Vietnam gear question

[BlackJack22]

Maybe some of the Vietnam vets can help me with this one but here goes...As of 1968 what did most soldiers use to keep personal gear in rucksacks dry ? Use a plastic bags ,laundry bag, etc? And was shaving cream in a can back then or did you use some kind of shaving soap ?

[Hollis]

There were WP bags if you could get one, most had com battery bags. Personal gear in the ruck was very very limited. No shaving gear, maybe cards, writing material, maybe a bible, maybe some letters from home. For us, having a extra pair of socks was doing pretty good.

[BlackJack22]

Outstanding , thankyou sir.

[ferguson]

Keep it dry?
Where did you get that idea?
Plastic bags, if you could find one, were of limited value.
Some guys did shave in the field.
Who needs soap?
Lots of US units got fairly regular resupply in the field and did not need much personal stuff.
My unit was not considered American and got zip for resupply.
In emergencies we got some consideration.
We'd go out for a week or two and humped all we might need.
Ammo, water, batteries, chow, etc leaves no room for luxuries.

[James]

^^^ Where you SF?

[JC0352]

My unit was not considered American and got zip for resupply.


What does that mean?

[ferguson]

I was with 5th SFG working out of an A camp with the CIDG program.
We usually had 8-10 Americans under a LLDB camp commander.
Strike force made up of Viets, Cambodians and Montagnards.
We were not in the general supply chain.
If a USSF guy got lit up, we could get a medivac if there happened to be one somebody else was not using for a sprained ankle.
An indig was often in trouble if hit.

We got paid separate rations to live off the local economy.
Never saw the humor in that one.

We got cast off second hand stuff nobody else wanted.

In 1969 we got to trade in the m2 popguns and browning A6's for M16s and M60s.

Did that for 16 out of 18 months and would do it again in a heartbeat.

A bit of civility goes a long way when asking questions.

[Flounder]

Actually, that was remarkably civil for mp.net

[JC0352]

I was with 5th SFG working out of an A camp with the CIDG program.
We usually had 8-10 Americans under a LLDB camp commander.
Strike force made up of Viets, Cambodians and Montagnards.
We were not in the general supply chain.
If a USSF guy got lit up, we could get a medivac if there happened to be one somebody else was not using for a sprained ankle.
An indig was often in trouble if hit.

We got paid separate rations to live off the local economy.
Never saw the humor in that one.

We got cast off second hand stuff nobody else wanted.

In 1969 we got to trade in the m2 popguns and browning A6's for M16s and M60s.

Did that for 16 out of 18 months and would do it again in a heartbeat.

A bit of civility goes a long way when asking questions.

I don't see where I failed at being civil; it was a simple question. I was naturally curious about your initial post and of the way you phrased it; as if we know you and your background. I don't know who you are, so I asked.

No disrespect intended and thank you for your service.

[JC0352]

There were WP bags if you could get one, most had com battery bags. Personal gear in the ruck was very very limited. No shaving gear, maybe cards, writing material, maybe a bible, maybe some letters from home. For us, having a extra pair of socks was doing pretty good.

H, what were the comm battery bags like? We would put the radio and batteries in a WP bag:)

[Hollis]

H, what were the comm battery bags like? We would put the radio and batteries in a WP bag:)


Our com batteries where rectangle and long. You could place something about the size of a wallet in it, and roll it up. As it was mentioned, anything waterproof for putting something in, was difficult to come by. During monsoon, everything was wet, wetter and wettest.

[Hollis]

Actually, that was remarkably civil for mp.net


I didn't read it as a uncivil remark. I was too was wondering what that meant. Like working with PF's, CAG/CAP, Kit Carsons. etc. In '69 where I was, all things was hard to get.

[JJ_BPK]

I had a couple map pouches that zip-locked,, it was very heavy gauge semi-clear plastic, heaver than the bag use for batteries, maybe 12 x 24??
Not "water proof" but they kept sweat and rain out..

I kept my map, grease pen, pair socks, & pen in one. Stuffed in my right leg pocked.

My PEN EE camera, a roll or 2 of film, wallet, pair socks in the other, in my left leg pocket.

As far as personal hygiene stuff,, we received 1 case "care package" every couple days. It contained cheep cigars, 5 cartoons of cig's, shaving gear, tooth paste & brushes, other stuff. Chewing gum & TP was in the C's.

The ruck was used for machete, smoke flares, ammo, trip-flares, det-cord, C4, claymore, Batteries, hammock, poncho, two poncho liners, food, and if I was lucky a med towel, tied on top to dry during the day.. ALso two 5 qt water bags.

Nothing stayed dry.. Some was less damp..

On my person I keep two 7 mag bandeelers, two smokes, compass, pistol, 2 qt canteen, pack of butts, two(2) GI compresion bandages, one(1) can peaches...

and I was GtG... p-)

[Hollis]

I had a couple map pouches that zip-locked,, it was very heavy gauge semi-clear plastic, heaver than the bag use for batteries, maybe 12 x 24??
Not "water proof" but they kept sweat and rain out..

I kept my map, grease pen, pair socks, & pen in one. Stuffed in my right leg pocked.

My PEN EE camera, a roll or 2 of film, wallet, pair socks in the other, in my left leg pocket.

As far as personal hygiene stuff,, we received 1 case "care package" every couple days. It contained cheep cigars, 5 cartoons of cig's, shaving gear, tooth paste & brushes, other stuff. Chewing gum & TP was in the C's.

The ruck was used for machete, smoke flares, ammo, trip-flares, det-cord, C4, claymore, Batteries, hammock, poncho, two poncho liners, food, and if I was lucky a med towel, tied on top to dry during the day.. ALso two 5 qt water bags.

Nothing stayed dry.. Some was less damp..

On my person I keep two 7 mag bandeelers, two smokes, compass, pistol, 2 qt canteen, pack of butts, two(2) GI compresion bandages, one(1) can peaches...

and I was GtG... p-)

Looks like you had it pretty easy :) No 60 mike mike, no 81, or helping to hump the base plate, gun ammo etc....... All kidding a side, How many of us realize our primary MOS would be a pack mull when we enlisted.

I am happy to see out troops having much better equipment than we had. The people serving today are the tops.