Shine or no shine?

[Piperjohn]

What is the call on shining or not shining your double buckle boots for a Korean war impression? I know dubbing was extensively used in WWII, not sure about Korea. I have pictures of my Grandfather and others with shiny boots in 1952 at Camp Drum NY.

Just wondering what the general consensus was.

[Woodard]

I'd say no shine for most of what we do. If you're wearing a helmet adn carrying a rifle I wouldn't be shiny. IIRC there was a version of the buckle boot with a plastic like coating that stayed shinier, but a few weeks of combat and even this would probably be gone.

[pop401k]

I'd have to agree: no shine in a combat environment.

Speaking of shine; what was the color of the boots in Korea? I'm talking Army high, lace boots- simiilar to the WWII jump boot, at least I think that's most of the troops were wearing. Were they also the russet brown?

[cco23i]

One story a frind of my father told me was after WW2 the 82nd guys took their 2 buckles and shaved them then polished them until "they were as shiney as jumpboots", well General Gavin had an inspection and complimented the men on their boots then when he left he ordered "all boots to be returned to a rough out appearance", well needless to say as the fellows spent many long hours polishing their boots, taking a wire brush to them to rough them out sure pissed them off.

Scott

[foxholetom]

I met a veteran about two months back, while in my Korean War dress uniform, wearing russet combat boots. He mentioned how when he was stationed to Germany in 1954, everyone had russet combat boots, except for him. He had an odd foot size, and all they had were reverse upper combat boots. He said it was great, because he wasn't expected to shine them.

As for a combat environment...if you didn't dub your boots, you'd end up with wet feet. Simple as that. Shining....probably not so much, though, the further back in the line you got, the more garrison-like it became. So if you were at regiment, especially after 1951, I could see a soldier at least occasionally shining his boots.

[1stltgregc]

Piperjohn,

This info comes right from a Korean War Vet, my Father. He has stated that the roughouts (WWII style) did not have to be shined. It was in the regulations since the boots where meant for overseas duty. But he like the 82nd guys had a pair that he scraped and shined up so he didn't have to deal with the REMFS back of the lines. He also stated that hardly anyone wore rank or anything shiney up at the front (battle lines) that would give them away as officer's or NCO's. Only the people behind the lines wore that sort of thing.