Correct Army uniform for Korean War

[Doug B]

Can anyone here please assist me with a good source for getting the correct Army fatigues for the Korean War. I have a fully restored 1952 M38 with matching M100 trailer and I would like to have the correct uniform from hat to boots, stripes, Army lable and name tape. If anyone has or know of a good source please email me at [e-mail]. Thanks in advance for a speedy reply.

[nickmp]

I am with doug, what would be the correct uniform? I have the M-1951 parka and trousers. what goes on under that? I have the wool pants M-1951 and the OG-108 wool nylon shirt. is there a shirt that goes with the wool M-1951 pants? the wool/nylon shirt does not match the material on the M-1951 wool pant. if you could direct me to a diagram or uniform list I would be most greatful.

Thanks
Nick

[redjoshman]

First get this book:
www.amazon.com/U-S-Army-Uniforms-Korean-War/dp/0811729524

Then lets hope some of the Army guys on the board get on help post some more specifics as my specialty is the Marines.

-Josh

[Mighty Mouse]

Since it sounds like you're looking at a basic winter uniform, here's the sum straight from Stanton's book:

- Shirts:
M-1947 Shirt, Flannel, OD*
Olive Green, shade 108 (OG-108)**

- Trousers
M-1949 Trousers, Field, Wool, OD***
M-1951 Trousers, Shell, Field****

- Trouser Waist Belt, Canvas Web, OD 3, with Open-Face or Brass “Roller Buckle” Trouser Belt Buckle

- Suspenders, Trousers (if necessary, and they are if one is wearing the M-1951 Trousers, Shell, Field, properly)

- Winter Undershirt:*****
M-1948 Undershirt, Winter, 50-50 Cotton-Wool, natural gray, or
M-1948 Undershirt, Winter, 50-50 Cotton-Wool, OD, or
M-1950 Undershirt, Winter

- Winter Drawers:*****
M-1948 Drawers, Winter, 50-50 Cotton-Wool, natural gray, or
M-1948 Drawers, Winter, 50-50 Cotton-Wool, OD, or
M-1950 Drawers, Winter

- Socks:+
Sock, Wool, Cushion Sole, OD
Sock, Wool, Cushion Sole, white
Sock, Wool, Heavy, OD
Sock, Wool, Heavy, white

- Footwear:
M-1947 Boot, Service, Combat ("double-buckle")
M-1948 Boot, Service, Combat, Russet (similar to paratrooper boot)
Paratrooper “Jump” Boots

- Cap:++
M-1943 Cap, Field, Pile, OD
M-1951 Cap, Field, Pile, OD

- Field Jacket
M-1943 Jacket, Field and Jacket, Field, Pile, OD, or,
M-1950 Jacket, Field and Jacket, Field, Pile, OD, or,
M-1941 Jacket, Field (rare)

- Other Winter Items:
M-1951 Parka Shell (post June 1951)
M-1944 Poncho, Lightweight, OD
M-1947 Glove, Shell, Leather with Inserts, Wool
M-1948 Mitten Shells, Trigger Finger with Inserts, Wool
M-1949 Sweater, High Neck
M-1950 Muffler, Wool, OD (wool scarf)
M-1944 Shoepacs, 12 Inch

This list is by no means inclusive. As a precaution, research the unit that you're attempting to depict. This is a just basic list of winter related items as provided by Shelby Stanton's book on Korean War Army uniforms. Not everyone got the same things; not everyone used the same things. You will find differences, but as I've said - check with the unit you're representing. If you want a summer list, I'll be happy to post that, too.

* According to Stanton, there were at least three variations of this shirt, but in essence it is the standard World War II flannel shirt with epaulettes, as adopted in 1947. (Stanton, Korean War, 73.)

** Used much like a sweater, the OG-108 shirt was not available until after January 1951. It had no matching trousers used during wartime. “Olive drab wool field trousers were used throughout the was because the Olive Green, shade 108 Trousers, Field, Wool, M-1951, made of wool and nylon serge, did not arrive in Korea in time to be employed during the conflict.” (Stanton, Korean War, 75-77.)

*** Like the wool flannel shirt, these are similar to the field trousers worn in World War II, albeit darker in shade (Olive Drab shade 33). (Stanton, Korean War, 75.)

**** The M-1951 Trousers, Shell, Field, were designed to go over the OD wool field trousers. These were not available until after November 1952, and according to Stanton, were not seen until the “closing phases of the conflict.” (Stanton, Korean War, 77.)

***** According to Stanton, all three types were used during the duration of the war. Soldiers were issued three pairs (of any type) annually each September. (Stanton, Korean War, 84.)

+ Again, all four types were used during the duration of the war, so it is very likely that one would have seen a mix of types used by a front-line soldier. (Stanton, Korean War, 85.)

++ The M-1951 Cap, Field, Pile, OD did not appear until after October 1952. (Stanton, Korean War, 30-31.) This list is primarily for the winter phase of the war. Therefore additional headgear options – like the M1941/43 HBT, M1943 and M1951 caps that were utilized - have been omitted, but are certainly acceptable.

- MM

[Mighty Mouse]

Finally got around to doing a summer uniform list. Again, the source is Stanton, but this appears to be the basic get up. As before, don't take this list as Gospel - there can and were changes/substitutions/omissions. Heck, I probably forgot something or another, too. Bottom line: what you see here is due to a close reading of Stanton's book.

Summer and Fatigue Uniform:[/u]

- Shirts:
M-1947 Shirt, Flannel, OD
Jacket, Herringbone Twill, OD 3 or OD 7*

- Trousers
Trousers, Herringbone Twill, OD 3 or OD7*
M-1949 Trousers, Field, Wool, OD**

- Trouser Support
Waist Belt, Canvas Web, OD 3, with Open-Face or Brass “Roller Buckle” Trouser Belt Buckle
Suspenders, Trousers (if necessary)

- Undershirt:***
M-1948 Undershirt, Cotton, Quarter Sleeve, White

- Drawers:***
M-1948 Drawers, Cotton, Shorts

- Socks:****
Sock, Wool, Cushion Sole, OD
Sock, Wool, Cushion Sole, white
Sock, Wool, Heavy, OD
Sock, Wool, Heavy, white

- Footwear:
M-1947 Boot, Service, Combat ("double-buckle")
M-1948 Boot, Service, Combat, Russet (similar to paratrooper boot)
Paratrooper “Jump” Boots

- Cap:
M-1941/43 Cap, Herringbone Twill
M-1943/51 Cap, Cotton, Field, OD

- Identification Tags:
M-1940 Identification Tags with Beaded Chain Necklace
(with stamped information conforming to post-1947 regulations)

- Insignia:*****
“Cut-edge” Shoulder Unit Insignia
M-1948 Sleeve Rank Insignia, or
M-1938 Sleeve Rank Insignia


Notes:[/u]

* For notes on the M-1947 Flannel Shirt, see the list for winter uniforms. These were worn as needed, so I’ve included them here on the summer uniform list. As for the use of HBT fatigues, they were worn in Korea as the basic summer field uniform. According to Stanton, earlier patterns were used as available. (Stanton, US Army Uniforms of the Korean War, 86-90.) The OG-107 cotton sateen uniforms, like those worn on the popular television program, “M*A*S*H,” were not discussed in Stanton’s book. And while he has at least two photos of the jacket being worn in Korea, neither photo is dated prior to April 1953. This suggests that the OG-107 uniform was unavailable prior to that date. Thus, it would be inappropriate for any scenarios before March 1953, or so.

** Like the wool flannel shirt, these are similar to the field trousers worn in World War II, albeit darker in shade (Olive Drab shade 33). (Stanton, Korean War, 75.)

*** More from Stanton: “The World War II era olive drab ‘Undershirt, Cotton, Summer, Sleeveless,’ was replaced by the crew-neck ‘Undershirt, Cotton, Quarter Sleeve, White,’ which was adopted in 1948. The earlier ‘Drawers, Cotton, Shorts, Olive Drab,’ with button fly and cloth-tape ties on each side, were issued along with the 1948-pattern snap-fly ‘Drawers, Cotton, Shorts.’ " (Stanton, Korean War, 103.)

**** All four types were used during the duration of the war, so it is very likely that one would have seen a mix of types used by a front-line soldier. (Stanton, Korean War, 85.)

***** There are plenty of photos available (especially within Stanton's book) of men wearing shoulder unit insignia and rank insignia on HBTs. For information about the M-1948 and M-1938 rank insignias, see further below.

* * * * * * * * * *

Summer Khaki Uniform

- Shirts:
M-1946 Shirt, Cotton, Khaki*

- Trousers
M-1950 Trousers, Cotton, Khaki**

- Trouser Support
Waist Belt, Canvas Web, OD 3, with Brass “Roller Buckle” Trouser Belt Buckle

- Undershirt:
M-1948 Undershirt, Cotton, Quarter Sleeve, White

- Drawers:
M-1948 Drawers, Cotton, Shorts

- Socks:
Sock, Wool, Cushion Sole, OD***

- Footwear:
M-1942 Shoe, Leather, Russet (“low quarters”)
M-1948 Boot, Service, Combat, Russet (similar to paratrooper boot)****
Paratrooper “Jump” Boots****

- Cap:
M-1950 Cap, Cotton, Overseas, Khaki
M-1943/51 Cap, Cotton, Field, OD*****

- Identification Tags:
M-1940 Identification Tags with Beaded Chain Necklace
(with stamped information conforming to post-1947 regulations)

- Insignia:
“Cut-edge” Shoulder Unit Insignia
M-1948 Sleeve Rank Insignia,+ or
M-1938 Sleeve Rank Insignia+


Notes:[/u]
* The M-1946 Khaki Cotton Shirt was almost identical to the WWII officer’s version – it had shoulder loops (epaulets), a placket front, and two-button cuffs. The shirt could be worn with or without a necktie. Although it was very common to see the khaki shirt, seeing the khaki uniform itself was evidently rare: “The Army khaki cotton twill uniform was a summer service/duty uniform, which was no longer considered appropriate field attire. After the onset of the Korean war, the Eighth Army was not authorized to stock khaki uniforms except for limited purposes, such as for band members and other personnel.” (Stanton, Korean War, 99.)

** These were similar to the WWII Khaki Cotton Trousers.

*** Stanton is mum on what kinds of socks were worn with the summer khaki uniform. All he mentions is that soldiers were issued five pairs of the wool cushion-sole socks. Given that the khaki uniform itself would have been an anomaly outside of rear duty or leave, it is possible that a khaki colored cotton or wool dress sock – privately purchased – was used.

**** Unless under arms or a duty uniform that required boots, the standard shoe was the M-1942 Leather Russet Shoe. This is identical to the “low quarter” style shoe as worn by officers in WWII.

***** When worn as a duty uniform, it appears that the standard cap was the M-1943/51 Cap, Cotton, Field – at least based on photographs contained in Stanton’s book. For non-duty use, however, the M-1950 Khaki Overseas Cap was used. The M-1950 Overseas Cap is similar to the WWII private purchase “envelope” style cap. The M-1937 “rounded edge” cap was no longer authorized.

+ The M-1948 rank insignia style was authorized on 1 August 1948. Blue stripes on a yellow background were used by combat units; yellow stripes on blue were used by non-combat units. In October 1951, the army reverted back to the traditional sized insignia, but the M-1948 pattern stripes were used throughout the war. No one currently reproduces the M-1948 pattern rank insignia, but they can be obtained through sources like Ebay.

- MM

[Mighty Mouse]

Finally, there's the Garrison Uniform as described by Stanton. Unlike my other postings, I won't get into the citations; much of this is documented above. What surprises me the most is the reduced use - if at all - of the four pocket tunic by enlisted men. Officers continued to use them, but they evidently were not used as often by the enlisted ranks. In any case, here's the last basic uniform listing:

Garrison Uniform:[/u]

- M-1944 or M-1949 Field Jacket, Wool, OD (“Eisenhower Jacket”)
- M-1946 Shirt, Cotton, khaki or M-1947 Shirt, Flannel, OD
- M-1949 Trousers, Wool, OD
- M-1950 Cap, Overseas, Wool, OD, with branch piping*
- M-1948 Undershirt, Cotton, Quarter Sleeve, White
- M-1948 Drawers, Cotton, Shorts
- Necktie, Wool, black
- Socks, Cushion Sole, OD
- Waist Belt, Canvas Web, OD 3, with Brass “Roller Buckle” Trouser Belt Buckle
- M-1948 or[/u] M-1938 Sleeve Rank Insignia
- “Cut Edge” Shoulder Insignia
- Appropriate Distinctive Unit Insignia (unit crests) – three (3)
- Collar Disks, pair (“US” and Branch of Service)
- Appropriate Awards/Ribbons rack**
- M-1940 Identification Tags with Beaded Necklace
- "Double-Buckle" Boots, Paratrooper “Jump” Boots, or Service Oxford (“Low Quarter”) Shoe, Russet***

Notes:[/u]

* The M-1950 Wool Overseas Cap is similar to the WWII private purchase “envelope” style cap. The M-1937 “rounded edge” cap was no longer authorized.

** Check your time frame in regards to ribbons worn. The US issued Korean Campaign Ribbon appeared in November 1950. The UN Korean Campaign ribbon appeared a year later. Under no circumstances should you wear the National Defense Service Medal ribbon as that did not appear until after the war.

*** Much like with the fatigue uniform, there are ample photos of all three styles of footwear being worn with the garrison uniform.

- MM