By: Christina Savoth, Mikala Valosin, Rebecca Hand, Matt Perry & Eric Robinson American Uniform #America #Sanyigo # Vietnam3B Boonie Jungle Hat CS The U.S. Army began issuing boonie hats, as the "Hat, Jungle, with Insect Net", made of cotton and wind-resistant poplin Provided protection and camouflage Had a strap for stability Worn by United States Armed Forces, especially the U.S. Green Berets, Australian soldiers and Army of the Republic of Vietnam Started in 1968 for just the Army and Air Force Then in , used by Marine Corps and Navy They are still used today Tigerstripe Boonie Jungle Hat Patterns CS Olive DrabERDL (stands for Engineer Research & Development Laboratories) (aka camoflauge) Dog Tags MV standard issue dog tag standard issue dog tag 1970-current standard issue dog tag up to 1965 standard issue dog tag Notched dog tags served not only as a form of identification, but when a person was killed one dog tag would be brought back to the commander and the other placed between their teeth for proper identification (the notch made putting the tag in their teeth easier) MV In general dog tags serve to identify soldiers and a good soldier knows that you nevertake them off Helmet Changes ER The M1 helmet of the Vietnam War has a lower profile than the M1 helmets of WW2, otherwise the traditional design was unchanged. The Vietnam helmet rim joins at the rear. The helmet strap should have a little anchor insignia on it. The Vietnam helmets have olive green webbing rather than the traditional green. The Vietnam liner webbing are attached with rivets, whereas the later ones have a detachable suspension system. A cotton web strap attached to the sides of the helmet, utilizing a ball and hook type closure to secure the soldier's head. There is a different chin-strap for paratroopers and other various jobs had different helmets. The Vietnam M1 Helmets was a hard or padded protective hat, which were worn by soldiers Source : Poncho RH The poncho was a rubber covered fabric with hood that was worn during rain Two ponchos could be put together for shelter Most important for its usefulness as shelter, ground sheets or a makeshift tent. To the soldiers it was worth the two pounds it weighed due to how crucial they were Became a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) to carry them Those who wore the poncho usually ended up as wet on the inside as they would've been if they had not worn the poncho How combat boots changed MV There were 5 types of boots throughout the Vietnam War Standard all leather combat boots Leather and canvas jungle boot looked like combat boots from WWII (M43) Jungle Pattern or earlier; leather band at top, leather strap from heel to top Jungle Pattern or earlier; nylon band at top, nylon strap from heel to top Jungle Pattern 3 (Vibram sole and Panama sole) (Vibram); addition of nylon ankle reinforcement band 1967 and later (Panama); thin steel spike protection plate to combat Punji Sticks Basic model for Jungle Pattern: black leather and green canvas All boots came with instructions on how to care for them and put them on Standard Leather Boots Worn by aircrew and chopper pilots for fear of nylon boots melting Lack of heavy lugs on boot soles helped pilots from getting caught on rudder pedals Jungle Pattern Combat Boots Standard Jungle Uniform CS Tiger Stripe Camouflage Introduced between 1965 and 1967 Used in dense jungle warfare It was comprised of four colors, black, dark green, and brown Worn by Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps America soon to wear this pattern when the Vietnam War started only because they were advised to Standard Jungle Uniform CS Tropical Combat Uniform Was ideally suited to Vietnam It was both lightweight and quick drying, but it's exposed pocket buttons had a tendency to get snagged in the jungle That problem was fixed in 1965 with a 2nd Pattern Flak Jacket RH Steel-Centered or fiberglass plates, nylon covered jacket with several layers of ballistic nylon weighed around 8 pounds Kevlar developed in 1965, an ultra-strong fiber A form of body armor used to protect against fragmentation Not supposed to protect from bullets only shrapnel Can protect against certain gunshots and shrapnel Mostly worn by Marines and Airmen Hot, uncomfortable, heavy and bulky Standard Food Issue MP There are 4 types of rations. A-Rations are fresh, refrigerated, or frozen food meals. B-Rations are canned or preserved ingredients for field kitchens and on ship. The C-Ration was standardized for field issue regardless of the environment conditions because of operational conditions. C-Rations replaced reserve rations because they were more nutritionally balanced, palatable, and had better quality. There were a lot used in Vietnam that were left over from WWII K-Rations were made for one day with three boxes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Standard Issue Things They Carried MP Infantrymen carried an average of 85 lbs: A M-16 rifle, M-60 machine gun, or a M-79 grenade launcher. Ammo, 2 frag & 2 smoke grenades, 1 claymore, M60 ammo, C-Ration meals, poncho & liner, empty sandbags, a metal canteen cup & 6 quart sized canteens attached to sack. Radio operators would carry a gun and the radio on their back. If Medics were given a weapon, it was an M-16 or a.45 pistol.