USMC and US Army uniform differences?

[Critch]

When looking at old pictures of say the WWI era, I cannot tell the difference between US Army and USMC uniforms..they look the same to me...are there easy to see distinctions or is it a "have to study" type thing?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Bert]

I think the reason they look the same is probably because they are. IIRC the Marines went over there with their own uniforms but supply problems resulted in many Marines wearing army uniforms as replacement clothing until Marine uniforms became available.

[jsaviano]

From an old Army vet; The Marines field uniforms work in combat. The Army field uniforms don't.

[Maury Krupp]

There are a few detail differences:

-Trousers and leggings for USMC vs Breeches & puttees for USA
-EGA on both collars vs US & branch for USA
-Breast pocket flap design
-Blouse sleeve cuff design
-Color (not a real big help in B&W pics )

But as already mentioned, once in France when their uniforms wore out the Marines were issued Army uniforms which they wore with USMC insignia.

Maury

[edlmann]

From an old Army vet; The Marines field uniforms work in combat. The Army field uniforms don't.

The great foolishness was no more apparent than in the '60s when troops assigned to SE Asia had to have special different uniforms issued, which were prohibited for wear back in the CONUS.

I was a USAF crewmember stationed offshore who flew in RVN. We used to be able to scrounge jungle boots from Army customs at Cam Rahn Bay. The Army troops were prohibited from returning to CONUS with them.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Of course you all remember the statue of a WW1 doughboy that was comissioned. Pershing went ballistic when he saw it. The sculptor did it with MARINE insignia and refused to accept it. The Marines took it!

[conductor]

Marine uniforms were "Marine Green", while Army uniforms were olive drab. General Pershing ordered that all US troops wear the same color uniforms, so the Marines were issued Army uniforms. The continued to wear their own collar discs, however in photos taken more than a few feet away, they are nearly impossible to distunguish from Army discs.

[Liam]

And the Army wore "Speedos."http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u.../prepared6.jpg

[conductor]

It sure looks like those guys have Marine Corps emblems on their campaign hats.

[Liam]

They do. Let me rephrase: As opposed to the dowdy loose swimwear the Marines donned in WW1 (see photo), the Army doughboys wore "Speedos."

Not the first time my odd sense of humor has failed me. Nor the last time!