When I joined the Army in 1985 this chevron sole design was the issue combat boot for the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. Just a year later they started issuing a slightly upgraded model but this one was worn by soldiers throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s. Did you ever wear them?
Photo: Lee-Jackson Militaria
I’m embarrassed to say I still have an exact pair that was issued to me in basic. I just saw them the other day in a box. Slightly worn, but still spit shined.
After spending four years in the Corps, I joined the Army and was in AIT at Ft Knox. Damnit if I didn’t get cellulitis from blisters attributed to these orthopedic wonders.
Fallen arch stepping on a rock on my first road march at Ft Knox. It still hurts 35 years later. I think the mountain we walked up was called misery or something like that. I also got immersion foot because they didn’t allow your feet to breath. It was like walking in a puddle.
Yes, I wore those during basic training, AIT, and jump school in 1976. If I remember right the updated version had a notch cut out replacing a pair of eyelets for improved ankle flex. I hated those boots. Thankfully jungle boots were much better.
You are right Sir. I was issued those improved ‘orthopedic wonders’ (well said Kevin Rooney!) through Basic, AIT and Jump School in ’82/’83. As soon as I got to Division I had mine resoled with thick Vibram lug soles. That helped a bit – but already by that point the damage to my feet, knees and hips had already begun.
We got the new combat boots in ’86 (IIRC) and they were definitely an improvement on those old pieces of shit, but it was a shame that they couldn’t be resoled.
Yes, I was issued two pairs of these at Fort Bliss for basic in January 1987. At AIT, at Fort Eustis, I bought a pair jungle boots at clothing and sales, but wasn’t allowed to wear them. Had to wait until I got to my first duty station (Germany).
“AIT, at Fort Eustis” – there two years before you.
Issued in the 70s and 80s. Jungles and jump boots worn…….
Yep, got issued 1 pair in basic (1984) just like em. I don’t know what it was, the leather quality or how the leather was treated, but I never had another pair of boots that took a shine as quickly as those did. Couldn’t find a replacement for them in Europe a couple of years later so I had to switch to jungle boots.
My God they sucked. They would never dry when you got them wet. You could feel every pebble through those soles. At the exact instant you got them perfectly broken in the sole was worn out.
“Had” a pair.
Gave the 2 pair I had to a guy I worked with (when I was in the USAR, this was in my civilian job)because he needed new boots
HE loved them, and thanked me profusely because not only did he not have to BUY a pair of new boots, but as I said, he actually LOVED them.
I didn’t HATE them, but they weren’t pillows on my feet, ya’ know.
Diff’rnt strokes…
Showed up to basic in 1980 barefoot, those were the first pair of new shoes/boots I ever owned….awe makes me feel fuzzy! Tiny bubbles…..
These were OK if:
They were sized properly
They were treated with beeswax/Sno Seal
You used a decent insole
You had them resoled with a decent Vibram type sole
But they were only OK. Glad they’ve come and gone.
And there you go.
Got my 2x pairs in Basic, had Vibrams put on one during AIT, had Ripples put on the other upon arrival to my first duty station. The guy who did the Ripples also converted the “instep blister eyelet” into a notch.
Oh yes I remember, PT running shoes of the `70’s.
Some of the older guys still had them but we got issued the speed lace variety when my turn came around.
Boots, Hard Sole, one each. Thats pretty descriptive. I saw older reservists who came back in in the mid 90’s after a break in service still wearing these. I suppose they had killed the nerves in the feet and lower legs off during an earlier enlistment.
Got two pairs issued in Basic in 1988. There was a mix of these issued along with the new “speed lace” boots.
Still have my first pair issued to me in 1976 but I had re-soled them with vibram soles
Before my time. When I joined they were issuing the boots with the speedlaces and the sole with the notches on either side. A few years later I was then issued the Infantry Combat Boot I think they were called, the ones with the Gore-Tex lining and Vibram soles, they were the last black boots the Corps issued before going to the MARPAT boots.
Yep. Bought a pair of Cocorans to give my feet a break from these.
Just don’t boil (or eat) the insoles!
I forgot about that!
I still have a couple of pairs of these in a box somewhere. I stopped wearing them as soon as I got to my first unit, and switched to jungle boots and my Chippewas.
I always found it interesting how one boot would alway shine up quickly and easily, but the other the other never would take a good shine.
Well, thats awkward….
You might find this strange, but the Greek Army still issues an exact same pair of black boots, although with some improvements on the latest models (refered as Boot, Combat, MO7)
scroll down to see the older version..
http://www.4troxoi.gr/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=35911&start=10905
scroll down to see the newest model
http://www.ellinikos-stratos.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7031&PN=3
Hey I know it says don’t boil the insole ( I mean who was the first guy to suggest boiling their insoles…..and why?) but have you ever done it? If not go boil a set and watch what happens.
Hi there from Greece,
evolutions of those boots are still being issued in the hellenic armed forces. With the notch cut out as Harry described and some extra anti-moisture treatment on the leather.
I got the very same ones as pictured (except no stitching in the upper rim) issued 10 years ago.
I had multiple 25 & and 50 k marches in them no problem whatsoever, in fact i have them still and they never let me down.
I have to agree with Mark if you got the correct size and a proper non slipping sole like the vibram one on that boot, it would go tho hell and back.
But there where also some second rate ones going around, dew to some shoddy work done by some contractors/ suppliers, i.e. the the sole would go to pieces just by the every day use in the barracks.
But if you got a good pair and gave it the right treatment, this boot would take any sort of abuse.
Cheers
mine are screaming out for Kiwi!
Was issued two pairs in 1986. The next year the Army started issuing the new waffle sole models. I got lucky and work jungles after that.
LPC – leather personnel carrier. Inside the heel was a nice solid piece of wood, for comfort I’m sure.
I was issued two pairs at Fort Benning OSUT in 1985. We had to paint a small white square on the back of one pair so the Drill Sergeants could see that we were alternating the wear of our boots. Mine were too small. I lost all feeling in both of my big toes which didn’t return for months. I switched to jungle boots as soon as I graduated. I held onto one pair which are down the basement with the rest of my “stuff” from back then.
Issued two pairs in the summer of 1980. Not a very good sole. Heavy, added a minute to my two mile run. The leather was pretty tough. Put on vibram soles five years later and they did pretty well for road marching otherwise it was jungle boots.
FISH HEADS!!!! wore the tread off of them!
Issued 1 pair at my Reserve unit, 1 pair at Ft. Jackson in May ’83- the “advanced” model with the cut in the eyelets. Too many road marches with them. My last pair were partially eaten by mice in my garage, so
i guess you could eat the outsides, just not the inserts.
Got two pairs in BCT 1976 bought a pair of jump boots for Guard Mount still have the jump boots 7th Inf and 2ND Inf Di’s.
Yup, I had bilateral tibial stress fractures thanks to those damned things!