entrenching tool was meant to be used as a weapon. In the book "Hitler Moves East" close quarters assault is referred to quite a bit as "Pistol, grenade and entrenching tool work"
Don't get me wrong the entrenching tool and great melee weapon but I would still rather have a rifle in almost all cases
@@dbmail545There are accounts of trench raiders in WW1 arming themselves with grenades and an entrenching tool.
And grab a rock to touch up the edge of the e-tool to keep on un-aliving people... 😁👍
In WWI and WWII I believe most were killed by artillery. In Viet Nam a lot of soldiers said once the M-60's and M-2's opened up they couldn't hear their own M-16 and stopped shooting. I spent time in war zones. No combat zones. Just sayin'.
I’m not a military person but I like the choices you made. As a power lineman for 41 years I can appreciate the train of thought that infantry men had. Sometimes the best tools are not the expensive fancy modern varieties. 😁 Sometimes they are! Men can usually see a “need” and find a way to fill it. Then after some use tweak and modify it to perfection. Bless all service people!
It is amazing how much ww2 gear we were still using in the Nat.Guard into the 80s.
i love these gear type videos, just as archeologists learn more from a refuse pit than a mosaic floor, you learn from about army life from their gear than from their weapons
I definitely agree with the part about the sweater. When I started reenacting, I stuffed a modern sweater in my pocket so it wouldn’t look empty, but I ended up wearing it nearly every night at nearly every event because it’s much warmer than even my wool blanket.
If you spend a lot of time outside wool is good because if you sit it keeps you warm. If you move it breaths a bit, if you sweat you are warm when wet, it wicks sweat away from your skin. I would put in bold -> wool keeps you warm when wet!!
I’m a big wool fan. All my socks are wool. All. They last longer and don’t get smelly as easy. Did I mention they keep you warm when wet.
I'm a geographer, in my field we use WW2 shovels to dig field wells, for tsunamis investigations. They have the perfect size, weight and resistance to be carried on the field!
i joined the army in 1983. was issued a shelter half. putting two together was called a pup tent.
We were still issued them at Ft. Drum up until 2003 or so. The only time we used them was at NTC.
They were used long before ww2 and long after ww2 as pup tents.
USMC 77-80, had em also. In the field you would sometimes hear someone yell "Who has snaps?" or " Who has buttons?" In case you had nobody else to make the tent with.
I was in 1999 to 2011. Loved my poncho liner the most.
I have had one since Vietnam ( they wear out ). Everyone in my family gets one from me
The poncho liner, or "woobie" as I have heard it called working with current active duty personnel, is one of the greatest pieces of issued equipment the military ever came up with. It served me well from the time I enlisted in 1977 until present day as I sit here typing this.
2005-2011... still have mine, and I've bought several more. Every member of the family gets one at some point.
When I was in Bosnia (IFOR 95-96) I wore my polypropylene long johns, my sweater, and BDU's throughout the winter. I only used my Gortex when it was raining. I stayed nice and warm without overheating. That sweater was also a 5-button design and was in brown. Shelter half's I only used in Basic Training (OSUT) and one time when I was active duty in Korea. That time was because my Platoon Sergeant threatened me with an Article 15 if I tried to sleep on the ground outside of my shelter half. An incident on that field problem ended his career, but that's another story.
well, whilst you're at it you might as well tell the other story, can't just leave the people hanging now can you?
The same sweater in the same olive drab was in production for decades. As reenactors we loved that as we could have an original one in the collection plus one to actually wear. Ideally you'd go for a 1950s or 60s one as the 70s and 80s ones were a synthetic mix.
@@wbertie2604 I had one from my service in the late 70s and used it for state military and reenacting. Kept you warm even wet. Always had it in my kit.
Ditto on 5-button sweater love. My problem was getting one in my size from CIF (extra large-extra long), they were still issuing the wool ones in the late 80’s, at least in the ROK.
@6:14 "soldiers who wouldn't let go of shovels because they liked them so much" Yeah.... those were probably "shell shock" casualties, what we call PTSD and TBI today. Under intense shelling troops would literally dig for their lives and fixated psychologically on what saved them.
This guy seems like the perfect person to talk to, he’s kind, interesting and intelligent on the subject
He also looks like he’s straight out of ww2 since he has the accurate gear on, even little details like the tilted helmet make him look even more like a ww2 soldier of the marines
Great video! Very informative.
My dad was in the 99th Infantry Division. They left Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas in August of 1944. It was over 100 degrees when they left Texas. After some additional training in England, they became the first full division to land at the repaired harbor in Le Harve, France in October of 1944.
The 99th was moved into a “quiet” sector in the northern Ardennes. The division was still waiting for their cold weather gear when the Germans counterattacked during The Battle of the Bulge. The old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention”, was certainly true in the ETO in December of 1944 and January of 1945.
The lack of PAC-boots led to many cases of trench foot and frostbite. The cold was as deadly (on both sides) as enemy fire. The GIs improvised all kinds boot wraps to try and keep their feet warm.
Dad always said, “The US Government, especially the Army, needs to be reminded every few years, that water freezes at 32 degrees.”
Thanks again for a very informative episode.
Interesting,I live near the battle of the bulge.
Do you know where he was in the Ardennes ?
@ Yes. On December 16, 1944, the 394th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Division was located at Losheimergraben on the German-Belgium border. After the first few days, running low on ammunition and food, my dad organized a “strategic withdrawal” back to the west toward Rocherath and Krinkelt. From there, the Division moved north to the Elsenborn ridge.
I was fortunate to visit the Bulge battlefield through a tour organized by the National WWII Museum, located in New Orleans, La.
I stood by the monument dedicated to the 394th Infantry Regiment at Losheimergraben and at the memorial in Krinkelt dedicated to the 99th Division.
My dad related to me that in Krinkelt, the GIs found out that the invention by our Russian Allies, the Molotov cocktail, worked well against the German armor as they advanced through town.
I had dreamed all my life to be able to see where my dad saw combat in the Ardennes. Thank you for your question.
@@robertbenson9797 many thanks for the much appreciated info,
Elsenborn is known for the coldest place of Belgium.
if you plan a visit,you can always contact me.
@@robertbenson9797 The sacrifices that those man and woman did is unbelievable,it is our duty to keep their stories alive.
I'm glad he make it back to his family and loved ones.
I 100% agree with what you said ar the end. Simple equipment just works. Ive probably spent what amounts to years in field environments, and one of my favorite pieces of equipment is the humble canteen cup. Shave out of it, eat out of it, pair it with something like a jet boiler, and you can cook/have hot drinks.
My father served in Korea and died when I was a kid. We had a bunch of his gear when I was growing up. I remember loving his entrenching tool, in particular. I played with that thing a lot. Alas, it was finally lost. Wish I had it back, for nostalgia, if nothing else.
One aspect of the M43 folding shovel that was not likely to be mentioned in reports was its innate suitability as a close quarters weapon. It became a part of the training regimen for special units to learn how to wield it effectively when required in combat situations.
100 % right you are, I warned a friend of mine who joined the Military Police, that a shovel is deadly weapon. He laughed at it first, then I told him that the sharp narrow side of a shovel can go through his flesh and bone. He was not laughing any more.
The old style folding shovel - yes.
The new E folding shovel - not so much. Too flimsy and the handle is not designed to hold like an axe being a D ring.
In Marine Corps boot camp during the summer of 1975 instructions on how to use the M1943/M1945 included both lethal (shovel extended, used as an axe and a short spear) and non-lethal (shovel folded to form a shield for the knuckles and the handle used like a nightstick). Advanced baton techniques with the E-tool included using the handle to immobilize a limb or reinforce a neck hold.
It was good to know that the Quatermaster Corp was taking notes from the soldiers in the field. I hope that they used the feedback for improvements and get the material to those in dire need.
Yeah, suspenders or LBE - load bearing equipment - are a godsend for an overloaded belt.
Sweaters - hell yeah - travel light, freeze at night.
M43 shovel - genius design - my wife stole mine to use in her garden and eventually, all of her friends who gardened ended up hitting army/navy stores to score one.
Hoods - lived in PA for 35 years and a hood is hands down the way to go in freezing temperatures - I normally wore a light vest under my jacket because it had a hood - we just called the full, face covering "hoods" ski masks.
Shelter halves - a big sheet of canvas - heck yeah, as there are countless uses for it, even just for something to sit on, never mind all of the shelter and element protection it can provide.
No surprise all of this stuff is popular as it's all basic boy scout and camping gear that any experienced outdoorsman won't head into the woods without.
I still have the suspenders and web belt I was issued in Vietnam. Great piece of gear.
I once used my m-43 shovel in hand to hand combat. Used it mostly to fill sandbags
Heat tabs. M-34 can opener. Canteen kits with metal cups. C rations.
All of these make a lot of sense as they're almost all items that are generally recommended for just basic survival situations. Having a shovel, a tarp and warm clothes especially that which can keep the wind out of your face is essential in winter survival scenarios. Having some better way to distribute weight like suspenders is always useful.
That folding shovel was standard issue when I was in the Army 1972. It was simple and effective.
We were still using the same sweater design when I retired from the USAF in 1995. It was the best cold weather item we had.
My dad was in the 35th Infantry Division, Patton's Third Army. I remember him talking about some of this gear. He had a lot of good things to say about the old steel helmet, especially about being able to fill it with water and place it on the radiator of a Jeep, for cooking or cleaning purposes. He carried a Tommy Gun briefly but preferred the M1; he said that it was the perfect weight to carry and yet batter down a door.
When I was in combat training at Camp Bullis, TX, 1986, they had wash tables with holes cut in them the shape of the steel helmets so we could place our helmets in them and use them as sinks. Probably not there anymore.
I bought a 5-button sweater shortly after enlisting back when we had the woodland/M-81 BDU's. By that time they were acrylic rather than wool, but they were still warm. I bought a few wool originals a couple years later.
While the focus is on WW2, I would enjoy seeing a video covering some of the later changes in gear (Korea, Vietnam, etc.) that covers the improvements and made to adapt the gear to how the troops used it. Like the suspenders that showed up in the 50's.
As a former security officer, I can vouch for the usefulness of the sweater. It is more comfortable than a jacket while being just as warm, and it improves an officer's appearance as well. Sweaters were extremely popular with my co-workers, so the company stopped issuing them.
Those entrenching tools also could make a handy weapon for hand to hand combat.
The sweater...in the early 80s troops lobbied to be allowed to wear "wooly pullies", but the Army modified them to be black and worn with class Bs. Then we were issued with brown 5 button sweaters...the samw as wwii issue. We loved them.
Glad to see a young person learn about such things. My father fought in WW2. God bless him and his fellow soldiers.
This 71 year old sailor is impressed by your knowledge. My great uncle had gear like this with a WWI bayonet as well. He served in WWII as well. I had tons of surplus to use when I was a scout as a kid in the mid sixties. It was cheaper that buying it new from BSA. You have a new sub.
Good presentation ! As a kid our camping equipment was army surplus stuff and we used it a lot of different ways. Even today , (76 ) I like to carry a lot of EDC items etc. No way can I hold my pants up with a belt alone so I have experimented with several suspender set ups . The best , for the weight I carry , is “ one suspender” fastened to the belt with loops or the loops sewn into the pants ( still use the belt too ) it has buckles that clip to the loops so it can be removed quickly and easily, like if you fall in deep water , plus it takes much of the hassle out of wearing it . I make them on my hand crank sewing machine .
My grandpa's outfit made good use of the jungle sweaters. They came in very handy in the Burmese mountains!
Today’s soldiers love the poncho liner or woobie. I own a few myself and they are incredibly useful blankets.
Yes indeed
Today's soldiers are no longer issued poncho liners, sadly, and haven't been for years.
I just restored (properly) my dad's 1965 pioneer shovel. It is Nam ,but sort like the WWII. I always remember it being around since childhood. I finally restored it. De rusted/cleaned, oiled, then lathered with ren wax. They are cool shovels. I kinda like the Russian sf sperry shovel a little better.
The sweater is nearly, if not actually, identical to the one issued to me in 1986 and used all the way through the 2000s til the advent of the accursed ACUs. Maybe they even made a comeback with the multicam uniform. I hope so. There were a LOT in inventory.
The sweaters were key to staying warm when the command wanted everyone to be macho and never wear field jackets or parkas in the winter. Sometimes they wouldn’t even permit the sweaters. But many soldiers would wear them anyway but leave them unbuttoned and tucked under the BDU collar. Then just stay far away enough from officers and senior NCOs so they didn’t see the bulk.
There was a lot of gear that went basically unchanged from WW2 - ~2000. The M3 Grease Gun was still being used as a crew weapon for tankers in 1991. The if-it-ain't-broke principle was very strong!
@@bluntcabbage6042 Well, sometimes it's just laziness too. I served when the Grease Gun was still being used. The only people using them were tank and self propelled gun mechanics. Because there weren't that many of those guys, the Army didn't bother replacing the Grease Gun. Which is pretty bad for a gun designed to be cheap, easily replaceable, and quickly manufactured AND with a low service life expectancy but used for 60 years. The barrels were so shot out they were basically smooth bore. A weapon designed for a 50-100 meter effective range became a boat anchor with a 25 meter effective range. Only the base design crudeness kept it from breaking down all the time.
The folding blade of the shovel also came in handy as a kind of portable toilet. They could dig a hole, bend the blade over, sit one cheek on it, and bombs away! I know several army & marines from serving in WW2 all the way to Iraq 1 who spoke about using them this way as it beat squatting with no support.
During my Dutch Army days one of our soldiers had to take a dump, so he went into the bushes. When he was finished, he looked down and there was nothing there. He was totally flabbergasted. Of course, another soldier had followed him and placed his shovel under him. Collecting the brown stuff and quietly moved out. The greatest joke of my Army days. 😆
@@mardiffv.8775
LOL.
Asshole.
Marius had long ago showed us that the legionary has a weapon that is the bane of the civilized world, one more formidable than the dual-edged Roman short sword, more effective than the bronze-headed javelin, of greater defensive strength than the concave bronze-sheathed shields. It is a weapon in which the legionary is trained from his first day of induction and which he uses daily, in peacetime or in war, on the march or hunkered in camp under siege from flaming missiles. And upon their arrival at The miscyra, every able-bodied Roman immediately whipped out this most fearsome of all weapons:
The Legionary's shovel.
Before even breaking to rest or scouting for supplies, the Roman troops had unpacked their shovels and commenced digging, and the dirt flew, and the dust rose. In the space of an afternoon, a Roman camp for thirty thousand men had been constructed just beyond range of our catapults. Before dark it had been ringed on all sides with a trench twelve feet deep and three feet across, the dirt thrown up into an embankment ten feet high inside the ring. Topped with a thick palisade of sharpened stakes. Inside, four sturdy walls were constructed of felled trees, guarded by squat log towers twenty feet high, stationed every fifty feet and surmounted by bolt-hurling field catapults. Inside, a space of a full two hundred feet was left between the walls and the tent line, a distance calculated to prevent our missiles and burning arrows from reaching the tents. This space was occupied by prisoners, cattle, plunder and supplies. Withing a few hours, the Romans had constructed a stronghold that would be the envy of a lifetime's work of many civilizations poorer then theirs. A fortress impregnable.
Yet this was not a permanent stronghold they had built. This was the Roman's usual daily campsite, Every day of a legionary's working life he would dig such a trench, construct such an embankment, hew trees, and build such palisade. All to be torched at sunrise, when the legions marched off to their next encampment. Javelins, when thrown, may miss their mark entirely. Shields may cave upon impact with a Scythian battle-ax; and a sword, though reliable at close quarters, still dulled, broke upon ribs. Or shivered if struck upon armor. But the shovel...the shovel was the legionary's best friend, his most faithful protector, the one weapon that allowed him to sleep soundly at night, behind his magnificent trenches and embankments. The shovel could stop a cavalry charge cold, stymie hordes of barbarians. Rome conquered not with its brutal leaders, not with the strength of its soldiers, not with the ingeniousness of its weapons...but with the most rustic, pigheaded, inglorious, gods-bedamned tool of them all...the shovel.
Michael Curtis Ford “The Last King.
Read one of the best books you'll ever read; Gods and Legions”.
@@larrysingleton2864 That is absolutely great, thank you very much for thing quote.
I used to have two of those folding shovels. I got myself unstuck from a snow drift in my car with one.. I had one in each car.
Joined the Army in 1985 was issued a brown wool sweater with my TA-50, loved it bought my own. Sadly as time passed they became a mixed blend and not all wool. But man before goretex and poly pro those things were absolutely gold!
I joined in '84 and you are 100% right on the money, loved my 5-button sweater and my sleep shirt, too.
I think the last generation of the "Jeep Sweater" was made of acrylic rather than wool.
I loved to wear that sweater under my BDU shirt. I also liked suspenders. I used the suspenders that were issued with extreme cold weather pants. They formed an x Iin the back over the shoulder blades. You put your arms thru them and they resembled a shoulder holster rig. On each side under your arm a strap came down with a small hook on the end. You would tuck the hook between your trousers and belt with the hook clasped under the bottom edge of your belt. They were very stretchy and because the hook was tucked in like that, as long as your belt was buckled, it was virtually impossible for them to come unhooked. Loved those things.
My father was a farm boy from North Dakota who found himself in the Battle of the Bulge.. He was used to extreme cold so having a choice between a blanket or a shelter half, chose the latter.. He also said most important for him was keeping his feet dry.. Most men discarded their gas masks but kept the bag to store a supply of dry socks.. As socks became wet, he would change to dry and stick the wet ones inside his shirt to dry from body heat.,
Interesting,I live near the Ardennes,were the battle of the bulge took place.
Do you have more information where he was stationed?
My dad, a Marine BAR carrier in the Pacific, said the shelter halves his unit carried were made of substandard canvas. If you set it up as a tent in rainy weather, you had to be careful where you touched the fabric. Wherever you touched the cloth, a leak would form, and make you miserable. I was a combat Marine in Vietnam. I notice pictures of soldiers and Marines carrying grenades attached on the outside of their packs or attached to the outsides of jackets or on their suspenders. I shudder. If something caught on the spoon (the handle) or the ring the grenade can go off. BOOM, and you end up having a really bad day. The flak jackets we wore in Vietnam had these smallish pockets sewed on the outside. I think they were meant for cigarettes, but they were perfect for the good old M26 grenade. That’s where I carried mine.
Our Marine shelter-halves were not water-proof (1960s). You are correct that if your shoulder was against the tent while it was raining, the water would wick onto you. As long as you weren't in contact with the tent, the water would simply flow down the outside. Re: Grenades. A strong cotter=pin keeps the "spoon" attached to the grenade. It takes a lot of force to pull the pin. Pulling the pin with your teeth, as in the movies, is PURE BS; your teeth will come out before the pin does.
I remember an episode of Leave It To Beaver they were camping and Beaver was talking to Wally about how Eddie Haskell told him about not touching the tent in the rain or it would leak. Beaver touched it and both he and Wally were wet and miserable.😁
It's all about those small comforts. Hands down the best thing I was ever issued was a THICK wool shirt/jacket. That kept me warm in so many situations, it was my favorite piece of gear. I also really liked having one or two ponchos/shelters (the shelter half's descendent). They're light, pack down small, and can be used as an adequate shelter, poncho, waterproof ruck cover, litter, sleeping/bivvy bag, all sorts of stuff.
It's easy to see how these few portable comfort items made life easier on the troops. Increased comfort removed distractions and allowed the troops to rest and recover from the stress of combat more effectively, leading to more effective troops.
How does he simultaneously give good boy vibes and stoner vibes at the same time, it's magical.
Maybe he is a “good boy” that appreciates a little MJ❤
Hahaha this is hilarious and so true!
I knew a Marine who served in Vietnam. He told a story about cutting an enemy nearly in half with his shovel/ e-tool.
😂
My dad, who was a veteran of Korea, gave me one of those folding shovels when I was a boy in the late '60s. He taught me the term "entrenching tool." I haven't heard anybody say that term in decades. Thanks.
I was told by a Veteran of the European campaign that margarine was not popular as a food item but waterproofed their boots pretty well .
It is so amazing to see such a young person interested in history as much as you are. I love history but none of my kids cares anything about it. Your videos are very interesting and entertaining. Thanks!
It was a gift to me. A simple scarf woolen. It was used along with the scarf issued by my reserve unit. This was real scarf not rayon/cotton ..real wool. I guarded it well it seemed to radiate warmth. For the 20 years . I still have it from 1970 till now. 😊😊😊
The folding shovel is/was a great H2H combat tool, and you can also use it to sit on, using the blade as a seat, and the handle with your two legs forms a 3 legged stool.
I retired about 10 years ago, we still love the stuff that keeps you warm, or is a life saver.
1. Field jacket liner(American express, never leave home without it!)
2. Poncho liner (woobie)
3. Ninja hood
4. Gloves w/ liner
5. Cold weather boots
6. A good personal heater (the ones that use lighter fluid)
7. Eye pro
8. Padded pistol belt (yes, we still use them. If you drop your cheat rig a pistol belt comes in handy, a couple of rifle mags, knife, and pistol if you have one.)
My father fought n the Battle of the Bulge...his entrenching tool (on his pack) deflected a German bullet and probably saved his life...
I had a winter hood in Missouri in the winter at Ft. Lost in the Woods. Everybody tried to buy it off me. I was using surplus shelter halfs as a boy scout in the 1960s and found myself the unit expert at basic and ROTC on them in the 70s.
We loved our '60's/70's sweaters. A slightly cheaper version of the WW2 version. Served in the Army's Special Forces and never went to the field or on deployment without it in the bottom of my truck, sealed into a waterproof bag. Lots of us wore Brit Commando sweaters, but the U.S. version had covering for the back of the neck. Summers/tropic deployments we used the Vietnam Era Jungle Sweater. Still have both and wear them working outside. Shovel? Handy, even for Spec Ops types. Digging has to get done plus it makes a GREAT Battle Ax. Yup, still carry one in my vehicles.
My grandfather was a WW2 infantryman in the ETO, and said 8 men would carry Jeeps across rivers too deep to ford using shelter halves. Set them on the ground, drive the Jeep onto them, then the soldiers would grab the shelter halves, lift, and wade into the water. Once deep enough the shelter halves would support most of the weight of the Jeep.
The shovel was also excellent in hand-to-hand combat. (My dad brought one back from Korean War and used it in the garden into the late 1970s)
The greatest piece of kit the US military has ever made was the m1910 canteen and canteen cup. I’ve shaved in, cooked in, drunk tea and coffee from and dug holes in the ground with my canteen cup.
The metal canteen came in several configurations. The canteen cap was fastened to the canteen via a flat metal chain, some of which were steel, and rusted. The canteen tops could be either of metal or Bakelite plastic. I never had a metal cap, but the Bakelite caps had a cork insert to seal it. The cork would shrink and fall out when you removed the cap. I was happy when the plastic canteens came out because you couldn't dent them, they had a plastic restraining strap for the cap, and no cork to lose, and I felt they were more sanitary to drink from.
The real issue that most people miss is that the majority of the weight you carry should be on your hips(legs) because they are the largest( strongest) muscles on your body. And the weight should be closest to your center of gravity so you don't feel like you're going to do an unintentional back flip. Other than your ammo belt your weight should be high and centered above your shoulders. Uncle Sam just seems unable to figure that out.
Do you ever review Navy equipment? USN 72-78. The warmest coat I ever had was the Navy issued pea coat. The green foul weather gear jacket was really useful in winter out at sea during refueling details and UNREP. The Navy issued watch caps were always heavier than anything bought out in town. My dad talked about sewing to army blankets together to make a sleeping bag liner. He was 337th field artillery 88th DIV Italy WWII,
Yes the old entrenching tool was fantastic. So fantastic that when I actually got issued one with a pick I went out and brought the crap new folding entrenching tool to turn in when I PCS'd. Oh and that happened twice and I still got them. Both of them are from the early 1950's and I got the first one over in Germany back in the mid 1980's and the second one when I was over in Korea for the last time in 1990-1991.
As for the shelter half you take a few of them and snap them together and along with that great trenching tool you can dig out an area on a hillside and cover it with those snapped together shelter halves. Did that with two other G.I.'s over in Germany and we made one very cozy little shelter.
Another popular item was apparently the M1938 enlisted man's waterproof raincoat, which was made in a few style, colour and material variations. I only had one, and when a storm blew through a reenactment, it was very handy.
The OD7 pup tent was also useful as I'd scotch guarded mine and it was the only one that was waterproof. We got five of us in it at one point
I have an after action report from the 29th where many men complain about the “new” folding entrenching tools in Normandy. The beef was that the blade rang too loudly when it hit stones and that they preferred the m1910 tools which were quieter and were better tactically. You frequently see folding shovels being worn at the same time pick mattocks. The pick was (is) better when digging holes, especially when used in conjunction with the helmet steel pot .
We were using all of that equipment in the Army in the 70s. The shovel eventually became a trifold, full metal. The sweater neck was a little lower with a couple less buttons. In the 2nd Armored Cavalry in the 80s, officers and NCOs were expected to purchase a British Woolly Pully sweater, much heavier and warmer. Most of the troops liked and bought them as well. The lined hoods disappeared in the early 70s, but were replaced with a water and wind proof version that buttoned to the field jacket. We seldom used the shelter half for the intended purpose, but it was a great sleeping bag cover or ground cloth and used as a wrap for a backpack in rainy weather. That steel pot was missed by us old timers when we switched to the Kevlar in the 80s. We lost our wash basin and water heater.
I've got one of those M43 shovels and can confirm they're the GOAT. In tight spaces like in crawl space they dig better than anything else I've tried. The Hoe feature is great for digging trenches and pulling dirt out of holes. The construction is extremely tough, I've had to chop through thick tree roots and break rocks and it's held up with no damage. I can see why they were so popular.
"This sweater may not seem as cool as some other items..." You blew a golden opportunity for a pun there 😢
As I understand it, number 7 on your list might easily be the lightweight gas mask bag. With several internal pockets, a great item. A friend of mine on private reenactments of a weekend of urban fighting, etc., tended to dump all his web gear but that bag, and stow canteen, ammunition, etc., in various sections. He seemed to make it work for him.
I can vouch for the gas hood being potentially warm, although mine was unissued and covered in original anti gas compound, so I never really put it to the test.
The USAAF had a "mechanics cap" that was much like a jeep cap without the brim, and I found I much preferred that.
The later M1943 cap had a fold down, lined skirt which wasn't bad, but it wasn't easy to get a good fit for it under a helmet as it was slightly squared off.
An item I loved were the gaiters as they could give really good ankle support. The buckle boots look smart (hard to get back when I was reenacting although Italian army surplus ones were very close) but seemed less supportive.
11:04 Toque normally rhymes with duke and nuke, not joke. I am in complete agreement though, with the sweater and balaclava, especially in cold weather. In the Canadian Forces back in the 1980s we were given a very wide scarf made from waffle weave cotton in olive drab. That scarf was as comfortable and practical as one could get which could be worn in a bunch of ways allowing for great temperature regulation.
That is the US pronunciation - word is French in origin "toke"
If I remember correctly there was a report that the folding shovel saved many lives as on could be used lying down while under fire and still be able to dig in without having to be upright and a bigger target. with a regular shovel you at least have to be somewhat upright to some degree.
You presented some very interesting items that the boys needed or wanted…..but unfortunately you didn’t mention THE most coveted item that a U.S. soldier serving in Europe or in the Pacific wanted the most no matter what and that is the Zippo lighter. The Zippo lighter was such in high demand by our boys that ALL the Zippo’s made in the U.S. were sent overseas and the most one in demand was the black crackle. A shinny Zippo would give your position away to snipers so the Zippo company started covering their lighters with a zinc or lead base black paint ( also since all the good metals like brass, good steel, nickel and other metals had to go to the war effort the only metals that were used were second grade steel which in the harsh conditions they were exposed to quickly corroded) and after heat treated it produced a crackle effect resulting in a better grip. These lighters were so highly prized that now an original will cost thousands of dollars today on eBay or other sites.
Zippo produces a 1941 replica in different finishes including a black crackle which I have one….a great piece of American history!!!
When I was in the Army from 89-91 in Europe the sweater they issued us was definitely a must have for cool weather - I also loved our poncho liner which made an excellent blanket. Great video 🫡👍
Hi world war wisdom! I love the channel and great video!
If you're an older Army brat, there's a fair chance you still have an M-43 e-tool kicking around. You probably used one to dig forts as a kid. A PRICELESS bit of kit, and I've kept one in the trunk of every car I've ever owned.
My brother and I have 2 USMC WW2 shelter halves. We used them for bed spreads in the dorm. Our uncle who died of Beri Beri in Cabanatuan P.O.W. camp was reinterred in the national cemetery north of Manila in a shelter half. I found this information from graves registration/
having served with the british army in the last 80s, i so loved webbing, which was the same idea, but it was suspenders and belts all in one, also we had things called in squaddies own language... chinese fighting suits, quilted top and leggings that were short and held heat well around body and legs, but didnt hinder movement - as shelter half was like a poncho/tarp in the british military when i served... sooooooooooooooooooooo handy LOL - at the end of the day its all about making someone get comfort from their kit, be it age old kit or not, while serving keeping morale up is important - the same now as it has been for centuries
I was in the Army in the late 1960's. All of these items we used with slight modifications.
What about having a few pairs of wool socks and medicated foot powder? I can imagine troops were effective with cold, damp feet.
I have one of those folding shovels and have used it as a teen and keep in my truck. I'm 74 now.
I love my old folding shovel. I've had it for years and it's dug many a hole in my garden. It works great! 👍
The rubberized poncho was also a favorite item of gear for both foul weather and to keep in heat in place of an overcoat, sleeping bag, or cover for a fox hole. There are many pictures of GIs carrying the poncho folded over the back of their pistol belt on patrol when other items were left in the unit area. They could also be converted into shelters as well.
when i was in the dutch army in 79-80, a lot of our equipment was WWII style, and my shovel actually was an M43, stamped 1944.
I still carry a M43 shovel in my 1990 Toyota Pickup that I use for fishing.
The shovel was also *extremely* useful as a weapon when storming an enemy trench. Many soldiers sharpened the edges of the blade to make the shovel even more lethal.