06/09/2026
Grunts, collectors and reenactors, here's your guide to ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ for US Army Soldiers.
This is from ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ซ: ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ by Rottman and Hook, one of our fave titles (we highly recommend buying a copy from Amazon).
1) Elite US Army troops arrived in Vietnam uniformed and equipped no differently than troops deployed in Europe. The only concessions for the tropics were mosquito nets, a second canteen, and XM16E1 ri**es.
Other 'Line' Army units and Marines arrived with the longer, wooden - but heavier hitting - M14 ri**es.
Most troops still wore Stateside OG-107 utility uniforms โ fatigues โ with the hot-humid climate concession of allowing shirts and trousers to be unbloused and sleeves rolled up. Insignia were full-color. T-shirts were white, though some were dyed green in-country.
This PFC r***eman is outfitted in M1956 Individual Load-Carrying Equipment (LCE).
(2) The standard M1956 ILCE equipment used globally by the Army included an individual equipment belt, combat field pack suspenders, universal ammo pouches with fragmentation grenades, a first aid or compass case, canteen covers, an M1956 or M1961 canvas field pack with a rolled poncho, an entrenching tool carrier, and an M7 bayonet-knife in an M8A1 scabbard.
(3) This set's only modification for Vietnam service is a second canteen, utilizing an earlier stainless steel model with Bakelite cap due to plastic canteen shortages. As the war ground on, these were replaced by olive drab plastic canteens.
(4) Only one stainless steel canteen cup was issued per man regardless of canteens carried.
(5) Limited-use M1956 items included the sleeping bag carrier.
(6) Another less common item was the M1956 field pack adapter strap assembly.
(7) Compares the first pattern M1956 universal ammo pouch (7a) with the second pattern case (7b).
(8 ) Shows interior closure differences between the M1961 canvas field pack (8a) and M1956 combat pack (8b).
(9) The first pattern M16A1 r***e bipod carrying case for the XM3 bipod.
10) Details an MCI or "C-rat" meal contents (meat, bread, B-unit, spread, spoon, accessory packet with coffee, sugar, salt, gum and ci******es) with three meals making a daily ration per Soldier (they did not yet call themselves Grunts at this stage in the war).
Remember this guide when reenacting as an early-war infantryman. Marines had a completely different set of gear, which we'll share in the future.
Where to find these items? If you're in the US, then militaria stores can be found in every state. If you're in Asia, then we can offer to help 'gear you up.'
Enjoy and thanks for browsing our page! :)
#๐๐ช๐ฆ๐ต๐ฏ๐ข๐ฎ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ #๐๐๐๐ #๐๐ช๐ฆ๐ต๐ฏ๐ข๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ณ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต๐ด #๐๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ข๐๐ #๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ
