Interesting WW I Document

[Brian Keith]

Here is an interesting document I had never seen before. I will post photo’s of it and some of the text in case you cant read it in the photo’s.

 

 

 

More to come

[Brian Keith]

 

 

 

 

"This clothing is issued to me to wear to my home and is to be returned by me in a clean and sanitary condition to the Zone Supply Officer, Zone Seven, #1819 W. 39th St. Chicago, Ill., by parcel post, using the self-addressed franked envelope on the package (no postage being required).

 

I understand this to be Government property and realize that if it is not returned within one hundred twenty (120) days from this date I am liable to prosecution by United States authorities."

 

 

I have never heard of WW I vets being required to return their discharge uniform. Any body have any guesses why this would happen? He had a uniform tailor made in his home town, possibly to replace the one he had to send back. I will post a photo of him in his tailor made uniform also. A few years ago, at his homestead auction, I was able to purchase the photo and his uniform. A few things of his “got away” from me as I am a poor man, but I was able to get his respirator, the helmet, a few personal items (sewing and shaving kit) and some type of tool kit went somewhere else. I’ll try to post a current photo of his uniform next week. It is the only 1st Gas and Flame uniform I’ve ever had.

 

BKW

[cwnorma]

I have never heard of WW I vets being required to return their discharge uniform. Any body have any guesses why this would happen?

 

 

Brian,

 

Actually, we don't need to guess. Army regulations, and public law at the end of WW1 did stipulate that enlisted men's uniforms were the property of the Army, and only soldiers who had "retired" in good standing could continue to wear their uniforms. It was a special act of congress that allowed for soldiers to keep their uniforms after discharge. In the General Orders of the AEF, there were many G.O.s issued that spelled out how the Soldiers were to return their uniforms.

 

Soldiers discharged very early (in the first few months of 1919) typically were told they had to return their uniforms. After the legislation passed allowing the Doughboys to keep them, naturally they just kept them. Later G.O.s entreated the soon to be discharged soldiers to not "shame the uniform" since they were being allowed the privilege of keeping it.

 

Subsequent legislation also allowed soldiers to keep their helmets and gas masks.

 

It's a little bit ludicrous when you think about the Army following up to "prosecute" 4.5 Million soldiers to get their uniforms back! Especially when you consider that in November 1918 the AEF essentially had enough uniforms on hand to provide a new uniform to every soldier about once every 90 days. When the combat ended, this suddenly became a huge surplus of uniform stores. Allowing the former Doughboys to keep their uniforms actually was far cheaper for the Army than having to reclaim them all.

 

Chris

[Brian Keith]

Very interesting! Thanks for the explanation. I had not heard about the specifics of keeping the uniform although I knew they were allowed to keep one uniform with their mask and helmet. When I started attending estate auctions in the 1970's, it was quite common for a WW I grouping to have the uniform, helmet and mask. I assume he returned his original uniform, as the one I have is tailor made.

I learned more today.

BKW