THE NYLON FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – COMPASS CASE 1966 - 1975

[sgtmonroe]

While the majority of this material is included in the book, I have mentioned to other forum members that Craig and I had to cut a lot of excess material to meet the publisher's requirements. A lot of the research into the development of the different load-carrying systems made it into the book, but the contracting and manufacturing portions (as well as anecdotes gleaned along the way) had to be cut. The following is the development and contracting research I had amassed pertaining to the history of the nylon field first aid dressing case.

 

1966

 

14 JANUARY 1966 - Based on the single set of nylon M-1956 Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (LLCE) constructed in 1962, six (6) new complete sets of the nylon M-1956 LLCE were constructed by Natick Laboratories and sent to Vietnam for testing (under ENSURE 148). Six (6) nylon field first aid dressing cases (included in the complete sets) were included and appear to be basically a nylon version of the M-1956 LCE field first aid dressing case. It is unknown how these trial items were marked, if marked at all. I have yet to find an image of these original cases.

 

1967

 

1 JANUARY 1967 THROUGH 13 APRIL 1967 - Due to the positive reaction of the six (6) sets of nylon M-1956 LLCE, an additional 550 complete sets were requested (1 January), completed, and shipped to Vietnam (13 April) for further testing. The nylon field first aid dressing case for these sets was identical to the ones from the 14 January 1966 sets. The major difference was that 2024-T4 aluminum belt-strap keepers were utilized instead of the standard steel versions. During evaluation, it was found that the aluminum belt-strap keepers broke too easily. These nylon field first aid dressing cases had plastic snap fasteners, an aluminum grommet drain hole, and were fabricated from four-ounce nylon duck. It is unknown how these trial items were marked, if marked at all.

 

BELOW: the “official” Natick Laboratories image of one of the 550 sets of nylon M-1956 LLCE. This image was sent to the Army Concept Team In Vietnam (ACTIV) with the shipment of the 550 sets. The trial nylon field first aid dressing case is number 4 in the image:

 

 

25 JUNE 1967 THROUGH 24 OCTOBER 1967 – ACTIV supervised the distribution and evaluation of the 550 sets of nylon M-1956 LLCE in Vietnam. The sets were evaluated by the 101^st Airborne Division, 4^th Infantry Division, 199^th Infantry Brigade, 11^th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the Department Of The Navy (SEAL Detachments Alfa and Golf), and the Australian Military Forces in Vietnam (2 RAR and 7 RAR).

 

With the exception of the Australian Military Forces, none of the units found any deficiency with the nylon field first aid dressing case. The following excerpt (in regards to the nylon field first aid dressing case) is from the 24 October 1967 dated Australian Military Forces evaluation report:

 

“The pouches compass or field dressing has two faults. First because of its softness it is difficult to find the opening and replace the compass with one hand. Secondly the compass can work its way out of the pouch even with the flap secured. Some stiffening of the back of the pouch would overcome both these problems. An eyelet set in the flap would also be an advantage when used as a compass pouch as the lanyard could then be secured to it.”

 

10 JULY 1967 – Before the evaluations and trials, of the 550 sets of nylon M-1956 LLCE in Vietnam, were completed, the Department Of The Army approved the nylon Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (LLCE) system and ordered Natick Laboratories to begin type classification of the components.

 

11 JULY 1967 – The nylon field first aid dressing case is type classified as Limited Procurement Type as per the requirements of Natick Laboratories Limited Production Purchase Description LP/P.DES 17-67. It is initially assigned the nomenclature CASE, FIELD, NYLON, FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS. No military specifications for the Limited Procurement Type nylon field first aid dressing case were ever drafted due to the item being manufactured for a limited (finite) period of time to meet the immediate requirements of USARV.

 

1968

 

24 JANUARY 1968 – ACTIV issued their final report on the nylon M-1956 LLCE evaluations in Vietnam. In the report, ACTIV forwarded the recommendations (regarding the nylon field first aid dressing case) made by the Australian Military Forces (in their evaluation) to Natick Laboratories. Due to the nylon field first aid dressing case already being type classified, none of these recommendations were integrated into the design of the nylon field first aid dressing case.

 

24 APRIL 1968 - The Limited Procurement Type nylon field first aid dressing case was assigned the new nomenclature CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS and the Federal Stock Number 8465-935-6814. The Limited Procurement Type nylon field first aid dressing case is often (actually all the time) erroneously called a "M-1967" field first aid dressing case, even though the M-1967 designation was not adopted until June 1970, AFTER this nylon field first aid dressing case was cancelled due to it being limited procurement, which is defined as "Classification used when a materiel item is required for special use for a limited time, and the specified limited quantity will be procured without intent of additional procurement of the item under this classification. It is used to meet urgent operational requirements that cannot be satisfied by an item type classified standard.”

 

The Limited Procurement Type nylon field first aid dressing case utilized the MIL-F-43573 plastic snap fastener on the flaps.

 

JUNE 1968 - A single manufacturing contract, for the Limited Procurement Type CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, was let ONLY during FY1968:

 

DSA100-68-C-2743: was awarded to NATIONAL LINE CO (CAGE Code 5B918) of Dora, Alabama. The contract was let in June 1968 (fourth quarter of FY1968) with an estimated completion date of December 1968.

 

BELOW: the only Limited Procurement Type CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS manufactured. This nylon field first aid dressing case is part of the Limited Procurement Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (LLCE) system:

 

[sgtmonroe]

1969

 

JULY 1969 - While the Lightweight Individual Clothing And Equipment (LINCLOE) Load-Carrying Equipment (LCE) portion, of the overall LINCLOE program, had begun nearly three years earlier, not a lot of time had been spent developing the load-carrying equipment items for the system. In July 1969 the test items (later (retroactively) termed by Natick Laboratories as the "first generation LINCLOE LCE") had been completed and evaluations of the system commenced. The nylon field first aid dressing case to be utilized for evaluation was the same as the Limited Procurement Type but instead of metal belt-strap keepers, newly developed plastic belt-strap keepers were to be trialed.

 

BELOW: the “first generation” 1969 trial LINCLOE LCE nylon combat vest with the nylon field first aid dressing case on the left shoulder:

 

[sgtmonroe]

BELOW: the “first generation” 1969 trial LINCLOE LCE plastic belt-strap keeper:

 

 

1970

 

15 APRIL 1970 - The initial trials of the LINCLOE LCE were less than stellar and some components were redesigned for the future “second generation” trials. The nylon field first aid dressing case was completely redesigned according to a new requirement that it accommodate two (2) of the boxed DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-201-7455) and one (1) package of SODIUM BICARBONATE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE FOR HEMODIALYSIS SOLUTION (FSN 6505-663-2636) or an unmounted magnetic compass.

 

Concurrently a nylon version of the M-2 CASE, MEDICAL INSTRUMENT AND SUPPLY SET (FSN 6545-912-0625) was developed to be considered during the LINCLOE LCE evaluations. This was ultimately rejected due to the development, in late 1969, of the No. 3 CASE, MEDICAL INSTRUMENT AND SUPPLY SET (FSN 6545-180-6239).

 

BELOW: An official Natick Laboratories photograph of the "second generation" trial LINCLOE LCE nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS (photograph is dated 10 November 1970) which was assigned the Federal Stock Number 8465-001-6473:

 

 

The “second generation” trial nylon field first aid dressing case continued to be utilized throughout the remainder of the LINCLOE LCE trials (lasting through 1972). When the LINCLOE LCE system was being considered for adoption the “second generation” trial nylon field first aid dressing case was type classified and assigned the nomenclature CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS and the Federal Stock Number 8465-001-6473. On 31 October 1972, the “second generation” trial nylon field first aid dressing case was rejected in favor of using the standardized nylon field first aid dressing case as it was discovered that the standardized nylon field first aid dressing case would accommodate two (2) of the new DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-935-7084).

 

BELOW: A comparison image of the "second generation" trial LINCLOE LCE nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS and the "control" nylon field first aid dressing case from the September 1972 final report of the LINCLOE LCE trials:

 

 

BELOW: The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) National Item Identification Number (NIIN) report (with description) for “000016473” – which is the NIIN covering the National Stock Number for the “second generation” trial LINCLOE LCE nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS:

 

 

BELOW: An official Natick Laboratories photograph of the LINCLOE LCE (dated 1 December 1970) illustrating the trial nylon version of the M-2 medical instrument and supply set case:

 

 

[sgtmonroe]

1971

 

21 JULY 1971 (MIL-C-43745) - Separate from the LINCLOE LCE trials, the nylon Limited Procurement Type nylon field first aid dressing case was type classified and standardized (under MIL-C-43744 specifications) as CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967. The M-1967 designation had been applied to the nylon load-carrying equipment system in June 1970 with its full designation being M-1967 Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (LLCE). The difference between the standardized nylon field first aid dressing case and the Limited Procurement Type nylon field first aid dressing case was the replacement of the plastic snap fasteners with metal ones. So, again, the nylon field first aid dressing case with plastic snap fastener was never assigned the M-1967 designation. The M-1967 LLCE nylon field first aid dressing case (with metal snap fasteners) retained the same Federal Stock Number, 8465-935-6814, as the Limited Procurement Type nylon field first aid dressing case.

 

MIL-C-43745 specifications were drafted prior to the end of the LINCLOE LCE trials where the requirement was made that the nylon field first aid dressing case must accommodate two (2) DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-935-7084). Thus the MIL-C-43745 specifications read:

 

“Fit examination shall be performed with one Dressing, First Aid, Field, Individual Troop Camouflages, FSN 6510-935-7084 and one package of Sodium Chloride – Sodium Bicarbonate Mixture, 4.5 Gm., FS 6505-663-2636.”

 

1972

 

14 APRIL1972 (MIL-C-43745 Amendment 1) – The MIL-C-43745 specifications are amended prior to any manufacturing contracts are awarded. This amendment reflects a change in the type of grommet to be utilized at the bottom of the CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 (for drainage purposes).

 

1973

 

17 JANUARY 1973 - The final result of the LINCLOE LCE trials was adopted, as Standard A, as the M-1972 Individual Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (ILLCE) system. The official nylon field first aid dressing case for the system was the nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 meeting the requirements of MIL-C-43745 specifications. The nylon field first aid dressing case was not designed "M-1972" since it already existed (on paper) as "M-1967," thus it retained the M-1967 designation throughout the existence of the M-1972 ILLCE system (which was only a few months). By the end of 1973, the M-1972 ILLCE system had been renamed All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE). The nylon field first aid dressing case continued to retain its M-1967 designation when incorporated into the ALICE system.

 

JANUARY 1973 – The first FY1973 manufacturing contract for the CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 is awarded:

 

DSA100-73-C-0860 – was awarded to NATIONAL LINE CO of Dora, Alabama. The contract was let in January 1973 (third quarter of FY1973) with an estimated completion date of July 1973.

 

BELOW: the first FY1973 contract dated nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 which was manufactured to MIL-C-43745 specifications. This version has the “small snap” metal snap fastener. This nylon field first aid dressing case is part of the M-1972 Individual Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (ILLCE) system:

 

 

BELOW: the first FY1973 contract dated nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 with the MIL-C-43745 Amendment 2 required two (2) field first aid dressings and package of sodium chloride – sodium bicarbonate mixture:

 

 

5 MARCH 1973 (MIL-C-43745 Amendment 2) - The MIL-C-43745 specifications are amended to reflect that the nylon field first aid dressing case can accommodate two (2) field first aid dressings. Further, the type of field first aid dressing is changed to reflect the new standardized DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-159-4883).

 

JUNE 1973 - The second FY1973 manufacturing contract for the CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 is awarded:

 

DSA100-73-C-1717 – was awarded to LANKFORD MFG CO INC (CAGE Code 27861) of Abilene, Texas. The contract was let in June 1973 (fourth quarter of FY1973) with an estimated completion date of February 1974.

 

BELOW: the second FY1973 contract dated nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 which was manufactured to MIL-C-43745 specifications. This version has the “large snap” metal snap fastener. This nylon field first aid dressing case is part of the M-1972 Individual Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (ILLCE) system:

 

 

[sgtmonroe]

BELOW: the second FY1973 contract dated nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 with the MIL-C-43745 Amendment 2 required two (2) field first aid dressings. The oversized and “overstamped” US marking, that is unique to the LANKFORD MFG CO INC manufactured version, can be seen clearly:

 

 

BELOW: the two (2) FY1973 contract dated nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 illustrating the difference between the “small” and “large” metal snap fasteners. At the right is the NATIONAL LINE CO “small snap” which is approximately 13mm in diameter and at the left is the LANKFORD MFG CO INC “large snap” which is approximately 15mm in diameter:

 

 

JULY 1973 - The first FY1974 manufacturing contract for the CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 is awarded:

 

DSA100-74-C-0118 – was awarded to S & S MFG CO (a subsidiary of NATIONAL LINE CO) of Dora, Alabama. The contract was let in July 1973 (first quarter of FY1974) with an estimated completion date of February 1974.

 

BELOW: the first FY1974 contract dated nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 which was manufactured to MIL-C-43745 specifications. This version has the “small snap” metal snap fastener. This nylon field first aid dressing case is part of the M-1972 Individual Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (ILLCE) system:

 

[sgtmonroe]

1974

 

APRIL 1974 – The second FY1974 manufacturing contract for the CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, M-1967 is awarded:

 

DSA100-74-C-U973 - was awarded to CALIFORNIA INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND of Emeryville, California. The contract was let in April 1974 (fourth quarter of FY1974) with an estimated completion date of March 1975.

 

This contract was delayed and manufacturing did not begin until after April 1975 as it was manufactured to MIL-C-43745 Amendment 3 specifications (see below). It was re-designated CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, LC-1 when manufacturing began.

 

BELOW: the second FY1974 contract dated nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, LC-1 which was manufactured to MIL-C-43745 Amendment 3 specifications. This version has the “large snap” metal snap fastener. This nylon field first aid dressing case is part of the All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE) system:

 

 

BELOW: the second FY1974 contract dated nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, LC-1 with the required two (2) field first aid dressings (new version):

 

 

30 SEPTEMBER 1974 - The Federal Stock Number system is replaced by the National Stock Number system.

 

1975

 

In the latter months of 1974, and the early part of 1975, failures of the snap fasteners and unraveling of the nylon adjacent to the binding edges, of the field first aid dressing case, were reported. Natick Laboratories began an investigation into the possible causes of the reported deficiencies.

 

From American Web Equipment 1967-1991:

 

“It was determined the failures of the snap fasteners were due to two factors. The first being that some snap fasteners utilized in manufacture were not the ones required by the specifications (being slightly smaller than the required ones). The second factor was manufacturers were not pre-punching a hole in the nylon fabric before setting the snap fastener. As a result the snap fastener's barrel was deforming while being pushed through the layers of nylon.”

 

The smaller, non-compliant, metal snap fasteners had only been used by NATIONAL LINE CO, along with their subsidiary S & S MFG CO, which accounts for their appearance on both FY1973 and FY1974 contracted field first aid dressing cases.

 

From American Web Equipment 1967-1991:

 

“The unraveling of the nylon was attributed to excessive handling of the material during manufacture thus allowing the nylon to ravel. When the binding was sewn on the unraveled nylon, insufficient material was available for an adequate seam.”

 

21 APRIL 1975 (MIL-C-43745 Amendment 3) – Natick Laboratories addressed the above deficiencies by issuing an amendment to the MIL-C-43745 specifications. The amendment indicated the need for closer inspection of finished products to ensure they were being manufactured to standards (in the case of the non-standardized snap fasteners and unraveling of the nylon) along with requiring a hole be pre-punched before the snap fastener was set. The CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS is further changed from M-1967 to LC-1 to reflect these changes in design.

 

17 DECEMBER 1975 (MIL-C-43745A) – The “A” revision, to the MIL-C-43745 specifications, added all material from the three (3) previous amendments. Further, it included a requirement that further reinforcement of the snap fastener be accomplished by utilizing three layers of nylon fabric in the male and female snap fastener areas in place of the original two layers.

 

CURRENT

 

Since FY1975, the nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, LC-1 has been continuously manufactured. The most recent manufacturing contract, SPM1C1-07-D-F015, was let in on 8 November 2007 to NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND (CAGE Code 5M888).

 

THE VARIETY SHOW

 

Over the years, on this forum and others, a debate has raged as to whether or not the nylon field first aid dressing case has been “officially” contracted to be manufactured in something other than OG-106 nylon duck. Simply put: whether it is ERDL, woodland, 3-color desert, 6-color desert, black, "desert tan”, Flecktarn, ACU, MARPAT, etc., there has been no other color (besides OG-106) contracted for manufacture for use by the United States Government. It is a pretty sure bet that whatever color it is, it was manufactured for the commercial market.

 

In Gordon Rottman's 1989 book U.S. Army Combat Equipments 1910-88, the author (in his section detailing the Integrated Individual Fighting System (IIFS) development) states "Woodlands-pattern first aid pouch and canteen covers of the same design as the ALICE versions, are attached to the belt..." Some individuals have held this statement as gospel. But what I quoted is all that appears in the book concerning the matter…that is all there is! Rottman offers no further information in the book, nor a source for the information that he wrote (so that the information could be fact-checked). During my research, I (among numerous others) have found numerous errors with this book (and not just this book by Rottman, there are other works of his that have been called into question). Further, when researching the creation and development of the IIFS (for my book), I found absolutely no evidence from Natick Laboratories that a woodland camouflage pattern first aid pouch or water canteen cover were ever trialed with the system. I went as far as asking Greg Lowe (since his company was provided samples of all the trial IIFS material up until 1984 for review), when I interviewed him for the book, if he ever saw the items Rottman spoke of. Lowe’s response was that only the IIFS trial TLBV and the FPLIF had been produced in woodland camouflage pattern.

 

With that being said, I did state that "there has been no other color contracted for use by the UNITED STATES." But, there has been another color contracted for use by another country. In 1975 Natick Laboratories developed tan versions of the ALICE system components for use by the Saudi Arabian Army (SAA). When the Saudi government requested manufacturing contracts be issued (through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program), the contracted components were solicited to and eventually manufactured by United States government contracting businesses. The component items were even assigned United States National Stock Numbers and not NATO Stock Numbers.

 

A few of these component pieces (of the system) pop up from time to time and throw off those who do not know of the existence of this system. There are also a few photographs floating around of United States military personnel utilizing the SAA system components, for the most part seen during Middle East deployments. It is also known that United States military personnel serving alongside SAA personnel have been known to trade equipment items.

 

BELOW: the Saudi Arabian Army US Army Tan Shade 96322 nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS, LC-1 (NSN 8465-01-011-5884):

 

 

BELOW: the Natick Laboratories designed US Army Tan Shade 96322 nylon duck and web ALICE system for the Saudi Arabian Army:

 

 

THE FUTURE

 

Below is a reproduction field first aid dressing case (although to the cotton duck M-1956 LCE specifications) manufactured by MASH Co of Japan. They boast that they use period United States Government Issue materials and hardware (although the silver tiger stripe material is reproduction). The scary thing is that decades from now I could see something like this being passed off as “genuine” to an uneducated collector:

 

 

CONTENTS

 

The nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS is, like its nomenclature states, is a case designed to accommodate the field first aid dressing or an unmounted magnetic compass.

 

BELOW: A DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-201-7455). The M-1956 cotton canvas and Limited Procurement Type nylon field first aid dressing cases were designed to accommodate one (1) of these. The “second generation” trial LINCLOE LCE field first aid dressing case was designed to accommodate two (2) of these:

 

[sgtmonroe]

BELOW: A comparison image of the DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-201-7455) and two (2) of the new FY1970 contract dated DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-935-7084) from the September 1972 final report of the LINCLOE LCE trials:

 

 

BELOW: A FY1970 (the first contract year) contract dated and FY1971 contract dated DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-935-7084):

 

 

BELOW: A FY1972 contract dated case and single DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-935-7084):

 

 

BELOW: The new FY1973 (the first contract year) contract dated DRESSING, FIRST AID, FIELD (FSN 6510-159-4883) which is still being produced to date:

 

 

The Limited Procurement Type nylon CASE, FIELD FIRST AID DRESSING – UNMOUNTED MAGNETIC COMPASS was also, originally, designed to accommodate the COMPASS, MAGNETIC, UNMOUNTED (FSN 6605-846-7618). On 13 January 1971 a new COMPASS, MAGNETIC, UNMOUNTED (FSN 6605-151-5337) is standardized.

 

BELOW: The new FY1971 (the first contract year) contract dated COMPASS, MAGNETIC, UNMOUNTED (FSN 6605-151-5337):

 

 

[sgtmonroe]

In the last post the FY1972 field dressing should read that it was the first contract year for the new field dressing (FSN 6510-159-4883), while the FY1973 field dressing should read that it was the first contract year for the new packaging of the field dressing which is still in use to date.

[The Meatcan]

I really need to print out this post(and the previous one on canteen covers) and add it into the book. Outstanding! I will have to dig up all my first aid and compass pouches to check the markings. Always a learning experience!

Terry

[Philipp Baughman]

Great information this and the canteen cover thread should be pinned!!!

 

With your excellent knowledge and references you educated me a lot especially about the M-1967 designation.

 

I spent the better part of my morning (it now is 2:40 pm over here) searching for my 73 dated pouch with the small snap. I have it almost 10 years now but neglected it as being post M-1967... Great to learn what it really is! Now I just need a second bandage to fill it properly.

 

The sad part of reading this thread is that I had about 5 years ago all the M-1967 stuff except for buttpack and first aid pouch and sold it because I thought it impossible to get one of the plastic snap pouches to complete my set... and all the time I had the 73 dated pouch lying neglected somewhere... Now I'm going to buy the rest of the equipment again...

 

Many thanks and please keep going with your work! Even I'm not much in collecting post Vietnam stuff, I just ordered your book and hope this supports your outstanding work for the whole collectors community!

[pawtwo]

Does individual soldiers of ARMY carried Bandage, Muslin, Compressed, Camouflaged NSN 6510-00-201-1755 during 80s and 90s or these were carried only by medics?

 

If these were worn, so where these been placed?

[sgtmonroe]

Does individual soldiers of ARMY carried Bandage, Muslin, Compressed, Camouflaged NSN 6510-00-201-1755 during 80s and 90s or these were carried only by medics?

 

If these were worn, so where these been placed?

 

That type of bandage (at the lowest level) makes up part of the No.8 individual first aid kit (NSN 6545-00-180-6239 for the "short version" and NSN 6545-01-094-3412 for the "long version").

 

The "long version":

 

[patches]

What a detailed and informative topic, thanks Sarge.

[Brian Keith]

Great Info! Thanks for you dedication!

BKW