Hi Scott, my pleasure   The Independence, which belongs to the Atlantic Fleet, is arriving from Norfolk, and reports I have seen indicate that the units have shown great adaptability to the specificities of operations in Vietnam while gathering as much information as possible from other PacFlt units. Unfortunately, I do not have any details on the type of box used for the medicines, but it is easy to imagine that the ship's medical service and the squadron flight surgeons put together “customized” kits based on the feedback gathered during the handover of information between wing staff. The flare launchers are the ones you mention. I enclose you the 1966 MAG 11 order specifying the contents of the survival for USMC unit Nouvelle image (8).bmpNouvelle image (9).bmp     Best Yves  

Thank you for the help.

Looks to be a 1950’s/1960’s produced M1, looks to be a low dome and have a back seem, nice pickup! The straps are also a pair ww2 variant, likely late Vietnam era.

Hey all, recently been inspired by manayunkmans recent endeavors so I begged for a ride to a Yardsale/flee market event Ina parking lot around Encinitas out here in SoCal near Carlsbad. Anyways I get there and immediately see a militaria booth there with a woman who had all this GWOT stuff in the table so I asked the price and she said 50 fore everything so I picked it all up and took it home looking at it more everything is named, mostly to the same guy, but a piece or 2 has some different names. Hoping to be able to research the guy as everything has some solid genuine wear. Hoping he’s a combat vet as the chocolate chip is super faded and worn. Plus the other gear like the M17A1 gas mask which was a major score. Another cool thing is everything on his PASGT is named, all D’Apuzzo, if D’Aplizzo, not sure. Either way really hope this stuff is researchable as this is my very first legit grouping. Hope you all enjoy and are just as excited as I am!!!!

I have one for the Quartermaster Corps. It seems the photo above was the seller's insert as mine has this same one. Either that or this woman was extremely popular!

You're probably correct. Most of what I've picked up are most likely Greek returns. Almost every bayonet they used has a serial number stamped on the guard. These US scabbards aren't what I bought with the bayonets, but a high percentage of what's around the last few years was lent to Greece. Usually pretty cheap though. Picking up usable non repro US scabbards under $20, or when Dupage had Greek ENS and unmarked W German M1 bayonets $20-$30 were great deals. Especially if you had a US M1905 missing internals or grips! 

Thanks so much for sharing this detailed information as well as some great photos! (I do find the modified vests most interesting! That MA2 modification is great!) You have obviously been more successful in your research than I. In the info provided concerning the 1966 Independence vest contents you mention "a plastic box with medicines", would this be a PSK-2 or SEEK 1? Those kits also contain the malaria and water purification tablets. You also mention an Aviators First Aid kit with morphine. I believe the WW2 and mid /late 1950s kit had that item but was removed from the kit issued in mid/late '60s. I suppose were only talking about a few years difference and many these items remained in inventory.  I imagine the Flare gun mentioned would be a Mk-79 launcher. (Red flares a no-no as well as an uncovered SDU-5/E. It certainly made sense to transfer the radio out of the seat kit and keep it at close reach being probably the most important component of survival kits.  By the way, the Marine vest I show was used in 1966.   Thanks again, Scott

It’s marked MW A4 on the interior

For Further Consideration:   I didn't fly.  Consequently, I knew my time on active duty, and in the USAF, was limited, so I made the most of it.  I was on active duty 1992 - 1996, during those terrible "McPeak Years", frought with "banked pilots", base re-alignments and closures, and reductions-in-force.   Nonetheless, once I got my honorable discharge, I was able to enroll in VA medical care, which spared me health insurance premiums, I had no student loans to repay, and I retired from state civil service after working twenty years, with 24 years credit for service because of my active duty military service.   More importantly, what I wear on my blazer lapel I wear with pride. Not because of patriotism, but because I earned it.  Nothing beats the feeling of having accomplished something, and being recognized for it.  I could have done my job in any branch, but I learned and honed skills that stood me in good stead for the rest of my life.   As I mentioned in post #48, it's highly unlikely I would have reaped any benefits had I not been in the military.

5th Ranger Picture from the recently liberated Isigny-sur-Mer in Normandy - June 14, 1944 LIFE Magazine Archives - Frank Scherschel Photographer WWP-PD