This photo is awesome. Let’s see how much of the kit in this photo you can identify.
Archive for the ‘History’ Category
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Sunday, February 7th, 2016SOTech Gives Us A Blast From The Past
Friday, February 5th, 2016 
The Assault Vest was a symbol for SOTech. It was one of the first projects Founder Jim Cragg made for each of the members of his Army Special Operations team. It also symbolized the “overbuilt” ethos of the company – it was made of double layers of 1000 Denier Cordura, heavy webbing and 138 wt. thread. It even included an extraction harness built in. One of the first uses of AustriAlpin’s metal “click buckle” (their predecessor to the Cobra buckle) was on this vest in 1999.
Renowned Veteran, Former Vietnam Prisoner Col Lee Ellis to Speak at RetroWeekend; Veterans to Receive Free Admission
Thursday, February 4th, 2016PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – A retired Air Force colonel and award-winning author who served more than five years in Vietnam prison camps will speak in East Tennessee as part of RetroWeekend, an event taking place April 29 and 30 in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Colonel Lee Ellis will share stories of leadership and courage from the years he spent in Hanoi prisons after his fighter jet was shot down during the Vietnam War.
Ellis’ speech is part of RetroWeekend’s Veterans Appreciation Day, which will be held Fri., April 29. Individuals with proof of military service will receive free admission to Friday’s festivities, which include a running class taught by Olympian Jeff Galloway, workshops covering everything from financial planning to home brewing and live music from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s played by well-known tribute bands. Day passes for non-veterans cost $50, while tickets for the entire weekend start at $89. A portion of every registration fee will go to charitable organizations in the area.
After retiring from the Air Force, Ellis became a nationally recognized presenter and expert on the subjects of leadership, performance, team building, mentoring and career planning. He has spoken on CNN, CBS, C-SPAN, ABC and Fox News, and at hundreds of engagements in various industry sectors throughout the world. His book, Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton, won multiple international book awards and includes a foreword by Sen. John McCain, a fellow Vietnam prisoner of war.
Ellis says he is eager to present his message at RetroWeekend, an event dedicated to celebrating culture, music and memories from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.
“I’m really excited about this event in every way: seeing the people there, hearing the music, visiting with old friends and people who aren’t friends but with whom I share a common bond,” Ellis said. ”I’m always honored to speak to veterans. When I look back at my [military] experience, many of those lessons fit right into life and leadership and impact us on a daily basis.”
RetroWeekend Executive Director Steve Hall says he is glad to offer veterans a free chance to listen to Ellis and participate in Friday’s events.
”When we think back on the memories we treasure, nothing is more valuable than the sacrifice our veterans have made on behalf of this great country,” Hall said. ”While we can never fully repay them, we are excited to give them free Friday admission as a token of our gratitude. We believe Col. Ellis’ dynamic speech will resonate with veterans and civilians alike.”
While Ellis’ Veterans Appreciation Discussion will be a highlight of the day, his speech is one of many events on Friday’s schedule. Galloway, a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team, will host a three-hour running school to teach participants how to get the most out of an injury-free training regimen. Other workshops will educate attendees on such diverse subjects as hiking, financial planning, dancing, elder law, biking, identity theft and home brewing.
Saturday’s events include more workshops and speakers, as well as an optional race that winds through Pigeon Forge for more than five miles. The race features a unique ”Run at the Front” format, which enables each competitor older than 40 to race exclusively against members of his or her age group.
Well-known television host Rudy Maxa will fascinate and inform those with a keen interest in travel on Saturday. Maxa, a travel journalist for numerous publications and television channels, will recount his global excursions and offer advice to ardent globetrotters and novice travelers.
Live music will play throughout Friday and Saturday’s festivities. Upbeat dance band Top Tier (Nashville, Tenn.) will perform Friday evening, and North America’s No. 1 tribute band, Woodie and the Longboards (Riverside, Calif.), will take the stage Saturday evening to perform consecutive 75-minute tributes to The Eagles’ Glenn Frey and The Beach Boys.
At least 10 percent of all registration fees will go to charities that serve the needs of the area, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Friends of the Smokies, Remote Area Medical and Wears Valley Ranch, among others.
Dolly Parton’s brand new and exclusive DreamMore Resort serves as the host hotel for the weekend. Workshops and speeches will take place at LeConte Event Center.
To register or receive more information about RetroWeekend, visit: goretrorunning.com
Coming Soon from Eastman Leather Company – The Escape A2
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016Eastman Re-Issue A-2 available in standard or ‘Escape’ Virgil Hilts spec.
Eastman Leather is releasing a reproduction of the “re-issue” version of the classic WWII A-2 leather jacket. It will also be available in the same configuration as worn by Steve McQueen in his portrayal of the “Cooler King” Capt Virgil Hilts, USAAF. It even has Captain’s bars under the collar!
Below is a description of what makes a “re-issue” A-2, written by Eastman Leather.
Post WWII thousands of A-2 jackets still remained in air depots and other bases. In order that these garments would give the best continued service they were treated with a reconditioning process which involved the re painting of the outer surface of the shell.
Experience had taught that the darker a garment was the more serviceable it would not show oil stains and soiling. Because the jackets were made from aniline finished hides which tend to absorb rather than repel they were re painted with a dark brown poly-acrylate dye, which provided an altogether tougher barrier. However it transpired that this over painting method whilst initially achieving its aim, very soon started to look shabby. The over paint would crisp and flake off. This disastrous technique effectively sealed the fate of the A-2 as unsightly jackets were quickly plucked from service.
A re-issue over painted A-2 (specifically a Rough Wear contract) was worn by Steve McQueen during the filming of The Great Escape, arguably one of the most iconic uses of an A-2 jacket in motion picture history.
Cockpit USA – 10th Mountain Collection
Monday, February 1st, 2016At last month’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market I met with the team from Cockpit USA. They’ve been making authentic replicas of classic flight and military clothing for decades. Their latest project is to resurrect several garments used by the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division during World War Two.
In the years leading up to World War II, the United States Army recognized the need for specially trained, highly adaptable mountain and cold-climate units. The challenges of mountain warfare were extreme, higher altitudes; rapidly changing weather conditions, and the demand for technical skills such as climbing, and skiing all had to be addressed. These mountain troopers had to be highly conditioned, resilient individuals with a specialized skill set, and equipped to survive the harshest of environments. With this in mind the US Army developed its Military Layering Principles. This concept of layering functional compatibly designed garments in an effort to preserve warmth and ensure protection from the elements.
The Cockpit USA Fall 2016 collection features the original officially sanctioned layered all season clothing styles. Fall 2016 line, features pieces with removable liners, as well as detachable fur collars, and hoods, along with full cold weather parka¹s and lighter weight reversible layering pieces.
The collection focuses on being able to face nature’s elements. From the warmest fur hooded arctic parka, down to lightweight waxed cotton shell, snow, wind, rain, and comfort was considered during every step of the development of this capsule.
19th Group “Silent Warriors” Demonstrate Awesome Power Of Bow And Arrow
Friday, January 29th, 2016These 19th Group SF Soldiers (not yet Green Berets) circa 1961, demonstrate their prowess with the bow and arrow.
If you want to see the entire documentary, produced by the Army as part of “The Big Picture” series, make the jump. (more…)
Chocolate Is A Fighting Food
Thursday, January 28th, 2016 
Lariat Advance!
Thursday, January 28th, 2016This Cold War-era map from Poland reportedly depicts war plans to interdict a NATO attack on the Warsaw Pact. Those red clouds indicate nuclear response. One can only imagine that their offensive plans were just as ruthless.
