Veterans: Does your uniform still hang in your closet?

[Too Much WW1 Militaria]

Still have a set of class A's, and still weigh the same as when I retired. However, gravity has shifted it! Putting the jacket on, I look like a green tick getting ready to pop! If they were to recall me, they are:

 

1. Beyond desperate

2. We are loosing. Badly....... LOL

[SKIPH]

I'm guilty too! I retired from the army in 1991. Still have 3 sets of BDUs, 2 sets of Jungle fatiques, 1 set of Cammies (Erdles), Dress Blues, set of Greens, couple pair of jungle boots, jump boots, Khakies, Tropicals, and all the hats, and berets I wore. Only got rid of 1 set of mint jungles fatiques. I got what they called "Hip Pocket Orders" for recall til age 60 yrs in a national emergency, about 2 years after I retired, so had to keep everything. Army rescinded those about 3 years later. SKIP

[flyboy53]

Yes. Two sets of Air Force dress blues because I retired just after the transition to the new uniform began.

 

Also, I have my original web gear and helmet -- which is post Vietnam and Pre-Desert Storm.

[CNY Militaria]

I left the Army three years ago and mine is literally still hanging in my closet.

[dan]

Was discharged from my 4 years active duty in July 1980 at Ft. Bragg. My kahki's have hung in the closet ever since just the way I took them off that day. My dress greens are there too. I have a duffle bag of my fatigues, still starched, in the attic. Boots and low quarters are in a box with them.

[3IDGarand]

I left the Army at the end of 2003. My class A's have literally been hanging in the closet since; except for when I added the PUC and OIF ribbon. As for my BDUs, they have been sitting inside a duffle bag. My Desert uniforms. war souvenirs, and original JSLIST suit from OIF are all inside a bin. I wish I would've kept my personal purchase LCE and Rucksack, but I just wanted to get rid of some stuff and go home.

[Lee Ragan]

I still have the service coat, overcoat, rain coat and service cap I was issued in the USAF in 1966. My USNR stuff that's left includes my blues with white had and a white jumper. When I retired from Civil Air Patrol in 1995, I only kept my class A blues with Lt. Col. service cap and a Flight cap. I also kept the two flight jackets I used in CAP and the HGU flying helmet I had when I crewed on an O-1 Bird Dog. I wish I had kept more items from all three outfits

[Randy]

Yes, still have the full service dress even though I retired in 2006. Also have one set of BDUs (the uniform I wore on my final day) and DCUs hanging. And, they all still fit! Everything else fills 4 B-4 bags. Heck, I still have my gas mask, and no desire to see if that still fits....

 

Randy

[Patchcollector]

I still have my Cammies and dress uniforms hanging in the closet in my Sons' room,all in sealed garment bags.They have little monetary value,but mean alot to me.

[j_cochran]

It's good to read all of these posts and realize that I'm not alone in hanging on to my uniforms and gear! I was in the Army for 11 years and have been out for just over a year. My ASU is still hanging next to my suits, so is my Class A and a set of ACU's. In a guest bedroom closet I have boxed up all of my BDU's, DCU's, ACU's and Multicam's. Also in the mix are numerous pairs of boots, equipment, helmets, souvenirs, and my combat worn stuff. One day I plan on properly sorting and storing everything, but I haven't brought myself to that point yet. However, I can show my wife these posts so she can see that I'm not a crazy hoarder!

[hink441]

I still have my Wash Khakis hanging in my closet. I wore these on my last day in May 2001. They are ready to go if necessary!!

 

[Sgt_Rock_EasyCo]

The dream to scramble and get my uniforms all set up happens to me. I dream that I'm back at Fort Bragg and running around trying to find uniforms, or that my barracks room is a mess and I'm trying to get it all together. Or that I'm running up the stairs and cannot remember the room I'm in. Or that I'm trying to get on my uniform but am missing pieces or parts and am late for formation. Or th at I missed the PT formation. Trying to go to clothing sales to purchase uniforms that I'm missing.

In reality all my stuff is stowed away including boots, socks, trousers, belts, beret's, caps etc. Jungle Fatigues, BDU's, Class A's, Combat Gear, Rucksack, and other crap. It's all in foot lockers in my closet for some historian to discover in 50 years but in my dreams I have almost nothing and it's all a mess.

Rock

[willysmb44]

From time to time, I have dreams that I'm called back up and I realized how unfamiliar I am with all the ways the Army has changed since I left active duty in 2001 and the reserves in 2006. Sometimes I have dreams that I'm called back and that I have a very short time to pack as I'm heading to the sand box. Going to war isn't the thing that makes me nervous in those dreams; it's having to tell my wife I've called back up and I'm deploying is the tough part (she hated being an Army officer's wife).

I also have dreams that for some odd reason, I'm back in school going through ROTC again, but as the guy I am now. I'm the type who'll be awake just enough that I'll refuse to accept some dreams because they make no sense (such as, I already was an Army officer and going through ROTC again makes no sense). It's a very odd feeling.

[Sgt_Rock_EasyCo]

Unrelated to Military is that I spent many years as a LEO and have dreams similar to that. That I report for briefing and take out a car for patrol but always forget that my radio is not on and I don't know what beat I'm on. Then I realize that I'm not a cop anymore and abandon the car where I'm at. Dumb dreams but they happen once a year.

Rock

[The Rooster]

When I got out, I thought I had to turn in my uniforms so I stripped my Class A's.

I didnt have to turn in my uniforms so I stuffed all my badges and rank and blue cord into a pocket. Ive still got my BDU's.

Dreams/ From time to time Il have a dream Im back in and its always in some assembly area waiting to go somewhere.

Either an old barracks or a modern one or some civilian building being used.

Have all my gear along with everyone and never go anywhere. lol

Kind of like my career in there.

[USMCR79]

I was rereading this thread and in 2014 everything was in my seabag in the attic. Fast forward to 2019 and we were packing to leave Florida for Tennessee. I pulled out the seabag and as expected nothing fit!! Big Surprise!! but after nearly 30 years in Florida most of the uniforms, boots, etc. had disintegrated. I kept my blues and had them cleaned and tossed everything else. So now the Blues are in my closet in Tennessee. 

 

Bill

 

Granddaughter #1 wanted to try the blouse on.

[m151mp]

in 1970, the 199th left viet nam. i was picked to go to benning with the colors. they wanted us to look decent, so we all got issued three new sets of jungles. i still have one brand new set, with in country patches, that has NEVER been worn even once. no way i would fit in it now, 54 years later. can't bear to throw it out.

[Rhscott]

No. Done with that period of my life.

[Linedoggie]

On 5/30/2014 at 11:50 PM, gwb123 said:

 

 

None of these are collectible or historic. But they were mine.

 

Why the heck am I keeping these at the ready? Anybody else do this?

 

 

 

I have still-

1 set Slant pocket Jungle Fatigues from 1984

1 set OG 507's from 82

2 sets BDU Lt Wt.

12 sets DCU (didn't believe in 4 sets for a year of combat)

1 OG Field Jacket 1981

1 DCU Field Jacket

 

None of my Class A's, Khakis, but still have Dads Ike

[Brig]

Of course it does. I'm still using it

[Edelweisse]

This is a little over kill but being a retired supply guy/Logistics Planner in the military (23 yrs USAF active & Reserve with two (2) of those years being in the US Naval Air Reserve and a “retired” Logistics Mgt Specialist in DOD with 51 years service…I have all my uniforms…many versions..(Smile) hanging in closets….

 

1972-76 USAF EM SGT (E4) Stripes blues and my duffle bag full of OG-107

1976-78 US Naval Reserve AK3 uniform and duffle bag

1996-2005 USAF Reserve BDUs & Blues TSGT

2003  DOD Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) 4 seta of BDUs deployed with 21st TSC into Turkey from K-town, Germany during the Northern Option..and then Turkey voted “No!”..eventually..flew back to Germany

2005-13 USAF Reserve BDUs and ACUs…..MSGT

 

numerous steel toed boots……so again…a “little” over kill but my excuse…”I’m a Supply Guy!”

 

 Should lay them all out…showing the transition..😎

[M422A1]

I still have all my stuff since I got out of the Marines in ‘89. Some in the closet in the spare bedroom and the rest in two sea bags in the basement.

[gwb123]

On 4/28/2016 at 2:28 PM, willysmb44 said:

From time to time, I have dreams that I'm called back up and I realized how unfamiliar I am with all the ways the Army has changed since I left active duty in 2001 and the reserves in 2006. Sometimes I have dreams that I'm called back and that I have a very short time to pack as I'm heading to the sand box. Going to war isn't the thing that makes me nervous in those dreams; it's having to tell my wife I've called back up and I'm deploying is the tough part (she hated being an Army officer's wife).

I also have dreams that for some odd reason, I'm back in school going through ROTC again, but as the guy I am now. I'm the type who'll be awake just enough that I'll refuse to accept some dreams because they make no sense (such as, I already was an Army officer and going through ROTC again makes no sense). It's a very odd feeling.

 

I've had the "back to ROTC" dream as well, in different versions.  About halfway through, I realize, hey, I've already done all of this. 

 

I had a friend who went through ROTC after a stint as an enlisted man.  He pretty much kept that to himself, although the cadre knew.  For one of their training days they were told to report in their fatigue uniforms.  He shows up with a number of previously earned qualification badges (Airborne, Pathfinder, etc.) .  One of his fellow cadets ran over and said "Hey, you can't wear that stuff unless you have earned it." My friend said nothing and just smiled back at him.  His fellow cadet had a moment of clarity and went "Oh..." 

[bigschuss]

Yes, mine have been hanging in my closet for almost 35 years now....still fit me too.  The jacket with the CBI patch was my grandfather's...it was his post-war motorcycle touring jacket. 

 

 

  

 

 

[Marshallj]

One in the basement closet and a couple  in a pelican case in the crawl space.