Military Uniforms by Avi Heiligman

Forgotten Her es Military Uniforms

By Avi Heiligman

Warfare has been constantly evolving over time, and military uniforms are no different. Uniforms serve several purposes both on and off the battlefield. They can transform an army into one cohesive unit in which everyone is working towards the same goal Wearing uniforms also provides a way to distinguish friend from foe as well as a civilian from a combatant. In the past, many soldiers had to provide their own uniforms, but today uniforms are generally provided for by the military. In the United States, servicemen and women have more than one uniform. Some of the history and facts behind their use are quite fascinating.

Ancient military dress and uniforms saw armor for protection as well as colorful clothing to complete the outfit. The Romans had a style that was standardized within their legions and progressed over time. During the Middle Ages, armor and battle dress became very extravagant, and coats of arms were often seen on shields. However, the metal armor was very cumbersome, and if a knight fell off his horse in battle it was very hard to get up without assistance. The invention of guns and cannons made armor obsolete as bullets are able to easily penetrate metal.

Uniforms within European militaries became commonplace as it allowed the soldier freedom of movement. As the age of the musket and gunpowder commenced, militaries starting forming units and wanted all of their soldiers to recognize each other during battle. Soon elaborate styles were seen both on and off the battlefield, and this progressed well into the 19th and even 20th centuries. Today, fancy uniforms are almost exclusively used for ceremonial purposes only. Non-ceremonial uniforms have many features that allow for durability, comfort, and camouflage as well as for other aspects to allow the servicemember to achieve success on the frontlines.

World powers eventually started using a particular color of uniforms, and this was on full display during many of the American wars. At first, General Washington’s men wore long brown coats, but in 1779 this was changed to blue coats with white waistcoats. Each region had different colors of facings and button arrangement, but they were easily able to tell at a distance a British soldier from an American soldier. The British always wore red coats – hence the nickname “Redcoats.” In 1782, all American soldiers wore blue coats with red facing except for staff officers and generals. During the American Civil War, Union soldiers were easily distinguishable in their blue uniforms, while the Confederate military wore gray.

Camouflage patterns had been in development by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for two years before being implemented in 1942. General Douglas MacArthur sent an urgent request for jungle camouflage uniforms as American forces were preparing for the invasion of the Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. American marines are most widely known for using camouflage with different patterns being used throughout the war. Camouflage was mainly used in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II, although it did see some limited use in Europe. After World War II, it took several years for camouflage to be adopted by the army. Starting in Vietnam, some army units wore camouflage, and in 1981, Woodland Camouflage was introduced to the army. Desert camouflage was worn during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and digital camouflage was the new pattern starting in 2004. Digital design started with the marines – at first, they didn’t want to share it with the rest of the military. Now, both the navy and the air force have their own versions of digital camouflage with the air force using digital tiger stripes and the navy’s blue digital pattern.

Ghillie suits are used worldwide and are designed so that the wearer should blend into their surroundings. Snipers create their own Ghillie suits and use nets, cloth, and burlap with leaves and twigs to conceal themselves from the enemy. It should be noted that camouflage was used as early as World War I when troops used it to hide equipment such as vehicles and artillery pieces.

There are many aspects to the American military uniform that have changed over time and differ from branch or unit. There have been some interesting aspects to note about the uniforms. An American flag patch is worn on the right shoulder on uniforms, and if you are looking directly at the patch it seems to backwards. However, this tradition goes back to when there were flag bearers in battle in the Civil War. When moving forward, the bearer’s momentum, whether he was on foot or horseback, would cause the flag to fly behind the pole creating the “backwards” flag. Today, when a soldier moves forward, the patch is backwards to give the effect that it is flying in the breeze.

Combat boots are another part of the uniform that has an interesting history. At first, they were calf-high boots, and then in the 1800s, the army switched to boots that could

U.S. marines on patrol in South Vietnam, 1969 Soldiers in Operation Desert Storm

be worn on either foot. This boots were obviously uncomfortable and were soon phased out. By World War II, leather boots became standard issue and different versions were used during both World Wars. However, they weren’t very good at keeping moisture out, and many soldiers suffered from trench foot. Later designs of boots helped keep water out and were used starting in the Vietnam War.

There are also some interesting design features on military uniforms that worth noting. Navy pant legs are flared so that the wider bottoms could be rolled up if the sailor is wading in shallow water. Water canteens were often worn on the side by the hip, and on several instances soldiers have reported that their canteen took a bullet while they thankfully remained unharmed. The buttons on uniforms have changed several times and currently differ for each branch of the military.

A properly dressed soldier makes them better prepared for what may lay ahead when entering the battlefield. As technology improves so will the uniforms, although the battle dress of the past is history that deserves to be remembered.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.