I went through The Basic School at Quantico, where all Marine Officers go when commissioned.   Officers are required to purchase pretty much everything uniform-wise, and even today, some of their equipment. There is an entire incorporated "town" within Quantico Marine Corps Base called "Quantico Town". It has a large variety of stores which cater primarily to the equipping of Officers for everything that they are required to purchase. Mostly uniform items now.   From what I understand, during WWII and prior, Marine Officers were also required to purchase all of their gear as well. I understand that up until a point sometime in the 1920s or 30s, Officers were also required to purchase and house a mount (horse) and buy a service pistol and rifle. I don't know when that ended, but the stables are still out at Camp Pendleton next to the golf course and the old Officer's club and old original officer housing to this very day.   My point is this;   Seeing all of the pre-war M1936 USMC marked suspenders, the officer "musette style" pack, and other items, especially being worn in early war photos by Marine Officers like Puller and Carlson and on Marine Officers on Guadalcanal, it makes obvious sense to me that this was the "officer quality" gear that was being pushed during the period for Marine Officers to purchase. That goes for the Enlisted men you see wearing it as well. The shops in Quantico Town will sell "officer quality" items to any Enlisted men who wish to purchase it.   That has generally been my observation and supposition for a while. That the M1936 style gear was mostly pre-war private purchase by USMC officers from suttlers at places like Quantico Town which is why you see it being worn mostly by Officers in the early years of fighting in the Pacific. I would be interested to know if any of the M1936 gear was ever an item of issue to Enlisted Marines.   I would be interested in the opinions of other collectors on this site.   Thanks, and Semper Fi.   Bryan.

Seller didn't know where it came from?

General Isaac Rapp Brush Commander of the 40th Infantry Division in The PI. Got the Wide Mesh Net, a Net seen we now used in just about every theater, Has a Hawley Liner too.  

Aloha Everyone,   I concur.   We're the wrong venue for this current events discussion.  There are plenty of websites where anyone can post their observations and opinions on what is happening in the Gulf.     This is not what we do, pure and simple.   I'd advise everyone to stick to Militaria on this site.  

Missing a few key details but almost done with my soldiers!

Amazing.  Think about how many of these don’t get saved from the garbage dump.  

Good day all. I'm about to begin building a 1/35 Italeri M978 HEMTT fueler truck. It is to honor my distribution platoon that fueled helicopters for the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade during Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09. Oddly the kit doesn't include the pump assembly at the back of the truck. There was a Belgian company called Pro Art that made a resin kit that seems perfect for the model. I'm having trouble sourcing the kit. Does anyone on the forum have this kit they'd be willing to sell, or know of a source of supply that I could contact directly? I appreciate any help!

I am very glad you enjoyed it.

This conversation, no offense intended toward anyone.. is pointless. As has been stated, this is current events not history. An enemy should never be underestimated and there should be no high fives and no declarations of mission accomplished, until it really is accomplished. Nothing we say here, or disagreements or agreements will change the outcome of  any of it. As for me, after hearing Death to America since I was a Junior in High School being directed at this country from Iran.,,,,, I'd say its about time. We were signing a song in basic training in 82.. " Iran,, Iran,,,,Late at night when your sleeping the ayatollah comes creeping all around".. Iran... They sang a different version of it during Vietnam days.... The Charlie...VC or Ho chi min substituted for the ayatollah. They told us in basic in 82 we were going to war with Iran, and with no access to news papers radio or TV.. we believed it!~ This war is a reckoning almost a half century in the making. I dont think waiting until they got a nuke was a good idea. My 2 cents. Prayers for our forces and our allies The Israelis.  

This is sad to hear, many of his books passed down to me by my dad and uncle inspired many of my creations in my younger years of armour modeling. I was lucky enough to bump into him a few times, he will be missed.