TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS
March 16, 1970
FSB PERSHING – Most combat infantrymen fighting in Vietnam really don’t worry too much if their wearing apparel isn’t in step with the latest fashions.
One exception, however, is Sergeant James J. Ross, who just might be a winner in the Army’s Suggestion Program. Ross now qualifies as one of the best-dressed Warriors of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, with a coat he fashioned for himself.
Ross’s coat of many pockets is truly a unique garb to say the least. It features 24 large pockets for M-16 magazines and a pouch on the back to port a Claymore mine.
“I scrounged up the canvas material,” Ross said. “I gave the measurements to our interpreter and he gave the specifications to a civilian tailor who made up the jacket for me.
“It’s really great to have on an operation,” Ross said.
Other Warriors are following suit. “A few others in my platoon have had them made too,” said the functionally, if not fashionably dressed, Warrior sergeant.
This clearly occurred prior to the formation of the AR 670-1 Police.
A man ahead of his time, he skipped the entire modular PALS thing and went straight to integrated pockets. Lol
Looks like a modified example of one of those WWII-era assault vests I’ve seen in collections from D-Day…
Which makes me wonder if he ever saw one, or if this is another example of parallel evolution in the gear field.
That’s interesting.
too bad this is not at the Infantry museum.
I came across images of 505th guy who had a vest for his Thompson made up prior to Normandy. way ahead of his time.. Wish I could see it up close.
I love it! Necessity, the Mother of innovation. Too bad big-Mil doesn’t listen to the guy’s on the ground. Even all the great innovations coming out of 9/11 vets, it takes years to get into supply inventory unless you’re in one of those “special” places that has either a limited or unlimited COTS budget. Love to hear about Joe’s like Ross!