Little WW2 history help

[Alpo]

This is a reenactor.

 

He's a little chubby, in my opinion, for a World War II Marine, but he's not as chubby as me so I'll let that slide.

 

But I noticed he only has one pocket on his utility shirt. Is that correct? I have not seen any USGI military shirt or jacket that did not have two breast pockets. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force - did not matter. Got a left and a right. For some reason you're apparently not supposed to carry anything in them, but they are there.

[Ozark Huckleberry]

Google be a wonderful thang.

 

1941 pattern utility uniform

 

 

 

Vintage USMC chore jacket

 

 

[Sixgun Sheridan]

6 hours ago, Ozark Huckleberry said:

 

 

 

Boy that guy sure looks happy to be wherever he's at.

 

As for the picture of the re-enactor, I've always found it funny how Civil War, WW2 etc re-enactors are always twice as old and twice as big as the kids who actually fought in the real thing.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

And usually way too clean. 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

And closely shaven, too.

[Utah Bob #35998]

8 hours ago, Alpo said:

This is a reenactor.

 

He's a little chubby, in my opinion, for a World War II Marine, but he's not as chubby as me so I'll let that slide.

 

But I noticed he only has one pocket on his utility shirt. Is that correct? I have not seen any USGI military shirt or jacket that did not have two breast pockets. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force - did not matter. Got a left and a right. For some reason you're apparently not supposed to carry anything in them, but they are there.

In garrison you keep your pockets empty to present a neat appearance. In combat, you stuffed em.

Well, in the 60s that was the case. With the new unpressed baggy uniforms I doubt it’s a thing anymore.

Nobody looking like that would have made it through boot camp.
 

Also, the Marines issued green t shirts during the war. The army did not.

[Alpo]

38 minutes ago, Sixgun Sheridan said:

WW2 etc re-enactors are always twice as old

 

35 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

And usually way too clean. 

 

34 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

And closely shaven, too.

The guy that posted the picture said that is his 16-year-old son. That might have something to do with how close the shave is, although he is rather clean.

[PowderRiverCowboy]

44 minutes ago, Sixgun Sheridan said:

 

Boy that guy sure looks happy to be wherever he's at.

 

 

 

That picture gets around That was Saipan , not a pleasant Place at the time

 

[PowderRiverCowboy]

6 minutes ago, Alpo said:

 

 

The guy that posted the picture said that is his 16-year-old son. That might have something to do with how close the shave is, although he is rather clean.

Blouse is a little short but club patch is on decent (they are a Iron On ) 

 

Jack Lucas who I knew  "Enlisted"  at 14, on Iwo Jima He saved the lives of three men… just six days after his 17th birthday for which he was awarded the MOH .

[Texas Jack Black]

44 minutes ago, PowerRiverCowboy said:

 

 

That picture gets around That was Saipan , not a pleasant Place at the time

 

 Sobering   Thank You

[Ozark Huckleberry]

2 hours ago, Sixgun Sheridan said:

 

Boy that guy sure looks happy to be wherever he's at.

 

As for the picture of the re-enactor, I've always found it funny how Civil War, WW2 etc re-enactors are always twice as old and twice as big as the kids who actually fought in the real thing.

I found the whole picture that that part came from. He was helping carry a dead buddy on Saipan

 

 

ETA: Ever hear of the ‘1000 yard stare’?

 

 

[Steel-eye Steve SASS #40674]

5 hours ago, Sixgun Sheridan said:

 

Boy that guy sure looks happy to be wherever he's at.

 

As for the picture of the re-enactor, I've always found it funny how Civil War, WW2 etc re-enactors are always twice as old and twice as big as the kids who actually fought in the real thing.

Reenacting cost money, it’s hard for for people who are the ages of most combat soldiers to afford. Soldiers get issued equipment, reenactors have to buy it…….

[Utah Bob #35998]

5 hours ago, Alpo said:

 

 

The guy that posted the picture said that is his 16-year-old son. That might have something to do with how close the shave is, although he is rather clean.

At least he’s keeping history alive. Good for him.