Posted on Jul 1, 2014
What constitutes being "old school" in the military?
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Green label Lucky Strike cigarettes in the old C-Rats that got so dry, they'd smoke like tiki torches.
Learning first hand what "M-1 Thumb" was.
Everything canvas.
Learning first hand what "M-1 Thumb" was.
Everything canvas.
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MSG John Wirts
Yes the Tall can OD Crats, OD and Black 20 Cigarettes, with WWII dates on them. The new Crats came in NATO green short cans with 5 cigarette packs in each meal with civilian colors and labels on them.
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CPT William Jones
MAJ David Vermillion - Gama goat =new army old army had m48 and m151 for light truck
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SSG Selwyn Bodley If anyone on RP can beat my "two buckle", rough side out, boots, they are 'older Army' than myself.
The photo is at Camp San Luis Obispo, CA in July 1953. I was trained for MOS 3097, Telephone Installer Repairman.
The photo is at Camp San Luis Obispo, CA in July 1953. I was trained for MOS 3097, Telephone Installer Repairman.
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SGT George Smith
SGT James Murphy - I broke my back burning a pole and landing on my butt. Sept 61 at Gordon.
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SGT George Smith
I did hold on tight. When I got to the hospital my body from belt buckles to shoulders was nothing but chips from the pole. There was not a square inch without chips in me. Switched my MOs to 723, Teletype operator when I got out of the hospital. That was over 58 years ago and I still have serious back pain and am in a wheelchair. I would do it again if possible. Got out after 5 years with an incurable disease, after Vietnam.
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This may have been mentioned, trading C ration cigarettes for just about anything in the field. They were more valuable than money. That was old school.
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SGT Randall Smith
The problem with the C ration cigarettes was they were good for only 4 or 5 puffs and then burned up because they were dry. Especially the Lucky Strikes. Remember that if you did not have your P-38 you might go hungry.
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SPC (Join to see)
By the time I was introduced to C Rations, the cigarettes had already been removed or somebody was stealing them. The only good thing in the box was the P-38. I remember dumping a can of potatoes and some slop underneath a rock. The potato was as hard as a rock so I figured I was returning it to nature. It's probably still there.
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My First Unit......
We carried .45s and had the old black leather flap holsters that only came in a right hand version (I'm left handed).
We still had the old green flak vests with the zipper.
We carried .45s and had the old black leather flap holsters that only came in a right hand version (I'm left handed).
We still had the old green flak vests with the zipper.
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SFC Greg Bruorton
My father had served in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Oglethorpe, GA (before 1931) and had kept his .45 holster. He gave it to me in 1965 and I dyed it black and wore it in subsequent Honor Guard details and jumps until my retirement. It now rests in my armoire with a loaded Mark IV Colt .45 inside. Dad had wanted to serve longer but a Jeep had run over his foot and he had to ETS medically. On his grave marker in Vermont, it reads Norman E. Bruorton, PFC, U.S. Cavalry. (That insignia of rank is today's PFC.)
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SSG (Join to see)
Hahaha!!! ULLS-S4? Older than that: ULLS-D. Even older than that, check out my latest post.
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1LT William Clardy
SSG Maurice P., back in the day, "pickle suit" meant OD green fatigues. The cotton ones were being phased out when I enlisted, but I picked up a few sets for $4 at clothing sales because they cost half of what the permanent press ones did.
And there was no dress green uniform. Dress uniforms were blue, the Class A service uniform was green, and the Class B service uniform was khaki.
And there was no dress green uniform. Dress uniforms were blue, the Class A service uniform was green, and the Class B service uniform was khaki.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Not me, BDUs came in right after my retirement! I only wore starched cotton, green fatigues with tailored trouser legs.
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SSG John Jensen
started in fatigues - jungle cammies in the 82d for the last coupla years before BDUs, retired with ACUs
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MSG John Wirts
SPC Christopher Perrien - that's why though I'm retired, I PC'd it, I'm sure there enough overly sensitive personnel out there to create a big stink over that name or the joint services exercise name at Camp Lejuine, that would offend someone today.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Dixie? I had a car named Dixie once. I wrecked it and told police officer my Dixie wrecked. Now I would not recommend you to say it out loud for the fear of repercussions
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