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"Banana Wars" uniforms


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Anyone have any original period uniforms from the Banana Wars campaigns in the Caribbean and Latin America in the nineteen-teens, twenties, and thirties? If so, please share some pics!

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Anyone have any original period uniforms from the Banana Wars campaigns in the Caribbean and Latin America in the nineteen-teens, twenties, and thirties? If so, please share some pics!

Welcome to USMF oakleaf, here's the forum to find images of this period, pretty sure there's a load of them scattered in various topic in this forum.

 

Use the search box in upper right, using keywords, Marines, Nicaragua, Haiti, Vera Cruz ETC ETC.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/forum/10-ephemera-photographs/

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Thanks for the reply and the link. I think I didn't word my original post very clearly, however, because what I am actually looking for people to post are actual uniforms from their collections, not pictures from the period (although those are pretty cool too).

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Things are quiet today so I'll play. First up, a khaki cotton tunic for a USMC officer. Ribbons reflect a number of Banana wars campaigns, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Haiti. For the ega officianados, the collar ega's are the Ellis type pin back.

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Next up his EM counterpart. 1910 khaki cotton tunic again, this time patched to a Navy Corpsman serving with the Marines. This one is named and attributed to 1919 Haiti. I added the 1918 medic belt and early hospital pouch for display.

 

This is a start. I am sure there are posts around here and there, but I too would love to see more Banana Wars displays and uniforms. Kevin

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Thanks for the reply and the link. I think I didn't word my original post very clearly, however, because what I am actually looking for people to post are actual uniforms from their collections, not pictures from the period (although those are pretty cool too).

I got you now :D

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Thought of a couple more that probably apply. First is a USMC dress tunic with the rare Lee Navy web cartridge belt. This is what our Marines would have looked like in the Span Am War and China in 1900-so I guess "Banana: still. This tunic is an interesting one, it has the original paper label inside that dates in to 1898. This represents the change from the rolled edge collar on these tunics, to the more square edge that remains in use through today. Most collectors of Span Am USMC tunics think they all had the rolled edge, but this one proves in 1898, they made the change, even though most in the field were probably the older style. .

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Included in my Span Am "corner" are these two tunics, each named to a different man who served in 1898, 1899. A Corporals great coat, and a USMC dress tunic with banjo boards. I love this time period, the Marine dress is pretty attractive.

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Finally, I took a few shots of three shelves in one of my display cabinets that reflect Marine gear rom the Span Am, through Banana Wars period. The one piece I am proud of is an early 1883 blue wook short named to the same Marine as the tunic with banjo baords. These were the same shorts wore by the Rough Riders and they are as rare as hens teeth to locate. Lets see some more guys.

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My Grandfather was in the 11th Company in Haiti from Aug 1916 to Feb 1917. I have his Machete - Collins & Co #1005 w/Sheath.

 

 

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Jon B.

Newaygo MI

 

 

 

 

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Thanks all, --some really sweet Banana Wars stuff. Thanks so much for posting. I've seen pictures of USN landing parties in Vera Cruz 1914 who had stained their whites a sort of field brown with coffee for the landings. Looks weird, but an interesting adaptation. Wish Osprey would do a volume on US forces in the Banana Wars.....

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They have an old edition on China. Shows both Marines and army troops from 19th century through end of WWII if I recall. Not their best art though. They also have one or two on Span Am war. It does seem to be an era though that is a bit unappreciated.

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Yeah, I've got the US Forces in China volume. I like how it uses images from The Sand Pebbles to represent US Navy Yangpat uniforms of the era --a testament to how good the costume director's work was for that movie! I guess I'll have to keep waiting for a US Forces in the Caribbean and Latin America, 1914-1939 volume to come out.....

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The Iron Brigade

Wonderful collection warguy. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

Could you possibly post better photos of the 1883 blue work shirt?

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SgtMaddoxUSMC

some really amazing uniforms here! I also wonder if perhaps we can have some hi-res close-ups of the Chevrons on the Sgt's blues (with banjo boards) and the Cpl's great coat. PM me if you can send me some hi-res images! Thanks! Again, great uniforms!

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I will try to post a few more of the shirt and will get you some close ups of the chevrons when I get a chance. Been a busy week with some long days. Kevin

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Here are a few more shots of the 1883 campaign shirt. I had some on the hard drive so didnt take too long to post. It is partially lined along the shoulders and behind the pockets with white muslin to provide some support to the shirt. I think the buttons were once black, sort of faded or worn to more of a brown color today. Kevin

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