Uniform, Gear, and Weapons of the U.S. Infantryman

Carrying his M1-Garand rifle and wearing the M1 steel helmet, one of Uncle Sam’s boys looks confident and ready to meet the enemy.

Uniform

The most apparent thing about the regular infantryman was his uniform. In the European theater, U.S. troops wore Olive-Drab flannel shirts, wool field trousers, and fatigue uniforms. They also pulled on khaki canvas leggings, comfortable field jackets, and boots or Russet Service shoes. Cold weather saw the men wearing layers and winter combat jackets (dubbed “tanker jackets”).

On occasion, and depending on their mission, troops wore assault/invasion vests made of dark green canvas. The paratrooper’s uniform consisted of the jump jacket and jump boots. In the Pacific, an early version of camouflage was used, and the men wore Olive-Drab uniforms of a different shade. The intense heat of the Pacific gave commanders the option of authorizing their men to roll up sleeves and leave their collars open.

Marines on Iwo Jima, early 1945. By the attire of the man standing, it is obvious that the heat relaxed any restrictions for uniform dress codes.

During World War II, the U.S. military provided different hats which varied with the seasons and depended on rank (officer’s hats were noticeably different from those of the enlisted men’s). There was the iconic garrison cap, service cap, and field (or fatigue) hat and cap. Most caps were to tilt to the right side of the face.

Soldiers wore the iconic M1 steel helmet, designed to protect head and neck areas. The chin strap was often left dangling, since in combat, a buckled helmet could result in head injuries, the tough strap breaking the neck. At times, the men were officially ordered not to strap their helmets for safety reasons. Officers had vertical stripes on the backs of their helmets. Medics displayed a medical roundel (round label bearing the Red Cross insignia) on their helmets.

On their combat uniforms, troops wore shoulder patches (also called a “shoulder flash”) displaying their division. Unit patches were worn on the left sleeve of the uniform; any combat credit patches went on the right. For enlisted men, rank went on both sleeves. Medics were identified by the medical brassard (patch bearing the Red Cross insignia) on their left arm.

Gear

The infantry carried 60-90 pounds of gear. Each man’s pack was about fifty percent of his body weight. The various gear included mess kits, folding entrenching tools, hand grenades, bayonets, medical supplies, rations, haversacks, cartridge belts, extra socks, personal items, and of course, their rifles. Packboards were used for hauling awkward loads such as mortars, machine guns, or ammo cans.

These paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division were captured on camera in a moment of relaxation (most likely posed). They are carrying iconic M-1 Garand rifles; note that the trooper on the far right is wearing his unit patch.

Sometimes specialized gear was issued to different types of troops. Paratroopers carried assault gas-mask bags, parachutes, and fighting knives with scabbards. Amphibious landing operations troops were issued U.S. Navy inflatable lifebelts, and M7 assault gas-mask bags. One reason why the infantry had to carry so much weight was the fact that the U.S. Army was usually provided with plenty of motorized transport.

Weapons

An obvious part of the infantryman’s life was his weapon, one of the best aids being the rifle. By late 1942, more and more soldiers were using the M1-Garand rifle. Though not accurate at long distances (it was best used within ranges of 300 yards) it had minimum recoil, and was an easy to use, light weapon. When trained, a G.I. could shoot up to 40-60 rounds a minute, counting the reloading process. Being their most potent means of survival during combat, U.S. troops treated their rifles with pride and care. Amphibious troops would pack their rifles in Pliofilm bags before reaching the landing zone, ensuring that their weapons would be protected from sand during the landing. Another weapon carried by the infantry was the Colt .45 semiautomatic pistol, considered a “defensive weapon of last resort.”

The essential M-1 Garand

A demonstration in how to throw a “pineapple” grenade.

Another weapon heavily used by the American soldier was the grenade. These were becoming more powerful and more plentiful as the war progressed. Although hand grenades were frequently and accurately hand-tossed (up to about 35 yards), on occasion troops used grenade launchers. This apparatus attached to their rifles, and by shooting specifically made blank cartridges, infantrymen could propel grenades over 350 yards.

Combined, the American infantryman’s uniform, gear, and weapons gave him an image of structure and confidence.

Photograph Credits- G.I.: NARA; MARINES 1: US Navy Naval History and Heritage Command; 101ST AIRBORNE: Pinterest; M-1 GARAND: WW2DB; GRENADE: U.S. National Archives.