Class "A" Enlisted Khakis

[friscohare]

I have a question about the shirt inside the jacket and the tie. For the tie, it seems to me that they are generally black or a dark colored ones. Is there a specific type of khaki shirt and tie I should be looking for? Just want to get it as accurate as possible. Thanks for your help in advance.

[legionnaire]

For the Tie, they wore black and late 1940 khaki tie. It was the 1930's narrow width style. As for the shirt inside the Class A PS wore khaki while the PA or PC would wear white with black tie.

The khaki 100% cotton summer "suntans" shirt for enlisted man. hope this helps. Since the khaki class A coats are a bit thick for tropical use I wear a much lighter or thinner khaki shirt to help keeps me from sweating so fast and so much inside. hope this helps.

Philip

[friscohare]

Thanks Philip! Another question: does the Sam Browne belt have to be brown or will black do as well?

[legionnaire]

Brown was the general issue. I would suggest have it repainted by a leather shoe repair shop if you want to make use of it.

[legionnaire]

The #7 on the "Always First" 1st Infantry Div. were originally the 7th PC regt. and this unit in the photo with MacArthur was assigned to the HPA who had class A's.




Why is this unit carrying Springfields in class A's ? It was a former PC unit since the PC and PMA were the only ones issued Springfields.

Philip

[legionnaire]

PS Officers class A uniforms (12 Medical Regt.)

Chest Pockets are wide pleats, covers are the three pointed corners. Wearing black tie. This must be early period PS.

[RayAdillO]

Mar 22, 2010 18:14:50 GMT -5 legionnaire said:

Why is this unit carrying Springfields in class A's ? It was a former PC unit since the PC and PMA were the only ones issued Springfields.

Philip

Well yes, it's like saying why is the Philippine Military Academy shako colored red?....because it used to be the Philippine Constabulary Academy.



As for the 2nd picture, the men themselves were directly
drafted from the reserves, the camp they were trained in and the depot may have been an ex-constabulary camp, their NCOs may have been former PC, even their officers maybe former PC or even PS. However, these troops officially belong to the Philippine Army.

[indiosbravos]

Mar 25, 2010 0:04:38 GMT -5 legionnaire said:

PS Officers class A uniforms (12 Medical Regt.)

Chest Pockets are wide pleats, covers are the three pointed corners. Wearing black tie. This must be early period PS.

12th Med.... Wow great pics Philip thank you.

Any chance I can have a high res copy in my email?

Any history/ info of the pics?

[legionnaire]

Hi Lawrence,

Unfortunately that was the best resolution I could send you. No info about the pics either.

Philip

[friscohare]

Does anyone know what happened to the pictures? They were a great reference!

[VeeVee]

Ray's hosting service for the pictures may have exceeded the free bandwidth... Hey Ray, if you send me the pics I'll host them in my account.

[RayAdillO]

Roger VeeVee, will do when I get back to L.A.

[legionnaire]

This thread needs some missing images from Ray!

[insurrectomad]

I'm puzzled as to how the brass buttons stood up to the jackets being washed if it is correct that they were sewn on. my maid once washed a jacket with the buttons still on and the steel back plate of the buttons went rusty and stained the jacket. the buttons needed extra polishing also. I can't believe the army adopted this practice.

[legionnaire]

The brass buttons had a molded extruding hole at the back were a securing pin or clip inserted into and these clips easily were inserted into reinforced holes of the designated button area and can be slid out of the hole, so the uniform to be washed or dry cleaned without all the buttons. Hope this explanation helps.

[manang]

Hi, after reading a lot on the history of the 12th Medical Regiment I've decided to do an impression of a nurse. Problem is that I"m female. So after reading more information on Army Nurses During WWII or early 1942, I found that because there weren't uniforms cut to womens specifications, many of the women went overseas wearing men's uniform. It was after 1944 that the new WAC/ANC uniforms came out.

So in our in our simulations group we're putting women into the PS around the January 1938 time frame. This doesn't take away from the PS or any Philippine Campaing battles, or the actual time lines, all we're doing is a "What if" scenario, where women would have been activated along with the males.

[legionnaire]

The 'Angels of Bataan" nurses and there were a few Filipina nurses that were in Bataan were the unsung heroines during the battle of Bataan campaign. And are the best subject to represent.

Philip

[friscohare]

Hi Manang,

Piggy-backing on Philip's comment, here's a picture of three of the "Angels of Bataan" during the Bataan campaign (see above).

The News Caption read: "Bataan Nurses--Wearing Army pants and Air Corps coveralls instead of white uniforms, three of the nurses who aided Americans and Filipinos in the Bataan Campaign are shown (left to right) Lt. Josephine Nesbitt, Capt. M.C. Davidson and Lt. Helen Hennessey"

It gives an idea of what they wore on the field, at least. I'll also keep on the look out for other P.I. nurse-related images.

Sean

[VeeVee]

From the book "And Somebody Gives a D*mn"

[legionnaire]

Filipina "Angels of Bataan!" Hope this helps.