Posted on Feb 10, 2017
Exclusive Army Times survey: Tell SMA if you like the World War II 'pinks and greens' uniform
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Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 16
Thank goodness I don't have a dog in this fight. But I can have an opinion, so here goes. I'm going to assume that the adoption of Pinks and Greens would be for the service uniform only, not as a multipurpose item as with the current ASU. From a strictly appearance point of view the look of Pinks and Greens is unmistakably Army. And it doesn't look as goofy with bloused boots or flat hats. The enlisted version of Pinks and Greens looked best with boots, but that uniform was monocolor OD green. Ike jackets looked great with both versions of that uniform. So if I were the uniform god and could decree a change to Pinks and Greens here's what I would do:
1. Adopt the commissioned version of Pinks and Greens for all ranks. Officers get lace on their sleeves as they were back then. No trouser lace. Eisenhower jackets for everybody(if you look too fat in one then you need to slim down). Shirts match the trouser color with darker OD scarves(A bow to Gen'l Patton there).
2. Headgear - keep the berets for SF and Ranger units. Airborne units get the Overseas cap with the cool Airborne patch on them. Everybody else wears a version of the service cap without the stiffener(As in forty mission crush).
3. Patches and tabs back on the shoulders where they belong. And Pathfinder wings on the sleeve. Adopt the old blue and gold color schemes for rank insignia, overseas bars and service stripes.
4. Brown footwear.
And, given the revolving door on the uniform store of late, I'd decree a one time issue of two each uniforms to every Soldier, commissioned or enlisted. No wear out date. Everybody gets issued on day one, ninety days later the Civil War suits get trashed and all Soldiers wear the same same uniform - no overlap.
1. Adopt the commissioned version of Pinks and Greens for all ranks. Officers get lace on their sleeves as they were back then. No trouser lace. Eisenhower jackets for everybody(if you look too fat in one then you need to slim down). Shirts match the trouser color with darker OD scarves(A bow to Gen'l Patton there).
2. Headgear - keep the berets for SF and Ranger units. Airborne units get the Overseas cap with the cool Airborne patch on them. Everybody else wears a version of the service cap without the stiffener(As in forty mission crush).
3. Patches and tabs back on the shoulders where they belong. And Pathfinder wings on the sleeve. Adopt the old blue and gold color schemes for rank insignia, overseas bars and service stripes.
4. Brown footwear.
And, given the revolving door on the uniform store of late, I'd decree a one time issue of two each uniforms to every Soldier, commissioned or enlisted. No wear out date. Everybody gets issued on day one, ninety days later the Civil War suits get trashed and all Soldiers wear the same same uniform - no overlap.
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I think, setting the costs of the uniform to the side , this is a great idea. When the last survey came out regarding uniform changes, right before the dress blues became the service uniform, this was the type of uniform I voted for.
I don't think the Army does a good enough job linking to our historical past. Yes, the Service blues harken back to our Civil War/Western frontier times, but the Ike Jacket, the khaki trousers, and the overseas cap with MOS/Branch colors and Airborne/Glider designation is what I grew up on as being "Army".
I don't think the Army does a good enough job linking to our historical past. Yes, the Service blues harken back to our Civil War/Western frontier times, but the Ike Jacket, the khaki trousers, and the overseas cap with MOS/Branch colors and Airborne/Glider designation is what I grew up on as being "Army".
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Many folks don't seem to understand what the "Pinks & Greens" uniform was in history. I'm old enough to recall "Pinks & Greens" worn by commissioned & warrant officers. At that time the standard Army uniform worn by both officers & enlisted personnel was Olive Drab shade 33 -- including short "Ike" jackets. For those with an interest in 20th Century U.S. Army uniforms, I recommend a series of books written by Shelby Stanton.
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