Vietnam Era Gear

[Medic]

I am not sure where to post this (I don;t know if the "Allied Impression" Pages would work, are they only WWII?). Anyway. I was looking to do a Vietnam Combat Medic Impression, c. 1968-1970, so could somebody give me a gear list. I do not want to be more of a farb (I am Super-Farb). Did Vietnam era Corpsmen wear the same Medical Kits as WWII era ones?

-Nick

[wade]

Apr 19, 2008 20:31:12 GMT -5 Medic said:

I am not sure where to post this (I don;t know if the "Allied Impression" Pages would work, are they only WWII?). Anyway. I was looking to do a Vietnam Combat Medic Impression, c. 1968-1970, so could somebody give me a gear list. I do not want to be more of a farb (I am Super-Farb). Did Vietnam era Corpsmen wear the same Medical Kits as WWII era ones?

-Nick

No, they did't wear the same gear as WWII medics. Here, here's a good site that should answer all your quesions: www.1stcavmedic.com/experiences.html

For a uniform you will want 3rd Pattern 7-pocket trousers and blouse (yes, wierd name, but that's what it's called), an M1 helmet with a Mitchell pattern cover, and green jungle boots with Vibram soles.

Your webgear will consist of M56 or M67 H-pattern suspenders, M56 or M67 pistol belt, M56 or M67 ammunition pouches, and M56 or M67 canteen covers (4). (opt for M56 over M67)

Hope that helps-MM

[Medic]

Wow, thank you so much! That site is so helpful, and someone was actually nice! It helps a lot!

[Medic]

Is this one?? www.1sks.com/store/elite-force-military-m-3-medic-bag-first-aid-kit.html

I just want to make sure

[Relish]

for a 68-70 impression, i would think you'd want the M67 gear. i have an EARLY war setup right now with the old 4 pocket trousers and 2 pocket blouse, M56 webgear (some farb stuff on it i think ) and an M16A1 (still looking to get an M14 and turn it into a Marines setup)

[Medic]

Here is my Impression so far. I have got so much :

Original Issued First Aid/Compass Pouch

[Relish]

here, lemme get some pics up of my gear. it still needs some stuff like an AR bayonet, E-tool, compass, etc.

two quick pics. its really just a light rifle kit.





i am also searching for more unit patches to make it a marine kit

[Medic]

BBut you have Army Name Tape.

[Relish]

yeah

need a marine one.

[101steasykid]

Marines didn't use unit patches. Only in small numbers in '65 and '66 you would see them with name tape. Only on Dress Uniforms or Marine Aviators you would see name tape and unit patches.

Field gear setup wouldn't consist any M56 or M67 peices in early war. Of course USMC Grunts used M56 fieldgear (usually around Hue), but only in small numbers and only in small groupings. Get together a 782 or also known as a M61/M43 fieldgear setup as full setups were issued from 1965 until 1973. You wouldn't see a Marine past 1966 wearing OG-107's out in the field. I know there are some pictures, but they became too hot and jungle fatigues were issued.

For a rifle, an M14 would be correct for a Marine during 65-67. That is only two years of the war that the Marines used the M14. The M16 was used by the Marines in Vietnam from 1966 until 1973. Marines even used the XM16E1 up into the 1970's!

To save you some time and money. Get an XM16E1, 2nd or 3rd Pattern Jungle Fatigues, and an M61/M43 fieldgear setup. It will cover 1966-1973. Using OG-107's will cover 1965-66, as well as using an M14. M56 Fieldgear would be only seen around 1968 in small numbers, mostly traded or stolen from Air Cav and ARVN.

-Michael

[Cpl. Hicks]

If your doing early war, make sure and tuck in the og107 shirt.
(Unless your in the middle of a battle, in which case wear it how you like.)

[101steasykid]

In the field, Marines with OG-107's kept the untuck, as well as untucking their trousers from their boots, and rolling them. Keeping fieldgear and uniform to the book was more of an Army thing.

-Michael

[waldo]

Relish, what year are those canteen covers? They look to be either M67 or ALICE ones, as they are nylon and you may want to get your hands on some M56 covers. (to find the date, look for DSA, and there will be numbers and dashes. It will usually be 2 numbers together and a dash) For Marines 68 onward the M56 gear is more prevalent as M16s were being issued on a larger basis, so if thats the time your are going for, looking good!

Nick

[Relish]

they are 67's, i had to farb it up :/

i ideally would like to get the early war setup. no surplus stores near my house in MI had anything earlier than M56. i have yet to try the stores in Tampa.

[101steasykid]

M56 Universal Ammo pouches weren't issued to the Marines with their M16's. They were issued the M61 Single Pocket Ammo pouch, which were ment for the M14 magazines. M16 mags fit nicely in the M61 pouches, and it was popular for the Marines to Carry two or three bandoliers full of M16 Magazines.

-Michael

-Michael

[Relish]

yeah, i did some research. courtesy of incorrectipedia: The M1956 Load-Bearing Equipment was originally adopted for use exclusively by the United States Army while the other services retained various combination of M1910-M1945 style equipment, and the Marine Corps developed its own 1961 pattern. During the Vietnam War however the Army's M1956 and M1961 improvements came into use across the services and remained in widespread service with various independent components of the M1967 MLCE until being replaced by the All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE), of a more practical nylon construction, officially beginning in 1974. Elements of M1956 gear could still be found used in conjunction with ALICE gear as late as the early 1990s, especially the Field Pack, for which ALICE offered no replacement, and the suspenders which some regard as more comfortable than those of the ALICE system."

[waldo]

What sources are you using to substantiate this? I am curious myself, as I was under the impression that M61 gear was not used up to the 68-69 period, if that is what we are talking about. There is no question that earlier than that it was most certainly M61, I am asking about 68- onward.

Nick

[waldo]

Sorry if there was a mix-up, i was referencing 101easykids post and not yours.

Nick

[Cpl. Hicks]

Apr 21, 2008 15:01:50 GMT -5 101steasykid said:

In the field, Marines with OG-107's kept the untuck, as well as untucking their trousers from their boots, and rolling them. Keeping fieldgear and uniform to the book was more of an Army thing.

-Michael

Ah, of course, I was wrong, spent too much time looking at army pics.

[Relish]

Apr 21, 2008 15:27:57 GMT -5 Relish said:

yeah, i did some research. courtesy of incorrectipedia: The M1956 Load-Bearing Equipment was originally adopted for use exclusively by the United States Army while the other services retained various combination of M1910-M1945 style equipment, and the Marine Corps developed its own 1961 pattern. During the Vietnam War however the Army's M1956 and M1961 improvements came into use across the services and remained in widespread service with various independent components of the M1967 MLCE until being replaced by the All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE), of a more practical nylon construction, officially beginning in 1974. Elements of M1956 gear could still be found used in conjunction with ALICE gear as late as the early 1990s, especially the Field Pack, for which ALICE offered no replacement, and the suspenders which some regard as more comfortable than those of the ALICE system."

a delightful play on wikipedia

[101steasykid]

Sources: Books, Photographs, Veterans, and Various Web Pages.

Marines were issued the M1961 field gear setup from the begining until the end of the war. M1956 field gear was never an issue item except for Force Recon Marines. I have talked to veterans and they "traded" their "Army Gear" from Air Cavalry and ARVN Rangers.

In the 1970's Marines were issued M1967 setups, but M1961 gear was still dominate. The Marines evacuating the US Embassy were dressed up in M1967 and M16A1's, but may I add we already left Vietnam two years earlier and there were only 50 Guard Marines in the country.

-Michael

[Adler69]

782/M1961 set up looks like this

I didn't put the bayonet on it because i didn't want to dig all over to get to my bayonets box

Early M1956 gear looks like this

The buttpack has square ends and the universal ammo pouches have a small grommet on the closing tab.

later model of the M1956 gear

the grommet was eliminated from the universal ammo pouch and the buttpack has rounded ends

[Adler69]

also Marines didn't get the camouflage elastic band for their helmets , so they either used the inner tubes from trucks and jeeps or just went without one.

[Relish]

yeah, all the marines i see pictured on google from the Da Nang landings just have the covers. no bands.

i was actually amazed that by typing "782" in on ebay brought up 3 sets, only one fully complete one by the looks of it. in any case, i wouldn't be able to afford any marine stuff until well after i finish my WWII impression.

[101steasykid]

Alder you have one your USMC Suspender Pads upside down, ha-ha. Also, the standard setup was only four M61 M14 pouches, but since marines could only carry one magazine per pouch, you would take as many as you could get your hands on. The M56 Aid/Compass pouch as well as the Carlisle Pouch are extras which could be added.

-Michael

[Adler69]

Apr 21, 2008 17:42:20 GMT -5 101steasykid said:

Alder you have one your USMC Suspender Pads upside down, ha-ha. Also, the standard setup was only four M61 M14 pouches, but since marines could only carry one magazine per pouch, you would take as many as you could get your hands on. The M56 Aid/Compass pouch as well as the Carlisle Pouch are extras which could be added.

-Michael

the pads are in the correct way , one just looks like it's upside down , just an optical illusion . yeah the standard was 4 pouches but i like carrying 6 , a few USMC Vets i talked to told me that they would carry as many as they could , one vet even told me that he had 12 pouches , 6 attached to the belt and then the other 6 tied to the first 6 using the eyelets on the bottom and boot laces.

[gadge]

Hmm you guys are making me want to dig out my US vietnam kit again...

[waldo]

I wouldn't say that most of the people wearing M56 gear are Recon, as if you look in the picture section of Ed Kugler's memoir "Dead Center" you can clearly see pictures of 4th Marines snipers wearing M56 gear in almost every pre patrol pic, 66 onward. (in one case the author is wearing P41 suspenders with his equipment) These are members of the sniper platoon, and received equipment not through the Recon Marines, but 4th Marines supply. If i am able to ill try to post some pictures. Sorry if I made this whole thread off topic, as it was not my intention.

Nick

[101steasykid]

Yeah that's just what I didn't want somebody to say. I know Marines received M1956 field gear. They had to be Recon or on Special Detail (like snipers) to get their hands on it. If you see Marines with M1956 field gear, or ARVN rucksacks, it's because they swapped or stole them from ARVN's.
It's kind of like you guys with WWII. The 101st didn't get M1928 Thompsons for D-Day and yet I have two photographs of Spiers (Yes, 506th Easy Co.) and his M1928 slung over his shoulder. In rare occasions Marines have M1956 field gear.

When it comes to being issued, they either got 1961 field gear from 1965 up until the 1970's, and then went to M1967 field gear.

-Michael

[waldo]

I was just stating that the snipers were not under the same issue as Recon, I would not consider them a Special Detail, they were attached to infantry units when they would go out on operations. I'm sure you are correct though.