ChrisG43 Posted December 30, 2009 Share #1 Posted December 30, 2009 What are these shoes guys? Dated March 1945, couldn't photograph the faint markings that well, what were they used for as well? Thanks, Chris... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisG43 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted December 30, 2009 Next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisG43 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted December 30, 2009 last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted December 30, 2009 Share #4 Posted December 30, 2009 They are gym shoes but were also used in the jungle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisG43 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted December 30, 2009 Are they pretty rare/valuable? I picked up three pairs of them for a real good price not really knowing if there was any value to them or not, were these also used into Vietnam? I understand that a similar type shoe (or same) was used by LRRP's, etc? Or is that incorrect? Thanks, Chris... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted December 30, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 30, 2009 I think the USN Frogmen / UDT would have also used these to protect their feet from walking on coral after removing their swim fins so they could still walk on rough or rocky terrain near the beach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted December 31, 2009 Share #7 Posted December 31, 2009 The Navy has what are called coral shoes. They are grey and have a better sole on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rakkasan187 Posted December 31, 2009 Share #8 Posted December 31, 2009 Those shoes or "Sneakers" were used by Marine Raiders in the Pacific during WW2. They are discussed and pictured in the book that I listed below. Leigh.... USMC (Marines) Uniforms, Insignia & Personal Items of World War II (Dungarees & Frog Skins) by: Harlan Glenn ISBN: 0764322648 Book Title: United States Marine Corps Uniforms, Insignia and Personal Items of World War II Author: Harlan Glenn Binding: Hard Cover Copyright: 2005 Pages: 272 Size: 9 x 12 in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambob Posted January 1, 2010 Share #9 Posted January 1, 2010 I have a mint pair of the so called jungle shoes and a mint pair of these identical shoes and I want to make a comment here. The cloth uppers of these "gym shoes" as shown are much more flimsy than the jungle shoes and would never have held up in a combat situation. In fact I don't imagine they would have held up long even as gym shoes. I just wanted to be a sanity check here for this subject. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon F Posted June 12, 2014 Share #10 Posted June 12, 2014 I have quite a few pairs of these with at least 3 different variations, bought from a reputable Vietnam militaria dealer and touted as 'Swim Shoes' having come from the estate of a 1950s - 60s UDT/SEAL veteran. Apparently they are referenced out in 'Grunt Gear' (I don't have a copy) as having been sometimes used in jungle combat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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