US Army/Korean War "Distinctives"

[Chicommie]

My fellow historians,
In pouring over photo's and reading on the US Army in Korea almost non-stop it feels the past few weeks I think I see some "distinctives" to the war that perhaps you didn't see as much or not at all during WWII. Please correct me if I'm wrong and also add to the list. Here are some of my observations...

1. When wearing HBT uniforms during the summer especially they 'tucked in' their HBT fatigue tops, was this regulation? Or was it a G.I. fashion thing they just did on their own?
2. The russet combat boot, once again it seems from photo's that they liked to tuck in or blouse their trousers into the boot, was it regulation or fad?
3. I have yet to see a helmet net worn in any of the photographs on the trusty ole' M-1 pot. A 'somewhat' common item during WWII seems non-existent in Korea, or at least in the 100's of photo's I've seen thus far.
4. The wearing of bayonets and also useage, once again as I look at numerous photo's and 'it seems' every other guy isn't even wearing a bayonet? Was this a fronline soldier getting rid of crap he felt he didn't need or am I imagining things?

I like looking for little things like these above that seperate the impression from other time periods, and a way to authenticate one's kit just a little bit more? I'm a novice Korean War historian at best so I would love some feedback and/or additions!!
with regards, Patrick Hubble

[jonprince]

chicommie said:

My fellow historians,
In pouring over photo's and reading on the US Army in Korea almost non-stop it feels the past few weeks I think I see some "distinctives" to the war that perhaps you didn't see as much or not at all during WWII. Please correct me if I'm wrong and also add to the list. Here are some of my observations...

1. When wearing HBT uniforms during the summer especially they 'tucked in' their HBT fatigue tops, was this regulation? Or was it a G.I. fashion thing they just did on their own?
2. The russet combat boot, once again it seems from photo's that they liked to tuck in or blouse their trousers into the boot, was it regulation or fad?
3. I have yet to see a helmet net worn in any of the photographs on the trusty ole' M-1 pot. A 'somewhat' common item during WWII seems non-existent in Korea, or at least in the 100's of photo's I've seen thus far.
4. The wearing of bayonets and also useage, once again as I look at numerous photo's and 'it seems' every other guy isn't even wearing a bayonet? Was this a fronline soldier getting rid of crap he felt he didn't need or am I imagining things?

I like looking for little things like these above that seperate the impression from other time periods, and a way to authenticate one's kit just a little bit more? I'm a novice Korean War historian at best so I would love some feedback and/or additions!!
with regards, Patrick Hubble

1. Don't knw but don't see why it shouldn't be regulation, you often see troops arriving in Korea all tucked in.
2. Should be regs to gather trousers bottoms around the top of boots and not wear them loose.
3. The US Army had ceased issueing helmet nets of any sort by Korea, you still see the odd one around, often with officers, like to see Parachute material covers, neoprene or rubber inner-tube bands but usully quite uncommon. More common in some units was use of burlap/sandbags or other cloth to make a rudimentary cover, though some Divs. seem bigger than others on this and off-course very late war/armestice you have the re-introduction of a standard issue cloth helmet cover but if the stroies are correct they were not actually in use before the shooting stopped.
4. You are indeed correct that you see a LOT of men not carrying bayonets for the M1, this may be explained in a number of ways. They sometimes arn't wearing packs in photographs, so in some cases bayonets might have been left on there, I've seen a few men wth a bayonet of their rifle but no scabbard on their belt. Also some men did apparently just 'loose' them as they genuinely thought they wouldn't need them (20th century, tanks, air-cover, artillery so the enemy arn't going to get that close etc. Doh!). I've read a couple of accounts of this, though in at least one case the same men had to resort to clubbing enemy troops with their rifles because of it so maybe it was really a false economy as getting in close with burp-guns and grenades was a major part of enemy tactics. The rifle bayonet is a pain in the arse to carry on the cartridge belt, there is no 'good' spot for it and I find if you don't leave the pocket behind it empty it just get pushed into your ribs or thigh whenever you move I can see why they moved them somewhere else, but loosing it completely was probably a bit OTT.

You're spot on in what you say about the little details, it makes your impresion that more specific both to Korea and to the actual unit you portray, many Divs. and Regiments had their own unique things or tended to do things in certain ways, the look of units changed to some extent throughout the war, more so in winter etc. when you had changes and additions to equipment taking place almost every year.

[foxholetom]

My couple cents...

Tucking the shirt in was regulation, as was tucking in the trousers. When the M1943 combat boot was issued, the paratroopers just had to get over other people blousing their trousers.

I concur on the helmet nets. The only people that seem to wear them are officers wanting to look cool. The neoprene elastic band seems to be fairly common. I imagine the guys wore them until they were lost.

As for the bayonets, that one is easy. Read SLA Marshall's write up on weapons, and the soldiers load. Discipline, especially in the movement phase of the war, was poor regarding retention of equipment. Under normal peacetime standards, a soldier would be held accountable for these items. In combat, facing death and injury all the time, it seems a lot of these soldiers could care less about retaining it. Helmets were thrown away and the pile cap worn in the winter. Bayonets, packs were discarded.

One very notable thing that Marshall talks about is grenades. If soldiers had not been engaged for several days, one of the first things they would literally throw on the side of the road were grenades. Then, when they got into a fight, they were sometimes without them. This was a big problem, and something the Army worked to crack down on.

The latter stage of the war was more static, and thus, accountability was easier. Except in the coldest weather, soldiers are always wearing their helmets. They wear body armor for protection, they have more "flair" (patches, name tapes, etc), helmet covers are improvised on a unit basis, equipment often worn more in line with regulations.

Incidentally, this is one of the reasons why the M1945 pack was eliminated and the M1956 gear had only a buttpack. The Army determined that if a soldier was just going to ditch something in combat, why issue it? Then of course they had to bring back the rucksack for Vietnam.

As I was writing this, I did remember something...google search "Bob West 40th Division". Its a big website with a ton of photos of the 40th Division in Korea, provided by veterans. One of the line companies (memory escapes me) is wearing helmet nets. They look to be improvised from camouflage nets, not standard issue items. Its a very good website to look at how individual companies established uniform policies in the later stage of the war.

Also, one the bayonet thing, look up Lt. Colonel Millet. He was a big believer in the bayonet, and his men carried them fixed!