National Defense: Soldiers' Clothes

The U.S. soldier in uniform. Model 1941, tends to be casual to the point of slouchiness, conspicuously lacks the ramrod posture of the German soldier or the U.S. Marine. But the equipment the U.S. soldier slouches in is, according to the U.S. Army, the best in the world. To outfit and maintain a U.S. soldier, from toilet kit (63¢) to overcoat ($12.54), and buy his organizational equipment, from shovels (68¢) to hymnals for the chapels ($33.75 a set), costs $262.35 a year. Complete with Garand ($96), the Army rifleman's equipment (including maintenance but not ammunition) sets the U.S. Treasury back $258.35...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!