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You are here: Home / blog / Vietnam Issue/Essential gear

Vietnam Issue/Essential gear

January 29, 2021 by David Adams 3 Comments

What were the things that we couldn’t have lived without?

Besides your issue weapon.

The small but oh so important can opener:  the P-38.  The cook stove, usually the empty cracker can from your C-rations.  Of course, the canteen cup.  In service since WWII.  I wonder if they still issue these?  Then, of course, a “church key”, essential to opening the beers and sodas we would get.

Everyone I believe had some kind of heavy duty knife, frequently a Ka Bar or an M-16 bayonet.  Too many uses to list, but also employed to open the beers if a church key couldn’t be found.

Needed “beaucoup” canteens, I carried a 5 quart canteen and 3 one quarts. Didn’t have a GI type towel, so this will have to do. Frequently soaked with water and worn around the neck. This wasn’t universal and neither was the bush hat, but I couldn’t have done it without one, especially in the rain.

Bird-out

 

Filed Under: blog, General

Comments

  1. Bird says

    May 28, 2021 at 9:35 pm

    I can’t believe I didn’t include a map and compass. I will update this.

    Reply
  2. Joel Chase says

    March 18, 2021 at 1:13 pm

    Don’t forget about the bug juice and air mattress.

    Reply
  3. Mother says

    February 5, 2021 at 9:39 am

    And the 5 quart nylon canteen that doubled as a pillow at night. Remember how cool it’s temperature was in the morning.

    Reply

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