11-180 Garand Picture of the Day -Buna, Papua New Guinea

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1c_large-1.jpg

American soldiers awaiting orders in a slit trench near the front lines during the campaign to oust Japanese forces from the area.
Location: Buna, Papua New Guinea
Date taken: 1943
Photographer: George Strock

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American soldiers cross makeshift Japanese-built bridge connecting Buna Station to main island during the campaign to take back New Guinea from the enemy.during the campaign to oust Japanese forces from the area.
Location: Buna, Papua New Guinea
Date taken: 1943
Photographer: George Strock

Just about no finish left on the gas cylinder.

Just about no finish left on the men either. Lower pic looks like a 1903 in front. Can anyone enlarge that?

Good catch, Jim!
I think you're correct. I can't see the front sight post either and wonder if it might be a 1903-A4

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2_large1-1.jpg

Also guys in that top pic is it my eyes or has the GI in the foreground got hobnails in the soles of his "Roughouts" ?? and i go with Harlan and Jimon this....looks like a M1903A4 to me too.

Regards

Lloyd

I think it may just be a build up of mud and crud stuck to the bottom. The pattern, what I can see of it, of the boot screams low quarter. Don't know :confused:

Hey Bill good evening to you...look again and you will see what appears to be a set of symettrical rounded studs....on his boot soles.

but then again it is late over here.....

Regards

Lloyd

So...if it's hobnails, 'cause it DOES look like them to me too, those would have been frowned on for shipboard duty. How would they have survived that long? And yes, I'll buy it's an '03-A4 in the top pic.

Lloyd, they could be I just don't know. Did low quarters have that sole? I always thought they were the flat sole.

I can't really tell about the hob nails, and they could have been added, but they look like they're probably the earlier low top, rough side out field shoes ('Boondockers') and you can see the strip from the leggings.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c_large1-1.jpg

It sure looks like there are three on the sole that we can see. I think the real name for then is bob sole??? There would be more of them, don't you think? I agree Harlan, rough-outs low quarters (Boondocker) judging by the heel and pattern. Leggings don't work well with any other boots and the WWII style jump boot has a tapered heel and round toe. That is not a double buckle.

It is interesting though. We all know what hobnails were for and a classic user was the German jackboot in Europe. Lots of cobbles and hard stone streets. Not so many in the PTO. The men posted from Europe to Pacific all comented on the soft rubber sole boots they were issued "Like walking on maiden's bosoms". Those of us that were issued our share of different style of boots for parade, combat and jungle or desert OPs can appreciate that part!

Here's a thought. These blokes would have been stationed in Oz before going to PNG. It's likely they did jungle training in Qld before embarking for PNG. What are the odd this bloke copped a pair of Aussie boots, or had US boot done over, knowing that the hobnails might give him better traction on muddy jungle trails?

That was kind of what I was thinking too Paul, when I wrote the hobnails might have been added [to US boondockers] but I didn't think of them possibly being low-top boots from another army.

I think that's a good theory. We know that the 'grass is greener' syndrome is always prevalent during wars and soldiers from every country often use equipment from armies of other counties, or adapt their gear if they feel it gives them an advantage or makes their life easier.

US medics in WWII were never given a directive to paint neutrality red crosses on their helmets and they never had a standardized design. When American soldiers first saw German medics in North Africa with red crosses, and smocks and arm bands with red crosses on a white background they copied the practice and began painting crosses on their own helmets. For the most part the US medics felt that the Germans honored their status and by the time of the Sicily landings most US medics wore one type of red cross or another on their helmet.

Do you know what guys i reckon youve nailed...it....:clap:...they are "Aussie" boots...the heel plates look distinctly metal...and "for traction on slippery jungle trails" i think is the resume.....

If they are men of the 32nd "Red Arrow" they were certainly stationed in "Oz" before deployment...so a GI could have appropriated a pair of hob nailed boots.

Regards

Lloyd