Photo:
USARMYGERMANY.com.
According to the caption, this is PFC Jim Riebe of L Troop (tankers) at
Kapaun Barracks in 1963, the same time I was there but I don't remember him.
The pink building is the mess hall. Jim's fatigues are exactly like mine
(but better tailored*): block hat (soon to be phased out) with 3rd ACR pin,
boots with reinforced toe (ditto), 7th Army patch on the left shoulder, and
the special 3rd Armored Cavalry patch on the front left pocket. These extra
regimental decorations were pretty unusual. Aside from the boots shown and
the soft-toe ones that replaced them, 3rd ACR members were also allowed to
wear "tankers' boots" with a single strap that wrapped around the shaft
several times and buckles at the top, for both speed and safety.
_____________________
*
| Each Troop (i.e. Company) had its own resident tailor, usually a German
lady (so Näherin, I guess) whose job was to sew on patches and stripes and
do repairs; the Army paid her for that, so for us it was a free service.
But soldiers could request special jobs for pay, like tailoring their
uniforms, which are normally much baggier than what you see here. Of course
nowadays fatigues are comouflage in shades of tan, nobody says "Army green"
any more (or OD = Olive Drab).
|