After rooting through some old boxes I found, not my field jacket, but my grandfather's Marine poncho in double sided camouflage, his c-cap with the Globe, Chain and Anchor insignia and two Marine Corps 100% wool blankets with USMC emblazoned on one side. I also found my father's WWII duffle bag with his name stenciled across. It was still in use as a laundry bag 70 plus years after WWII. I also checked in with my brother-in-law who told me the field jacket I gave him is long gone. Then I tried to find an American manufactured M-65 jacket on line...forget about that. I think it's sad that we don't even manufacture American military uniforms in the United States. One manufacturer, Propper claims that they do but the fabric description doesn't seem right. Others come from China. That's a national disgrace. And they're cotton/poly blends. Our uniforms, the real thing, were 100% cotton or 100% wool. And we had wood buttons on the M-65 jacket, no Velcro. Even our fatigue pants had buttons. Can't fix a broken zipper in a combat zone. But you can sew on a button. It's telling when our manufacturing base can't even make military uniforms in America.
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And we wore them many sizes too big - like coats. Nothing like the ones in the pictures.
We all wore them in the sixties. They were cheap, pretty warm and fit over layers of sweaters so they were good for any weather. We used to get them at the ubiquitous Army surplus stores Oh - and they had lots of pockets.
The army green jacket in the late 60's through the 70's worn by non military personnel was in violation of federal law . Unless that jacket was stripped of all badges, name tags and reference to unit, command , battle ribbons, ect.
Times change .
Times change .
Two other ubiquitous items of military clothing worn by the public are khaki trousers and the trench coat...both conspicuously absent from this critique.
The field jacket enjoys a genius of design...stylish, comfortable, durable, warm, weather resistant with huge pockets galore...features far transcending military service...will continue to wear the field jacket, in both military and civilian versions, because it is warm, stylish, functional and never not-ever for some esoteric messaging or symbolizing...of which I've never heard or encountered in the 40+ years since honorably discharged until today...
The field jacket enjoys a genius of design...stylish, comfortable, durable, warm, weather resistant with huge pockets galore...features far transcending military service...will continue to wear the field jacket, in both military and civilian versions, because it is warm, stylish, functional and never not-ever for some esoteric messaging or symbolizing...of which I've never heard or encountered in the 40+ years since honorably discharged until today...
Hanging in an upstairs closet is the green army jacket my father wore during his years of service in the 1950's. It reminds me of the honorable man he has been throughout his life--in service to others, whether to his country, to his beloved family, and later to the many generations of students he taught and mentored. Three generations have worn this jacket, now faded and fraying along the edges. My brother wore it in the 70's as a kid in high school, and later during his time at university my son wore his grandfather's army jacket. It now hangs in the closet in the spare bedroom. From time to time I put it on and wear it, too, and it makes me think with pride of the man my father is. Thank you for this article and for the memories it has evoked.
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I remember a liner for those in clod climates. But we never needed it in Vietnam.
2
I'm glad I held on to my 70s era field jacket, despite its raggedness. BTW, only three of the six photos show field jackets. Kerry is wearing a fatigue shirt, the other two are just green jackets with pockets.
The ultra-field jacket would be the 1960s button (not snaps) field jacket.
The ultra-field jacket would be the 1960s button (not snaps) field jacket.
1
Yet I have always loved army camo everybody loves a boy in his army gear
yeah, nuts. flower children wanted cheap sturdy clothing. milspec fit the bill.
2
And then there is Fidel.
2
I gave my Vietnam era field jacket (1966 vintage) to my brother-in-law who was in the Reserves. He removed my insignia and replaced it with his own. Sometimes I want to replace it but it wouldn't be the same. I'd love to have that raggedy relic. There is only one picture of me wearing that jacket, in the barracks at Fort Bragg. I don't know if my old jacket has survived the years.
All of my family members served in the Armed forces, from WWI and WWII to Korea and Vietnam. The only remaining uniform is that of my 92 year old mother who was a Navy WAVE. Her Petty Officer's coat remains intact. I wish I had mom's and dad's uniform...they wore them when they were married in June 1942. Dad wore an "Eisenhower" jacket.
I wish I could wear the uniform of the United States just one more time. Or even just an old raggedy field jacket.
All of my family members served in the Armed forces, from WWI and WWII to Korea and Vietnam. The only remaining uniform is that of my 92 year old mother who was a Navy WAVE. Her Petty Officer's coat remains intact. I wish I had mom's and dad's uniform...they wore them when they were married in June 1942. Dad wore an "Eisenhower" jacket.
I wish I could wear the uniform of the United States just one more time. Or even just an old raggedy field jacket.
5
I wish I had kept my U.S Army issue double breasted, belted, wool gabardine dress, gray green overcoat. Now that was well made and looked great too.
3
My Army Field Jacket was the only real benefit of serving in the infantry in Vietnam. I wore it till the cloth finally just wore out. If anyone makes the same jacket today in the same quality and color, I'd buy two of them. In terms of practical use, no article of clothing even comes close to the Army Field Jacket I was handed in 1968.
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I recall more than an exhibit at the Imperial War Museum in London, more than thirty years ago, that described the connections between military and civilian fashion. There's really nothing new in this article.
My grandfather served in WWI. Until he died in 1968, he worn parts of his old uniforms when doing rough work like gardening or shoveling snow. As a kid, I wore my father's WWII combat boots and fur-lined cap in winter.
By the way, the full-dress uniform of the United States Army has always included a dark blue coat. US Army field dress as changed over the centuries to adapt to conditions - green, olive drab, khaki, brown, unbleached linen, or sun-faded blue.
My grandfather served in WWI. Until he died in 1968, he worn parts of his old uniforms when doing rough work like gardening or shoveling snow. As a kid, I wore my father's WWII combat boots and fur-lined cap in winter.
By the way, the full-dress uniform of the United States Army has always included a dark blue coat. US Army field dress as changed over the centuries to adapt to conditions - green, olive drab, khaki, brown, unbleached linen, or sun-faded blue.
2
Lets not overthink this. I was there. Main reAson so many counterculture types wore army jackets is they were cheap, had a lot of pockets, kept the weather out and they were available. Other popular military surplus garments included bellbottom dungarees, wool peacoats, and Army or Air Force long overcoats.
22
Darn....I foolishly got rid of that Vietnam era flight jacket given to me by an ex-boyfriend. How was I to know it was to be so cool nowadays?
5
I had forgotten that I gave my mid-sixties field jacket to the Occupiers on Wall Street a few years ago. Seemed like the best use for a GI (Government Issue) article of clothing.
5
This story is so terribly old that, other than the cliche of fashion trends repeating themselves, it's of little interest. As a child in the 1950's, I don't remember returning WWII Or Korean War vets wearing their army clothing except for parades, but everyone from the 1960's on knows that vets did-and that the style was picked up by civilians quickly. So, what else is new?
9
Army surplus clothing is ubiquitous where I'm from. The reason for this is that it is durable and functional; practical clothing for people who do rough work outside, in heat and in cold. Boots, gloves, thermal underwear--not just jackets, certainly. And equipment. Not cheap, but good value for what you pay.
15
I wore fatigue jackets from college in the early 60's, through law school, through my first 20 years in Brooklyn.
They were cheap, comfortable, and washable. Worked as a blanket and pillow. I wore the one that I was issued at ROTC summer camp in 1966 until 2005. I'd put on weight and looked like, according to my wife, a green mushroom.
I miss it. Still have it. Can't wear it. It's hard to retain one's dignity when looking like a 71 year old mushroom.
I miss being a 20 something professional Fender bass player too!
Tempis is fugitting on.
They were cheap, comfortable, and washable. Worked as a blanket and pillow. I wore the one that I was issued at ROTC summer camp in 1966 until 2005. I'd put on weight and looked like, according to my wife, a green mushroom.
I miss it. Still have it. Can't wear it. It's hard to retain one's dignity when looking like a 71 year old mushroom.
I miss being a 20 something professional Fender bass player too!
Tempis is fugitting on.
16
As an Air Force brat I wore military gear as a kid; combat boots for awhile, an Air Force flight jacket was pretty much a uniform item for us kids looking to be different in jr. high school, and later on a field jacket with liner because they were durable, practical, and readily available. Even as a kid you wanted real military surplus as you could tell the difference from the imported junk.
After my tour in the military many years ago I've had some sort of military gear around, more so since good cold weather gear has become available. I still wear my dress rain coat issued in boot camp 40 year ago for chores around the house in pouring rain like checking gutters and such as with rubber knee boots I stay dry. I have a couple of the 1st generation three layer Gore-tex parkas for more active and/or colder weather activities, including a pair of the matching trousers and different layers and accessories. Heavy wool trousers are nice for shoveling snow or standing around in cold weather but are hard to find as wool has been phased out for awhile now. We will probably see less wearing of real military surplus as a lot it is now camo.
After my tour in the military many years ago I've had some sort of military gear around, more so since good cold weather gear has become available. I still wear my dress rain coat issued in boot camp 40 year ago for chores around the house in pouring rain like checking gutters and such as with rubber knee boots I stay dry. I have a couple of the 1st generation three layer Gore-tex parkas for more active and/or colder weather activities, including a pair of the matching trousers and different layers and accessories. Heavy wool trousers are nice for shoveling snow or standing around in cold weather but are hard to find as wool has been phased out for awhile now. We will probably see less wearing of real military surplus as a lot it is now camo.
7
I've been wearing the same green army jacket since 1986. I love it because it's comfortable, it has a removable lining, and it has big pockets. It's easy to take care of. I just throw it in the washer and dryer. It looks like it will never wear out.
6
Living near Ft. Knox, the M65 jacket was de rigeur with us kids. And they seemed to be free and everywhere. The new ones can't compare. If you can find one, get a Bundeswher moleskin tunic, recently discontinued for camo Flecktarn. It's strangely stylish, comes in German Field Gray and doubles as a light jacket.
5
People don't realize it, but when you see someone wearing shorts with cargo pockets on the sides, you are seeing the vestiges of jungle fatigue pants cut down to make a pair of shorts. Which also include the rip-stop pattern in the cloth.
And if the field jacket was a keeper, jungle fatigue shirts (more formally called jackets) were an even bigger prize.
And if the field jacket was a keeper, jungle fatigue shirts (more formally called jackets) were an even bigger prize.
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I got both on hangers.
1
in my hippie days I always carried an army disposal bag - think it was an over-the-shoulder strap gas mask bag - anyhoo - it was a perfect size - empty it would lay flat snug against my hip/bum like a buddhist monk's bag, loaded it was capacious and would fit books, folders and weekly shopping and carry heavy loads with ease with a wide shoulder strap.
I loved it so much I wore out two of them over a decade or so - heavy canvas - with age it softened beautifully - strong but soft - I missed them in recent decades when they went out of stock so was delighted to only recently discover in a similar style store a Made in India copy - in black canvas - cheap thin brass buckles and cheaper canvas but the same basic dimensions - so - I'm back to my man bag !
I loved it so much I wore out two of them over a decade or so - heavy canvas - with age it softened beautifully - strong but soft - I missed them in recent decades when they went out of stock so was delighted to only recently discover in a similar style store a Made in India copy - in black canvas - cheap thin brass buckles and cheaper canvas but the same basic dimensions - so - I'm back to my man bag !
10
Back in the early '70's I had a pair of pure wool Navy sailor pants...complete with button front and tie in back. I wore them daily for months and they always looked great.
3
I always wore one when I was young because they don't wear out. You can't buy clothing as well made as US military gear at the same price as surplus. Weird someone would think it had any other meaning. But what would life be without an imagination.
17
I was lucky, I got to wear my uncle's WWII Army jacket with embroidered captain's bars. It was a great jacket from about 1969 to 1973.
8
Ever since ACU's (that gray digital pattern) were implemented people have been wearing them as well. The hilarious thing is, where the M65 field jacket was beloved by the veterans who wore it in the Army, just about any of the ACU uniform items are reviled. The color pattern isn't good camouflage (google this you'll get a laugh), the cut of the uniform was baggy, unflattering, useless in a sand storm, and the very material it was made from seemed cheaper than the green uniforms before it.
Where old BDU's and DCU's (green and tan) got pajama like when worn in, some ACU sets became abrasive. Where the DCU's were cut specifically to help in a desert environment, the ACU's were cut for an office environment.They had pockets that were useless while in armor and pen holders on your forearm. The inclusion of Velcro was another horrible decision. While easier to maintain, it meant you could not open your pockets without creating a lot of noise. Creating noise in combat is sacrilegious. When it came down to realities many front line soldiers replaced the Velcro with buttons, turned the pockets around and did other things which the brass found horrifying.
The 1500 character count actually prevents me from going in depth on how bad the gray ACU uniform's were. And yet we will see them flood the civilian market the same way the M65 did. Maybe it will shock civilians out of wearing military style gear.
Sincerely,
An old Infantryman
Where old BDU's and DCU's (green and tan) got pajama like when worn in, some ACU sets became abrasive. Where the DCU's were cut specifically to help in a desert environment, the ACU's were cut for an office environment.They had pockets that were useless while in armor and pen holders on your forearm. The inclusion of Velcro was another horrible decision. While easier to maintain, it meant you could not open your pockets without creating a lot of noise. Creating noise in combat is sacrilegious. When it came down to realities many front line soldiers replaced the Velcro with buttons, turned the pockets around and did other things which the brass found horrifying.
The 1500 character count actually prevents me from going in depth on how bad the gray ACU uniform's were. And yet we will see them flood the civilian market the same way the M65 did. Maybe it will shock civilians out of wearing military style gear.
Sincerely,
An old Infantryman
16
Velcro... bah! A terrible idea for clothing - in the military and out.
1
check out the air force version c.1960-70...same jacket but cooler in blue.
3
Fashion was not the main reason we vets wore/wear them.
They are amazingly durable, don't wear out like the cheaply-made off-the-rack clothes around today. They are functional, with practical pockets and details, without the cutesy style add-ons.
The classic field jacket also identifies a working class sensibility of the wearer. You won't find them on Wall Street or in salons of the elites. We prefer it that way, truth be told.
They are amazingly durable, don't wear out like the cheaply-made off-the-rack clothes around today. They are functional, with practical pockets and details, without the cutesy style add-ons.
The classic field jacket also identifies a working class sensibility of the wearer. You won't find them on Wall Street or in salons of the elites. We prefer it that way, truth be told.
21
The fashion army look has always made me slightly uncomfortable -- but I could never put my finger on whether I disliked it because I found it too disrespectful or too glorifying toward genuine military service. After reading this article, I think the answer may be both.
6
I got my coat in 1965 at the army and navy store in Hackensack N.J. for one reason it was used and very cheap. I still have it and wear it. MY politics were of the new left and still are it is my scotch blood that looks for cheap. Mens fashion has always been a total mystrey to me.
10
I miss my old M-65 that somewhere in my many moves disappeared. Ebay here I come.
5
People love drab olive green comfort!
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