USMC Pacific Theatre boots

Modeling Subjects Figures and Misc.
1

Hi Guys

I have a question about USMC Pacific island hoppers. Were the Marines in these campaigns wearing brown boots like those issued to the Army or more of a lower cut boot like those I have seen on some reenactor sites?

I will be painting my Iwo Jima Mt. Suribachi dio very soon and have few refernces other than multiple B&W photos of the event as we always see it, and of the memorial statue. I dont normally deal in WWII figures so I’m running pretty thin on good reference.

Thanks!

David

2

I believe that US Marines used leggings with brown shoes. see the photo below:

Here’s another type.

Hope this helps.

3

wow, utterly perfect and MUCH different than what one reenactor supply place claims to be the ONLY boot issued. I tend to trust my modeling historians more! :slight_smile:

thanks for the photos VERY helpful!

David

4

Trusting vendors is tough sledding even on the coldest days

Not helping is that MC supply went through all sorts of tribulations during the war, there not being a QMC, per se (in naval service, a Quartermaster is a navigator, not a Supply maven ).

The rough-side-out low shoe is what my researches have shown to be the 'sposed-to issue. Except that the rough surface will burnish dow a bit, and look just like smooth leather in photos. Leggings are hard to pin down in color, too–they were often bleached with seawater to look older than they were (and the owner more experienced thereby). The three sets I have run from a pale tan to a very mustardy khaki (the pristine Size 5s having that hint of olive that does not seem to last one contemporary washing).

USN issued the same shoe, just in black, too. Gets clear as mud.

5

Thanks for the lowdown on the leggings. From what I have been able to glean it seemed the boots were issued rough leather out (I take it this is different than the Army highly polished practice as I knew it with my boots) . This would take on a filth from the black volcanic sand as well so filth and color variation will be key to the “livelihood” of this dio. It is bad enought that the kit is SO poorly and innactualy engineered (see my other post in the Figures section on the Mt. Suribachi flag raising) that the color and what skill I possess will be the saving grace for this piece.

Thanks guy!!!

David

6

The rough side out “boondocker” is the boot to model. It also had a composite sole of I believe cork and rubber. It didn’t take long for them to dirty up and for the coral to wear away the sole. The color of the leggings varied as previously stated.