I still have my Dad's two-sided camouflage from Tarawa. My father said he wore brown side out during the Tarawa battle. I was not there, so I don't know about the rest of you men.
I would put on my dad's camo as a kid. I always put it on green side out because I grew up after Vietnam and saw all the men in green camouflage and in the jungle. My father said that when he was in Tarawa battle, the island was sand and coconut logs so he wore the brown side out.
My dad was only 5'7", so the jacket is very small. The camo pants are long gone, but I still have his suede boots. He wore the boots for 40 years after the war when working around the house!
He wore green herringbone for Saipan, Tinian and Okinowa. I still have those jackets as well.
Hello all, what was the more common wearing of the camo utilities and helmet cover on Tarawa, brown side or green side out? I have seen references to both in different books and photos and it may be... more
Charles, I have asked this same question on several WW2 websites in the past including here . All answers have been mixed .If you look up the the website www.m1pencil.com there is a display of a... more
One more time on the uniforms my company wore on Betio Island,Tarawa Atoll back in November 1943. My A/1/6 wore only green dungarees and also rest of the war. I was with A/1/6 all the way to... more
Jeff Amen. There are too many young experts relying on writings and presentations by those who were not there. I fear for what will be accepted as fact when we join the others. Ed
Mr. Jefferies, thanks for your reply, i have studied numerous photos of tarawa through the years, but the black and white pictures can be hard to discern sometimes as to which side you guys wore.... more
Just received a copy of the dvd that Al Guerrero had sent out to people who wanted a copy .There are several shots of Marines in various uniforms . Most are the green HBT utilities and several shots... more
kurt, I do not dispute your word about some later on at Tarawa(Betio) had camouflage uniforms but all my time with A/1/6 we wore green dungarees. Never heard P42 camouflage uniforms? We went to... more
Jeff From my perspective very few troops on Tarawa during the period 20-25 November had camouflaged dungarees. My company had them only because we were issued them on New Caledonia. The Marine Corps... more
Got issued camo in V.N. in '69. During my short hitch ('68 and '69) The " dungarees" were called "utilities." Utility blouse and utility trousers was the terminology.
Thanks Ed for your reply. Talking about uniforms when we were about half way across Saipan they gave us clean dungarees to put on although we could not clean up. Jeff
Ed, After helping B CO. when they got hit by the big Jap tank and infantry attack my partner and I came back to our company and just had time for a cup of coffee when compnay moved up hill. As you... more
Dear Sir: Thanks for the response. Yes many did not wear the camouflage uniforms but when you look at period photos, many did. Do you remember Al Jacobsen from your time in A-1/6? He is a member of... more
Al Jacobsen — William L. Jefferies,Mon May 7 09:12
Kurt, If you recieve the "Follow Me" there is two pictures of Al in it. Semper Fi Jeff
Yes, if I do and if you look in the MN Chapter Association over the last few years you will see several photos of myself and my Tarawa collection on display. Kurt Barickman
Kurt, when you came on Tarawa Talk why didn't you explain who you were instead of trying to tell us old W.W.11 Marines what we were wearing? To the ones who have been reading about this Kurt is a... more
Sir: Yes I have been on Tarawa Talk for several years but rarely post. I appreciate being called young as I am 50; thanks again. Yes I have been collecting WWII items since I was about 10 and... more
Kurt, Keep up your nice work and hope you show what you are doing to the public. especially to shool children. Didn't meam no harm in calling you young for I have children 53, 63 and 66. Al Jacobson... more
Jeff, Thanks for your positive comments and yes I will try to continue telling your story to the young. No I was not being sarcastic about being called young; I am being grateful. Yes, I will see Al... more