- Thread starter
- #41
I have never associated the uniform with desertion prevention. Rather, it gave me identity as a member of a team with an honorable goal.
Uniform
- Thread starter billrunnels
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I agree with you, and am sure it was like that for most soldiers. I was implying that this was the reason the government required soldiers to only have uniforms during their enlistments/service periods.
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- Thread starter
- #43
I am not sure how the uniform would prevent desertion. A person could go out the gate in uniform, purchase civilian clothes and take off. A lot of government policies made little or no sense and in my opinion this is one.
I am not sure how the uniform would prevent desertion. A person could go out the gate in uniform, purchase civilian clothes and take off. A lot of government policies made little or no sense and in my opinion this is one.
It is something I have read.
As you, and anyone who has served knows, the military and government does not always make sense.
mikewint
Captain
Regardless of T.O., all military bureaucracies consist of a Surprise Party Department, a Practical Joke Department, and a Fairy Godmother Department. The first two process most matters as the third is very small; the Fairy Godmother Department is one elderly female GS-5 clerk usually out on sick leave.
Military policy is like cancer: Nobody knows where it comes from but it can't be ignored.
Military policy is like cancer: Nobody knows where it comes from but it can't be ignored.
A determined person will almost always find a way around a problem, the idea is to make it difficult enough so that most won't even bother.I am not sure how the uniform would prevent desertion. A person could go out the gate in uniform, purchase civilian clothes and take off. A lot of government policies made little or no sense and in my opinion this is one.
I've seen pictures of my uncles, and dad, on leave during WW2.
They're wearing military class A uniform on a picnic, a little lax, maybe. No hats, but outside.
There's also pictures of them eating a meal indoors, no uniform, I think, but it's hard to say for sure from a black and white picture.
Then there's some pictures of them hunting while they're on leave, definitely not military clothes.
I just thought they wore their military uniform even when home on leave, mainly when they out in public. Because they didn't want no one to mistake them for a 4-F. Surely even the military knew they couldn't control every facet of your life when you were on leave.
They're wearing military class A uniform on a picnic, a little lax, maybe. No hats, but outside.
There's also pictures of them eating a meal indoors, no uniform, I think, but it's hard to say for sure from a black and white picture.
Then there's some pictures of them hunting while they're on leave, definitely not military clothes.
I just thought they wore their military uniform even when home on leave, mainly when they out in public. Because they didn't want no one to mistake them for a 4-F. Surely even the military knew they couldn't control every facet of your life when you were on leave.
Thanks for the intell !
- Thread starter
- #49
I had respect for the uniform even when I didn't have it on. It was difficult to relax when in uniform because of the discipline it mandated. I walked a little taller with it on.
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mikewint
Captain
While I had a class A I can't say that I ever wore it more than a very few times. Once in country there was no "home" leave, probably afierd we'd run for the AMERICAN hills. Initially our issued BDUs were those silly OD green heavy canvas long sleeved (in a country where cool was 90F(32C) and humidity was 100%) types with a large bright white name tag and a large bright yellow ARMY. PLUS they gave me a helmet with a bright white circle and red-cross on all four sides. Now NOTHING in Vietnam id OD green and the name tag and Army tags were like neon signs: HERE I AM...PLEASE SHOOT. At the time the Army absolutely refused any type of cammo. SF started sending home for the Duck Hunter cammo which, while better still was improper for Vietnam. Eventually the Mercs came with the Tiger-stripe cammo which were perfect but the cheap Asian mfgs used veg-dyes that quickly faded after a few washings. Things eventually got better and the Tiger-stripe became our de facto uniform though every once in a while some by-the-book non-SF Ossifer would have a cow. We ignored and did our thing. Even wearing the black PJs from time to time and using AKs (though at 6'4" and 200lbs I wasn't vaguely Vietnamese).
Back in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave wearing a uniform in 1968 was a good way to get shunned, spit-on, beat-up, etc.
Back in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave wearing a uniform in 1968 was a good way to get shunned, spit-on, beat-up, etc.
Prop Duster
Airman
Bill
It is a well known fact, among the Vets I know, that our uniforms hanging in a closet or folded in a trunk will shrink over time. It seems to have to do with age and the condition of the wearer, but many of us have "lost" our uniforms due to this insidious shrinkage; It is especially sad as we certainly haven't changed any in all this time.
Seriously: Thank you for your incites and input to help all of us understand more about the " way it was".
It is a well known fact, among the Vets I know, that our uniforms hanging in a closet or folded in a trunk will shrink over time. It seems to have to do with age and the condition of the wearer, but many of us have "lost" our uniforms due to this insidious shrinkage; It is especially sad as we certainly haven't changed any in all this time.
Seriously: Thank you for your incites and input to help all of us understand more about the " way it was".
- Thread starter
- #52
Your "will shrink" comments make me feel much better.Bill
It is a well known fact, among the Vets I know, that our uniforms hanging in a closet or folded in a trunk will shrink over time. It seems to have to do with age and the condition of the wearer, but many of us have "lost" our uniforms due to this insidious shrinkage; It is especially sad as we certainly haven't changed any in all this time.
Seriously: Thank you for your incites and input to help all of us understand more about the " way it was".
ODonovan
Airman 1st Class
I missed "The 'Nam," having just graduated high school in '75. I did have some friends who went, including the older brother of my best friend, who flew UH-1 gunships. When I was entering high school (ours was just last three years, 10th -12th grades), in September '72, I started in Army Junior ROTC. I was SO proud to be in the uniform. We had standard issue army khakis and garrison caps. The only thing different from regular army was our collar and hat brass. We didn't even have JROTC shoulder patches yet, which we would get later. I was leaving a drug store I stopped into after school, when a kid and his mom were going in the other door. He looked at me and smiled. I felt ten feet tall. Then, he said to his mother, "Look mommy, a boy scout." Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed.
-Irish
- Thread starter
- #54
First let me say being called a boy scout is a compliment. I achieved my eagle scout award at age 15 in 1940 of which I am very proud. However, I understand your feelings. On receiving my commission and bombardier wings during WWII I also walked tall. I was proud to be in the military.I missed "The 'Nam," having just graduated high school in '75. I did have some friends who went, including the older brother of my best friend, who flew UH-1 gunships. When I was entering high school (ours was just last three years, 10th -12th grades), in September '72, I started in Army Junior ROTC. I was SO proud to be in the uniform. We had standard issue army khakis and garrison caps. The only thing different from regular army was our collar and hat brass. We didn't even have JROTC shoulder patches yet, which we would get later. I was leaving a drug store I stopped into after school, when a kid and his mom were going in the other door. He looked at me and smiled. I felt ten feet tall. Then, he said to his mother, "Look mommy, a boy scout." Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed.
-Irish
ODonovan
Airman 1st Class
I started in Cub Scouts early on, so I've worn the BSA (what it used to be called) uniform and loved it, but being even a small part of the Army, getting to go on weekend FTXs (field training exercises) and having trips to places such as Fort Benning are absolutely highlights of my high school days. Having the US Army uniform mistaken for that of a boy scout just seemed wrong on so many levels. Maybe if I was a few years older, I wouldn't have still been giving off that "doesn't shave yet" vibe.
-Irish
-Irish
- Thread starter
- #56
Your feelings are commendableI started in Cub Scouts early on, so I've worn the BSA (what it used to be called) uniform and loved it, but being even a small part of the Army, getting to go on weekend FTXs (field training exercises) and having trips to places such as Fort Benning are absolutely highlights of my high school days. Having the US Army uniform mistaken for that of a boy scout just seemed wrong on so many levels. Maybe if I was a few years older, I wouldn't have still been giving off that "doesn't shave yet" vibe.
le
-Irish
If you'd been wearing Navy class A's nobody would mistake you for a Boy Scout.
My friend Kathleen used to volunteer at workshops for girls exploring non- traditional fields, and when she showed up in her American Eagle Captain's uniform, she would invariably get asked to give up her service weapon and report to the law enforcement seminar.
Cheers,
Wes
mikewint
Captain
I'm missing something here. That's an airline, is it not? And service weapon?
Yep, they were so unused to the idea of women pilots that they took one glance at her uniform and assumed she was some esoteric form of cop.
When she joined American, they did try to recruit her for the AFDO program, but she would have nothing to do with it.
Cheers,
Wes
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mikewint
Captain
Thanks. I'm slow...need small words...slowly. Sounded like she was actually carrying one. My grandmother was actually a stewardess for a time when she was young...can't recall which airline though