MARINE UNIFORMS
The Marine Corps provided a comparatively sparse, but functional, selection of uniforms. Complaints of some uniforms’ poor quality and ill fit were common, and were accounted for by the Corps’ notorious frugality; it is often said that the Marines had to be satisfied with obsolete or cast-off Army clothing. While it was true that the Marines often had to wait while other services received new weapons and equipment, this was not the case with uniforms. Very little in the way of Army clothing was used by the Marines. Most was of unique design, and manufactured at its own Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot of Supplies, established in 1880. The Uniform Regulations of 21 May 1937, with amendments, saw the Corps through World War II.
The Marines employed a number of standard uniform colours. Dress blues had a deep dark blue coat and light blue trousers. The winter service uniform was forest green, originally known as ‘field green’. This was a deep, warm green–more green in shade than the brownish-olive drab (OD) used on some items. Khaki was a light tan colour, while uniforms and equipment described as ‘tan’ were more brown. Field uniforms were sage green, a greyish-green (more green than grey) which rapidly faded to bluish-green and then pale green with repeated washing and exposure. Leather belts, shoes, gloves and service cap visors were made of cordovan; described as ‘chocolate’ or ‘nut brown’, it appeared almost black. It had replaced tan leather in 1922 as it went well with blues, greens and khakis. Dark bronze metal insignia and buttons adorned service uniforms. The official Marine Corps colours were scarlet and gold, adopted on 18 April 1925, and used extensively on insignia and unit colours.
The Marines had four basic uniforms: the distinctive ‘blues’, the forest green winter service, the khaki summer service, and utilities; officers also had a white dress uniform similar in design to blues. These were supplemented by various components to provide different uniform classes. Of these uniforms, it is the faded green ‘utilities’, or ‘dungarees’, by which Marines were most readily identified. Perhaps Col. Allan R. Millett best describes the World War II Marine in his Semper Fidelis: The History of the Marine Corps:
Mounted on 1 ton trucks, the 1st Provisional Rocket Detachment of 4.5 in. T45 launchers fires on Japanese positions on Saipan. The 4.5 in. M8 rockets had a range of 4,600 yards.
‘Barely out of his boyhood, often scared and sometimes blindly heroic, he fought and conquered – and created the image of the modern Marine Corps. On his head rests a helmet covered with camouflaged cloth; his light green cotton dungarees with the black USMC globe and anchor on their left pocket are stained and often bloody; his M1 is scratched but clean; his leggings (if he still has them) cover soft brown work shoes; around his waist hangs a cartridge belt carrying two canteens, a first aid packet, and a K-Bar knife. Burned by the tropic sun, numbed by the loss of comrades, sure of his loyalty to the Corps and his platoon, scornful of the Japanese but wary of their suicidal tactics, he squints into the western sun and wonders what island awaits him.’
Dress and service uniforms
The most distinctive of Marine uniforms is the ‘blues’. Since their inception, the Marines have worn blue wool uniforms, but the modern blue uniform was prescribed in 1912 and modifications introduced in 1922 and 1929. The dark blue hip-length coat had a standing collar, epaulettes, and French-style cuff flaps. Enlisted men’s coat had no pockets; officer’s had pleated breast and skirt patch pockets secured by buttoned flaps. The collar, epaulettes, cuff flaps and front opening were edged with scarlet piping. Seven gilt buttons secured the front closure. The trousers were light blue with 1½ in.-wide scarlet stripes on both seams for warrant officers, company grade officers (lieutenant to captain) and field grade (major to colonel) officers. Generals wore 2 in. stripes and sergeants 1⅛ in. stripes; corporals had the stripe only on the left leg, and privates first class and privates had none. All trousers had front pockets, but only officers’ trousers had hip pockets. The issue of blues ceased in early 1942, with the exception of special issues to specific organisations.
A 37 mm M3A1 anti-tank gun crew crouches behind their less than effective shield. The loader holds a canister round. Additional rounds are held in a canvas bag on the ground.
Three types of belt could be worn with blues. The 2 in.-wide white cloth dress belt had a large, solid rectangular brass buckle. The enlisted cordovan garrison belt, called the ‘fair leather belt’, was worn with undress blues and had a small, square open-face brass buckle. The cordovan ‘Sam Browne’ M1935 officer’s belt had brass fittings and a strap over the right shoulder; worn with blues and greens, its use ceased in 1943.
The forest green winter service uniform was introduced in 1912. Originally issued with a standing collar, an open roll collar was prescribed in 1926. The coat, or blouse, and trousers were made of kersey wool. The hip-length coat had epaulettes, Marine-(or Polish-) style cuffs, and two belt loops on the back. The breast pockets were pleated, while the large skirt pockets were box style. Both had flaps secured by bronze buttons. Four bronze buttons secured the front opening. The coat was lined with cotton (post-war coats with sateen). Officers’ coats were essentially of the same design, but made of 20 oz wool clastiquc fabric. Officers sometimes used green breeches.
A forest green heavy wool kersey service overcoat was issued as well. It was double-breasted and had two rows of three bronze buttons, epaulettes, marine-cuffs, and front slash pockets. Officers’ overcoats were usually made of a fine beaver felt.
The most unique of Marine uniforms was reserved for men discharged due to undesirability. Regulations required that personnel so discharged be provided with a uniform to return home (enlisted men were not allowed to possess civilian clothes). All services provided standard uniforms without insignia, all except the Marines. Called ‘Baby Blue Marines’, these individuals were provided a light blue version of the winter service uniform and garrison cap. The coat pockets lacked pleats and other refinements, and had plain buttons.
A tan wool long-sleeved shirt was worn in the winter, and a khaki cotton shirt in warmer weather. Service shirts had patch breast pockets secured by buttoned flaps. Shirt buttons were light brown composite material. A tan necktie, or ‘field scarf’, was worn with both shirts. A brass ‘battle pin’ held the collars and field scarf in place. An intermediate uniform consisted of the khaki cotton shirt and green wool trousers. The same cordovan garrison belt as worn with the undress blues was used with the greens, until a green wool model was introduced in 1943. The trousers had only front pockets.
After relentless Japanese night attacks, 2nd MarDiv troops catch much-needed sleep on Tinian. Utility trousers’ cuffs quickly became tattered in Tinian’s cane fields.
When the 1st MarDiv arrived from Guadalcanal in early 1943, it was issued the Australian battle-dress blouse and trousers, because of a shortage of forest green service uniforms. The wool serge waist-length blouse was OD, termed khaki by the Australians. It had pleated patch breast pockets, concealed pocket flap and front closure buttons. Known as the ‘Vandegrift jacket’, after the division commander, it proved popular. A US-made forest green version was authorised for officers in December 1944 and for enlisted men in August 1945.
An M1 carbine armed Marine assistant machine gunner hauls a belt of .30 cal. ammunition. His M1 steel helmet, with a late type camouflage cover, is worn reversed to improve visibility.
The Marine in the foreground is armed with a 12 ga. M1912 riot shotgun with the stock cut down to a pistol grip. A World War I issue 11 pocket grenade carrier is used for the 12 ga. ammunition.
The Marines have worn khaki since the turn of the century. The khaki summer service uniform consisted of the cotton khaki service shirt and trousers or breeches. A cotton summer service coat was also available. Similar in design to the green wool service coat, the enlisted men’s lacked skirt pockets. Its open collar, replacing the standing collar, was introduced in 1928. The coat’s issue ceased in 1942.
The wide-crowned service cap was introduced in 1922, replacing the smaller bell crown style that had been worn since 1912. It consisted of a frame on which a white cotton, blue wool, green wool or khaki cotton cover was fitted for wear with the appropriate uniform; both the white and the blue were worn with blues. The visor and chin strap were cordovan leather. Senior officers’ visors were decorated with gilt-embroidered oak leaves and acorns, referred to as ‘scrambled eggs’ – one row for field grade and two for generals – and had a gilt chin-strap. An elaborately embroidered braid quatrefoil adorned officers’ crowns. This matched the white cap, but was a shade lighter than the crown’s colour on the blue, green and khaki, as was the officer’s ribbed cap band (enlisted men’s bands were the same colour and material as the crown).
A 22nd Marines M1917A1 heavy machine gun crew fires on Japanese positions north of Agat, Guam. The watercooled M1917A1 was an invaluable fire support weapon.
The garrison cap was made both in khaki cotton and in forest green wool. Sage green herringbone twill garrison caps were manufactured under contract in Australia, but saw only limited field use. The Marines were introduced to the garrison cap in World War I when those deployed to Europe were issued Army uniforms. During World War II, garrison, or ‘overseas’, caps became the common headgear, for the simple fact that there was no room to carry service caps, field hats and tropical helmets in sea bags.
The broad-brimmed field hat was adopted in 1912. This dark OD wool felt ‘campaign hat’ sported the distinctive ‘Montana peak’. The crown’s base was encircled by a brown silk band and a thin brown leather nap-strap was normally worn at the base of the crown’s front. Officers wore scarlet and gold hat cords with acorns around the crown’s base. Issue ceased in 1943, but the hats were sometimes still used in the US.
The pre-war tropical fibre helmet was of the pith helmet style. Covered with khaki or light OD cotton, its interior was green, and it was fitted with a cloth chin strap over the front brim. It fell from general use overseas early in the war, but was issued to recruits undergoing training and to other Stateside personnel.
The footwear worn with all of the above uniforms were highly polished, ankle-high, rough-side-in cordovan service shoes. Prior to and early in the war, a Marine was issued with two pairs, one to be worn in the field. The soles were too thin for rugged use, and many Marines double-soled them. White cotton dress-gloves were worn with blues on formal occasions, while cordovan leather service gloves were worn with undress blues and greens. A 1¼ in.-wide khaki or tan web belt with a square, open-face blackened brass buckle and belt tip was worn with all trousers including utilities. The blacking was often removed when used with service uniforms.
Field uniforms
Prior to the introduction of utilities, the wool forest green winter and cotton khaki summer service uniforms were also considered field uniforms. As such, the khakis were without the necktie. Designed more for appearance, they were not practical for field use. The Marines fighting the opening battles at Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, on Guam and on Wake Island wore khakis, while greens were worn in North China and in Iceland.
As field uniforms, khaki or tan canvas field leggings were added to khakis and greens; these had seven eyelets, while the Army’s had 16. Ankle-high field service shoes became standard field wear early in the war. These ‘Boondockers’ were originally adopted as work shoes and were made of light brown rough-side-out leather. They had black rubber or composite soles. To complete the conversion to a field uniform, web field equipment and appropriate headgear were added.
The khaki garrison cap, tropical helmet and field hat were all commonly worn in the field with khakis, as was the M1917A1 helmet, or ‘dishpan’. The latter, made of manganese steel, were usually painted forest green, but OD and khaki-painted dishpans were occasionally seen. (The M1917A1 was a modification of the M1917 adopted in 1936, but differed in having improved head pads.) The M1 steel helmet and M1 helmet liner were adopted in 1941, prior to the war, but it was with the dishpan that Marines fought their first battles. By the time of the Guadalcanal landings, the Marines had been fully outfitted with the M1 ‘steel pot’, a helmet made of Hadfield manganese steel. The liner was made of thick, pressed, resin-impregnated duck, and included a web suspension system. Helmet and liner were painted OD. Field expedient burlap and utility cloth helmet covers were first used on Guadalcanal. Some use was made of camouflage nets and burlap stripes fastened to helmets.
Both one- and two-piece dark blue denim utilities were issued from the 1930s as work outfits. In 1941 they began to be replaced by sage green one-and two-piece uniforms made of hardwearing cotton herringbone twill (HBT). These were referred to both as ‘utilities’ and as ‘dungarees’. A black USMC was invariably stencilled above a ‘globe and anchor’ on the left breast pocket. The two-piece utility suit was first issued on 10 November 1941. It consisted of a shirt (officially a coat) with three flapless patch pockets – two on the skirt and one on the left breast. The front closure was secured by four metal buttons, originally bronze, but changed to blackened steel in August 1942. Early buttons bore a raised ‘U.S. MARINE CORPS’. The trousers had front and hip pockets. Originally intended only as a work uniform to be worn over khakis, it was in this outfit that Marines stormed ashore on Guadalcanal.
An MP of the Military Police Company, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade-guards the brigade command post at Agana, Guam. The M.P. brassard was white on navy blue. This style was used from the 1920s to the 1950s.
The one-piece mechanic’s coveralls were first issued in June 1940 to mechanics and tank crewmen. Parachutists used them from 1942. Tankers often used two-piece utilities or utility trousers and a gray sweat shirt. Coveralls were too hot and had to be almost completely removed when nature called, thus exposing the wearer to marauding insects. Coveralls had flapped, but buttonless, patch pockets on the breasts, hip patch pockets, a long, narrow wrench pocket on the back of the right thigh, and slits on the leg fronts to allow access to trouser pockets.
The HBT utility cap, issued in early 1943, was inspired by a railroad worker’s cap. It had a short visor and pleats around the crown, and the ‘globe and anchor’ was usually stencilled on the front. An HBT utility hat with a floppy brim was also available.
A modified utility uniform was introduced in late 1944. It was little used during the war, and the few that were issued usually ended up on service troops and senior officers. Still of sage green HBT, it incorporated several improvements. The coat had a flap-secured pocket high on the left breast, and large, internal ‘map’ pockets. An anti-gas flap sealed the inside of the front closure, which was then secured by six metal buttons. The trousers had large bellows cargo pockets with button-secured flaps on the thighs. On the seat was a large, full-width cargo pocket with a three-button flap. A poncho could be carried in this. A redesigned utility cap was issued with this uniform; it incorporated a higher crown and a longer brim. The coat and cap bore the same stencilled insignia as the 1941 versions.
A 37 mm anti-tank gun bears the stencilled yellow 1st MarDiv unit marking on its shield. While intended as an AT weapon firing an armour-piercing projectile, the Marines employed it mainly for infantry support using high explosive and canister rounds.
The army olive drab field jacket was adopted by the Marines in 1941. This was a waist-length jacket with the front closure fastened by six or seven plastic buttons and a zipper, with internal slash pockets at the midriff. The outer shell was made of very light OD (actually light tan) water-repellent and wind-resistant cotton poplin lined with flannel. The Army’s OD M1943 field jacket also saw limited use with the Marines. This thigh-length coat was made of water-repellent and wind-resistant cotton sateen lined with poplin. The waist was fitted with an internal drawstring. On the chest were flapped bellows pockets, and on the skirt, flapped internal pockets. All plastic buttons were concealed. An OD enlisted man’s synthetic raincoat was used in rear areas and the US. It was of simple design, with access slits at the midriff and closed by five plastic buttons.
Issue undershirts and undershorts, or ‘skivvies’, were made of white cotton. These were often dyed light green and were later manufactured in green. Field socks were a cotton and wool blend and issued in white or, later, in tan.
Camouflage uniforms
The development of camouflage uniforms was begun by the Army in 1940. Numerous patterns were tested, but what became known as the ‘frog’ pattern was selected. Designed by Norvell Gillespie, a horticulturist and gardening editor for Beller Homes and Gardens, it was provided in two spotted, colour combinations for reversible uniforms. The ‘green-side’ was dark and light greens and dark and light browns on a pale green background. The ‘brown-side’ was dark, medium and light browns, and tan, on khaki. In monochrome photos of the time, the ‘brown-side’ appears much lighter than the green.
The first camouflage uniform issued to Marines was the Army’s 1942 HBT one-piece jungle suit. This was a reversible suit printed with the green and brown patterns and fitted with integral suspenders (often removed). It had pleated breast pockets with buttonless flaps and similar cargo pockets on the front thighs. It presented the same problems as the one-piece mechanic’s coveralls: it was too hot, and too heavy when wet. Some Marines cut their own drop-bottom flaps. The jungle suit was issued during the Solomons fighting in mid-1943, but it seems that most wound up in the hands of artillery and service troops, although raiders and parachutists received some.
The Marines adopted their own two-piece camouflage utility uniform in 1943, and it too saw limited use in the Solomons, mainly with raiders and scouts. Similar in design to the 1940 two-piece utility suit, it was made of the same reversible camouflage HBT as the one-piece jungle suit. The coat had flapless patch pockets on the left breast and right skirt, the former printed with the black USMC and ‘globe and anchor’, and the latter with a button. There were four snaps on the front closure. The trousers had slit front pockets and a patch pocket on the left hip. By the time of the Tarawa and Bougainville operations in late 1943, this uniform was widely issued to infantry units. It was not uncommon for units to wear both ‘camies’ and sage green utilities, and even for the components to be worn mixed.
Members of a depot company, attached to 1st MarDiv, await orders to move inland from the Peleliu beachhead. White discs were stencilled on their shirt backs for identification purposes.
An M1 sub-machine gun armed Marine provides covering fire to advancing 1st MarDiv troops on Peleliu. His equipment includes an M1910 Pick-mattock and five-cell 20-rd. magazine pocket.
In 1944 the modified camouflage utility uniform was adopted. The coat’s patch pockets were replaced by large, deep, internal side-opening breast pockets, secured by a snap and accessible from either side. Similar pockets, secured with four snaps, were fitted on the trousers’ fronts, while a large three-snap secured ‘butt’ pocket was placed on the seat. The coat’s front closure was fastened by four metal buttons. The first use of this version was on Saipan in June 1944, and it saw limited use in all subsequent operations; the 1942 version remained in wide use.
The reversible (greens on one side, browns on the other) camouflage helmet cover was issued as a component of the 1942 camouflage uniform. Its introduction heralded a tradition that holds to this day: uniform orders specify ‘green-side’ or ‘brown-side’ out. Button hole-like slits were added to covers issued with the 1944 uniform in order to attach camouflage materials. A black ‘globe and anchor’ was sometimes stencilled on the front. A limited issue cover, commonly known as the ‘sniper cover’, also saw use. It was non-reversible and made of green camouflage light cotton with a green cloth camouflage retaining-band sewn around the base. It had an integral camouflage-printed mosquito net attached to the bottom edge that could be rolled up inside the helmet.
Other camouflage gear was issued. The Marines had long used a light OD canvas shelter-half. One half was carried by each Marine and when two were snapped together, they provided a two-man ‘pup tent’. Each Marine carried a three-piece tent pole, a guy line and five wood stakes. In 1943 a reversible camouflage shelter-half began to be issued. The Marines adopted the medium-weight poncho in early 1941. It was made of waterproofed light OD cotton fitted with snaps on the sides. A neck opening slit was provided in the centre and could be closed by means of overlapping flaps secured by a tab and snaps. It was not provided with a hood as Army models. In mid-1943 a reversible camouflage model was issued. Later versions had grommets fitted along the edges to allow it to be used as a shelter. Besides a rain garment, the poncho could be used as a ground cloth or bedroll cover. Individuals sometimes camouflaged utilities, steel helmets and web gear by dabbing on green, brown, or black paint.
A Marine gives water to a wounded buddy on Peleliu. A camouflage poncho is secured to the top of his M1941 haversack. The gas mask case on his left hip is used to carry additional gear.
Parachutists’ uniforms
Marine parachutists employed a variety of special camouflage uniforms and other unique items. The first item issued was an HBT sage green parachutist coverall designed in 1941. It was copied from the German parachutist smock, as were subsequent models. All smocks could be worn over mechanic’s coveralls or utility uniforms. It had mid-thigh length legs, a neck-to-crotch zipper, and large, oval tan canvas-covered leather pads on the forearms. On the sides were large round-bottomed, zipped tan canvas pockets that had leather insert pads; these were to be removed after landing. On the left breast was a flapped, two-snap fastened bellows pocket. USMC was stencilled on the flap with a ‘globe and anchor’ above it. On the right breast was a larger three-snap bellows pocket. On the back was a large three-snap cargo pocket.
The reversible camouflage parachutist coveralls was adopted in late 1942 and was similar in basic design to the sage green model, but included many refinements. It had large, deep, internal side-opening, three-snap pockets on the chest. A ‘poacher’s pocket’ was provided across the small of the back and was accessible through side-openings secured by flaps, three snaps and a zipper. On the front thighs were two-snap patch pockets. The forearm pads were covered with either OD canvas or camouflage HBT.
The reversible camouflage parachutist utility uniform was designed to be worn with the above camouflage coveralls. It was retained by some former parachutists when absorbed into the 5th MarDiv and worn in combat. Early versions were made of heavy shelter-half material, but most were HBT. The coat had six front closure snaps and two breast pockets with angled openings secured by a single snap. The trousers had internal flapless front pockets on the green side. On the brown side the pockets appeared as patch pockets and were secured by a flap and three snaps. A large cargo pocket was placed on the seat. On the green side it was a bellows pocket and it appeared as a patch pocket on the brown side. This side-opening pocket had a three-snap flap on either side.
A 1st Marines 81 mm mortar squad leaves the Peleliu front-line after relief by the Army. In 197 hours the 3,200-man regiment suffered 1,672 casualties. Its 1st Battalion lost all its platoon leaders.
An improved reversible smock, the modified parachutist camouflage coveralls, was issued in late 1943. The forearm pads were covered with camouflage HBT. There were internal pockets on both breasts and the front legs, each secured by a single snap. It retained the ‘poacher’s pocket’ across the back. The sage green and both camouflage smocks were used only during Stateside training.
A forest green wool jump helmet was used until 1941. This tight-fitting skull cap included an integral throat strap. More commonly used was the A-7 summer flying helmet made of chamois-lined dark brown horsehide with a hard leather chin-cup. It was worn under a standard M1 steel helmet and liner.
Three types of jump boots were used: high-top rough-side-in cordovan boots were initially issued; a high-top version of the light brown rough-side-out leather boondockers saw limited use; and Army issue ‘Corcoran’ dark brown jump boots were also used. The latter had capped toes, but Marine boots had no caps.
Marine Barracks, Washington; Marine Detachment, London; Marine Band; and Recruiting Service.
Further reading
While scores of books are found on the Corps’ combat exploits, few discuss its uniforms, insignia and organisation. In these areas, the following are recommended: Jim Moran, U.S. Marine Corps Uniforms & Equipment in World War II, Windrow & Greene Ltd (1992); Bert L. Campbell, Marine Badges & Insignia of the World, Brandford Press, (1983); Gordon L. Rottman, U.S. Marine Corps Order of Battle 1941–47, Brown Mouse Publishing (1995); Radix Associates, 2314 Cheshire Ln, Houston, Texas 77018–4023, USA.
Artillery men of the 11th Marines haul a 75 mm pack howitzer up a ridge with block and tackle to fire into the Japanese-held ‘Death Valley’. Peleliu proved to be the most rugged island encountered by the Marines . . . to date.
