US Soldiers in Battle with there M1 Carbines

[bacarnal]

Tank is a Pershing. Just compared pix of the T34/85 and the M26. The M26 has an external mantlet like that shown while the T34/85 has a flush mantlet that is kind of surrounded externally by the turret. Also, the rib you see on the barrel support is dead on for the M26. The T34/85 has no rib on the barrel support. Close up of the pistol looks like the M1911A1, though the picture is grainy and the arched mainspring housing is obscured. The Jarheads look to have the "Brown Side Out" on their helmet covers which would go with the fall time frame of the operation. The man with the Garand looks to be using ammo made prior to '43 since the bandoleers appear to be tan and not OD. All of this is MHO and could be subject to correction. Cheers, Bruce.

P.S. The Captain might have been around Saigon enough to have purchased some non regulation boots?

[browningautorifle]

Tankers boots...

[CINDERS]

Why would you advertise your rank nice shiny bars on the collars! If going in to a hot LZ why would you have no helmet and only tray to ward of bullets! The door gunner looks pretty relaxed and the ammo belt does not look too long either normally would they not have it in a rather large ammo can or was that a latter mod. As a note on advertising ones rank in the first WW officers took to carrying rifles as when they were seen leading their men waving the venerable Webley around the German snipers shot them first..........does not pay to advertise

[Seaspriter]

Why would you advertise your rank nice shiny bars on the collars! If going in to a hot LZ why would you have no helmet and only tray to ward of bullets! The door gunner looks pretty relaxed ......does not pay to advertise

I get the sense that this is a staged photo, not one of real combat, for all the reasons cited by Cinders and others. Staged photos are quite common. Recall the staged photos of German soldiers carrying M-1 Carbines that were used for propaganda.

[DaveHH]

At this point in the war (assuming that it's early) the shining Captain's bars are no big deal. It wasn't a great strategy later either as the NVA simply shot the radios and everyone around them. That aerial might as well have been a target, it brought big trouble, plenty of pee, tactical air and artillery.

[x westie]

Soldiers are engaged in Battle. Came across this Picture without no Caption . Any Ideas ? I'm guessing Korea.

Frank

A interesting photo, the marine is wearing a model 1911 colt pistol, but the holster looks unique..never seen a Model 1911 grip stick out of the holster that much, also the ammo belt slung around his shoulder,..perhaps the member of a machine gun squad, 30 cal browning MG