The 20th anniversary edition of the 5.11 Tactical’s 2023 Advent Calendar is now available.
Each day you’ll uncover one of 24 new collectible patches.
www.511tactical.com/2023-advent-calendar
Archive for the ‘Morale’ Category
5.11 Tactical’s 2023 Advent Calendar In Now Available
Tuesday, November 7th, 2023Blast from the Past – Dog Faced Soldier
Saturday, August 26th, 2023I served in the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division from 1988-1990, in Würzburg, Federal Republic Of Germany. The Marne Division, as it is known, has a song, “Dog Faced Soldier” dating from WWII, as well as a mascot named Rocky, created in 1965 by none other than Walt Disney, for just $1.
Rocky’s name hails from WWI, where 3ID held like a rock during the second Battle of the Marne River. This distinguished service also earned the Division its motto, the French “Nous Resterons La” (English – We Shall Remain Here).
I find it rather unfortunate that the song “Dog Faced Soldier” written by two Infantrymen, was altered after the Division moved to Ft Stewart to make it gender neutral.
Here is the version we sang. If you attended PLDC at the 3ID NCO Academy in Kitzengen, you had to learn and sing it as well, regardless of which unit you served with. This often led to altered lyrics which weren’t so flattering for us ‘Dog Faced Soldiers.’
“I wouldn’t give a bean,
to be a fancy-pants Marine
I’d rather be a dog-faced soldier like I am.
I wouldn’t trade my old O.D.’s
for all the Navy’s dungarees
for I’m the marching pride of Uncle Sam.
All the posters you see say the Army builds men,
Well, they’re tearing me down to build me over again.
I’m just a dog-faced soldier
with a rifle on my shoulder
and I eat raw meat for breakfast every day.
So feed me ammunition, and keep me in the 3rd Division
For your dog-faced soldier boy’s O.K.”
Of course, the only constant is change. Take for example this version of the song from 1955’s “To Hell And Back” a movie which tells the story of the most famous Marne Soldier of all, Audie Murphy. The lyrics are different than the version I learned.
FirstSpear Friday Focus – Limited Edition Spicy Uber T-shirt
Friday, August 11th, 2023
Embrace your rowdy side with the Limited Edition Spicy Uber T-Shirt! This edgy shirt is a nod to the clandestine air support dedicated to SOF units It’s comfortable fit and lightweight fabric make it perfect for every occasion. With a wicked MH-47G design that packs a punch, this shirt will turn heads and get a conversation going.
Not for the faint of heart — it’s the fiercest way to show your pride for our rotary wing warriors. Own the night and show them who’s boss with the Spicy Uber T-Shirt, while supplies last.
Visit FirstSpear to find American Made kit and accessories, Built For The X.
New T-Shirt Collection from FROG.PRO: Between Style, History and Creativity
Friday, August 4th, 2023(GATTATICO (RE) – ITALY) – FROG.PRO®, the Italian reference brand for tactical tailoring, is finally ready to launch its new T-Shirt Collection. They will be available on their website beginning August 4th 2023.
Among our news for 2023, we are proud to present our highly awaited Apparel line with the new FROG.PRO T-Shirts: a perfect mix of style, legend and a dash of extravagance to create unmatched designs. Each of the three new collections was conceived with an unique story, so that dressing can be a journey between history and creativity.
We worked on these T-Shirts with the utmost attention, because we think that the key to standing out from the crowd lies in the details. From a perfect cut to high-end materials, each part has been carefully selected to make a garment of uncompromising quality.
Our penchant for creativity led us to dare with unique shapes and graphics; the philosophy that drives our creative process is always the will to exceed expectations and to offer something different, and with these T-Shirts, we want to share with you our unique vision.
Here are our collectible lines:
UNBRANDED Collection – Bear our flag high
Our UNBRANDED line is a bold expression of our company’s identity. These T-Shirts are dedicated to those who wish to bring up our name and share our passion for experience and innovation.
Wear “Unbranded” T-Shirts proudly and let the world know that you are part of the FROG.PRO family.
TIMELESS Collection – When style embraces history
The TIMELESS Collection is a real bridge between the ages, connecting ancient charm to the current age.
This exclusive line of T-Shirts blends historical elements with modern design, through three iconic headdresses that used to be worn the valiant warriors of the past.
We represented these helmets through a mosaic of triangles, that gradually disassembles; the fragmentation is a metaphor the passing of the years, where the history is lost as time passes.
Our TIMELESS Collection is an invitation to explore the world through the ages, to embrace the beauty of the old and appreciate its legacy in the present.
By wearing these shirts, we want to make you feel the valiance of the ancient warriors. Because armor changes, but the spirit of warriors lives on forever.
SPECIAL FROGS Collection – From smile to adrenaline
In this collection our iconic logo comes to life: a frog that wears the gear of special forces operators. A real tribute to operators from all over the world.
With the SPECIAL FROGS line we wanted to play by incorporating some of our most iconic products.
The protagonists of this initial series are these three funny fellows.
• “Wave Dave” with his MP7 sub machine gun and his panoramic NVG, recalls the spirit of Navy TIER 1 units.
• “Nash The Flash” is the quintessential urban stormtrooper, with his flashbang grenades and his ability to move with agility in CQB environments, namely the urban and restricted ones.
• “Smokey Joey” is a skilled rifleman with an M4 carbine and his reliable Modular Reconnaissance Task Bag. He is always ready to support his teammates with the best strategies.
Packaging and technical features
Our focus went beyond the T-Shirt design; from the choice of fabric to the creation of an eco-friendly packaging, we wanted to create a T-Shirt line that could achieve the best results both for the wearer and for the environment.
The T-Shirts are made of 100% organic cotton from a controlled supply chain, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified, guaranteeing the maximum possible sustainability. With a weight of 180 g/m2 and 145 g/m2, they are also perfect for the hottest days of summer; an ideal weight that gives them texture and durability without making them feel too heavy or restrictive. Also, as they are all pre-washed, they will not lose their shape over time.
The packaging was created keeping in mind our commitment to environmental sustainability. The T-Shirts are shipped in boxes specifically designed to minimise the use of materials and the dimension of the package, thus also reducing the environmental impact of transport. The boxes are made of FSC cardboard from a controlled supply chain, to ensure a responsible and ecological shopping experience.
Unique T-Shirts for collectors: limited edition supplies
With the launch of these three extraordinary collections, we invite you to take advantage of this limited edition offer, knowing that each piece is a treasure because it is able to tell a story.
This is just the beginning of a long apparel line that will continue to grow over time. In the future, we plan to expand it introducing new themes, subjects and identities that can enrich the hearts and minds of our wearers.”
The new T-Shirts will be available on www.frogpro.eu starting from August 4th 2023 in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large and X-Large. They offer free shipping to USA on orders over 200 EURO (about 220 USD).
MDM 23 – ESSTAC
Tuesday, June 27th, 2023
ESSTAC has something for your morale. Their snuff can carrier is made from laser cut laminate and features the EGA as well as a cutout of the Iwo Jima flag raising.
ANZAC Day
Tuesday, April 25th, 2023
I want to thank you for being a friend. As every year, I’ll tip back a pint this evening in memory of all the ANZAC troops, from World War One’s Battle of Gallipoli to the battle fought today. I’ll think of friends in both the Australian and New Zealand militaries and good times deployed to bad places.
Casca – The Eternal Mercenary
Saturday, April 22nd, 2023We first mentioned the Casca series in 2013 and we like to bring the Casca books up every once in awhile because they were such a big part of growing up in the early 80s. Plus, every time we bring it up, a few new readers discover the series for themselves. The bug has even bitten me a second time. I recently began experiencing the series a second time through Audible.
Titular character of the Casca series of books was was the legendary Roman Legionary Casca Rufio Longinus who drove the lance into the side of Christ to relieve his suffering while he was crucified on the cross on Golgotha. His action resulted in Jesus transforming him into an immortal mercenary who must fight from conflict to conflict, until the second coming. The first novel featured some exciting stuff, and as a kid, I couldn’t put it down. It’s amazing to believe that the series ultimately spawned 56 volumes.
Did you devour this book like I did? If so, did you know that the Casca images by artist Darrel Millsap on the cover of every title were based on this photo of author Barry Sadler?
And, did you know that same Special Forces Veteran Barry Sadler also wrote and performed the song “The Ballad of the Green Berets” which hit Number 1 on the charts in the Spring of 1966? If you’ve ever served at Ft Bragg, you’ve heard that diddy a time or two.
Although Sadler passed away in 1989 of complications following a gun shot wound, the Casca-series of books carried on and still boasts a website dedicated to the series.
We recently git ahold of some additional photos of Sadler, wearing his signature M43 field cap and posing beside his vintage Schwimwagen.
If you enjoy retro topics like this, be sure to follow us on Instagram.
Do Not Forget to Hydrate. That Is All.
Monday, March 27th, 2023
5th Group sends…
