Took the Inland for a walk today

[22mike]

That's a sweet looking Carbine !!! Can I walk it too................

[imarangemaster]

You have that Carbine dead nuts on the money!

It is my favorite long gun! It does really well on off-hand "bounce the pop can" drills. I am actually thinking about using it in a "Halloween Zombie Shoot" three gun match on Sunday, if the rifle targets are 100 yards or less!

[USGI]

I've got a camo outfit that my brother had in the Army when he retired maybe 25-30 years ago. I thought it might be fun to wear it when I take the grandkids out to shoot 22's - and someday the carbines. I might have mentioned this outfit a few weeks ago when you guys were first talking about the "duckhunter camo." From what I could find doing a Google search, mine must be "M81 Woodland." Here's a picture. Do you guys agree? I need a cap of some kind to wear with it to cover my bald head! I found some Boonie hats that look close, but would rather have a cap. Does anyone know if there's an official cap that might have been worn with this style of clothing? One brother says there may have been a baseball style cap worn with these when not on the battlefield. I just noticed the patches on the shoulders of the jacket - does anyone recognize them? Thanks - Bob

Attachment 27774

[imarangemaster]

Yep, it is Woodland camo. I have a set I got just before I got out of the Air force Reserve/Air Guard. There is a "Ranger Cap" in woodland camo that is correct for it. Find them on Ebay. There was a similar pattern called ERDL that was used in Vietnam by special ops. It is found in ripstop jungle fatigues.

[USGI]

Thanks, that will give something to search for on the computer tonight! Does anyone know of a website that would help in identifying the shoulder patches? - Bob

[USGI]

I found a couple of caps on eBay tonight and got them on the way - Hoping one of them will fit and match the Woodland outfit. The best I could come up with researching the shoulder patches is as follows: Left shoulder = 7th Infantry Divison (subdued). Right shoulder = 193rd Infantry Brigade (subdued). Next time I talk to the older brother in CA, I'll see what he says about them. - Bob

[imarangemaster]

Left shoulder, current unit. Right shoulder is the unit the Individual served in, in a combat theater.

[USGI]

The best I could come up with researching the shoulder patches is as follows: Left shoulder = 7th Infantry Divison (subdued). Right shoulder = 193rd Infantry Brigade (subdued). Next time I talk to the older brother in CA, I'll see what he says about them. - Bob

I finally got around to calling my brother today and found out that I was wrong about the patch on the right shoulder of the Woodland Camo uniform. Instead of the 193rd Infantry Brigade (which is similar in appearance) it stands for USARV "US Army Vietnam" and had ties to, or was part of MACV "Military Advisory Command Vietnam." Hope I got that right. He retired in 1983. - Bob

Attachment 28895

[ChipS]

There was a similar pattern called ERDL that was used in Vietnam by special ops. It is found in ripstop jungle fatigues.

Light weight rip-stop ERDL camoflage jungle utilities were standard USMC issue in early January 1970 when I was issued 2 sets in Okinawa on my way to Viet Nam. They must have been GI for a while because virtually all in-country Marines were in ERDL camo utilities when I got there in late January. The ERDL camo was made in mountain (browns dominant) and lowland (greens dominant) patterns. I served in southern I-Corps. Most all that I saw were lowland pattern camo, but there were some mountin pattern mixed in. By the time I got to Viet Nam the 3rd MarDiv had left and the Marines were mostly pulled back south from the northern I-Corps, so maybe that's why lowland pattern utilities were predominant. The only Army special ops I saw were Green Berets and they wore mostly tiger stripe camo as I recall. Marine Force Recon I believe wore standard USMC issue ERDL pattern camo. From the time I got there until the time I left in late January 1971 ALL regular Army troops were still wearing plain OD rip-stop jungle utilities (fatigues?). I saw some Da Nang Air Force personnel in USMC camo but I doubt it was general USAF issue. I believe the ERDL utiliies were marked 'USMC' on the inside tags - the ONLY 'USMC' marking I can remember on any equipment I was ever issued in the Corps. I remember they were very light and the fabric was very tough and they dried incredibly fast. I have never seen a fabric better suited for wet, tropical climate before or since that time. I don't know the whole story on ERDL camoflage utilities but this is what I remember. Maybe some others here will share there recollections of those times. Semper Fi.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I thought it might be fun to wear it when I take the grandkids out to shoot 22's - and someday the carbines. Do you guys agree? I need a cap of some kind to wear with it to cover my bald head! Does anyone know if there's an official cap that might have been worn with this style of clothing? Thanks - Bob

Don't go out 'half cocked' with your grandkids, Bob - Go ahead and invest in an M-1 helmet to match your uniform! You can't get more 'Official' than that!

(I've also found that people give you a wide berth at the range)



I plan to take some good photos of my growing US helmet collection when I have better lighting and post it on the 'Military Gear Forum' - I also still need to gather some more information. JimF got together with BAR and bought his personal M1-C and sent it to me a few weeks ago!!! Best Christmas present on record for me! It's the pride of my little collection, as I can get a real provenance on it!

I went ahead and invested in a couple of large collector books about post WWII helmets and they're very interesting to me - A lot more to them that I ever knew.

Some of it is still confusing though, but I'm beginning to understand. As Chip said, the new ERDL uniforms seems to have started coming out about 1970 and they began making some EDRL helmet covers in 1970 alongside the earlier Mitchell patter covers. Then in about 1974 they started making them all in 'Woodland' (Per the books) - Even on the diagrams in the book, I couldn't really see the difference in what they call EDRL and Woodland though. I have another helmet book coming that's supposed to be much easier to follow with better photos and diagrams. It's kind of the 'WAR BABY' of helmet books.

I used to collect only WWII helmets, but have gotten into US helmets from all time periods and it's very interesting - a lot of new things to learn. Did y'all know that Inland made liners and parts for M-1 helmets? They're the rarest and most valuable liner. They use the same logo as on trigger housings and stamped in in the liner crown - (Collecting is collecting!)

After I received the awesome helmet from JimF, I fell into another later Vietnam helmet with some different features.