I have a massive photo and document group from a Colonel who was on Attu from 43-45. There are many aerial photos of the bombing of Paramushiro and other islands. Likely some reference to the internees as well.    Scott

3/4 collar does not have plates, it has 12-ply ballistic nylon (soft fabric) panels, one across the back, and one on each half of the front that fold over the shoulder and meet behind the neck and cover the top of the back, with the collar attached to these two halves.    The problem was the armor would, like any fabric, basically wrinkle and "bunch up", pulling it away from the edges of the vest. The solution to this was to sew plastic strips to the nylon to limit it's flexibility, they were sewn on part way though the stack, if I remember correctly on layer number 5 but don't quote me on that. Here is a picture of a back panel ripped apart to show the stiffeners:   The 24 June 1970 revision of Technical Manual 10-8400-20123, General Repair Procedures for Clothing and Individual Equipment says that any vest without stiffeners should be automatically classified as "unserviceable condemned" meaning it cannot be repaired and should be disposed of. It gives no instructions for modifying armor to add stiffeners nor have I seen any indication elsewhere of any program to do so.  When this improvement was made the stock number was changed from 8470-823-737(0-3 depending on size) to 8470-122-1(299-302) so that the old vests with the fatal flaw could be identified and replaced with the new ones. There were a vast number of contracts awarded immediately after this change was implemented to create enough new vest to replace the old ones.   From November 1965 to April 1969 there were a total of 17 contracts awarded for the vests without stiffeners; one, DSA 100-68-C-2375, was still in production when the change went into effect in April 1969 and it switched over to making those with stiffeners. 6 contracts were awarded in April 1969 for vests with stiffeners and 1 additional one in May.    There were only 3 further contracts, now updated to M-69s, 2 in June 1970 and one final one in May 1974 (as well as 3 contracts for special smaller sized ones for the South Vietnamese and one tan one for Saudis). Notably the was no change in the stock numbers between the updated 3/4 collar with stiffeners and the M-69, this is reflective of the fact that despite the change in name the M-69 with it's velcro opening and pockets and smaller grenade hanging loops was only a minor improvement and could be used interchangeably with the earlier 3/4 w/ stiffeners until those were phased out through attrition.       

Wanted max storage if needed. My ex-wife sewed it, lol!

There was an Associated Press photographer present the day of the mission.  Here is a photo of Saugestad at his position.  The other photo is of most of the crew.  I believe Saugestad is the man in the foreground looking left.

Here is a short snorter created the day after the above-referenced B-24 made an emergency landing at Petropavlovsk.  The note belonged to Arnold Saugestad, the left waist gunner on Waid’s plane.  The entire crew signed on the front.  Waid’s signature is just above Washington’s portrait.

Nice knife!  I like the looks of it and it appears someone did a good job making it.  

Based on what I have found, it appears he was only assigned to Co K during his time with the 128th IR. Not sure how much of this you have already seen, so I'll include it all here.   Source is NARA; mostly from this link: https://catalog.archives.gov/search?page=1&q=34872962   He reported to the 128th IR on 3 Jul 44:   On the same day, he was attached to Co K for rations and duty (he was one of the 32 Enlisted Men mentioned at bottom of MR).   On 8 Jul 44, he was assigned to and joined Co K.   His CIB orders/awarded while with Co K:   Orders for his change in status from Pfc to Sgt (Temporary).   Report indicating his body was recovered and his status changed from MIA:   Orders revoking his temporary change in status to Sgt from Pfc (seems kind of rotten of them to not have just posthumously promoted him to Sgt!). cs = change in status   I hope this helps. Dan  

Awesome post!  I really enjoyed reading and looking at the photos.  Thank you for sharing this.  — Matt

I'm also working towards a desert storm impression since some of this stuff would work for that as well. 

I have not decided on what to depict yet though I'm leaning towards early 1980s. Is there anything obvious that I should add or change on the lbe? I also have a og-107 m65 and woodland poncho liner though it is a 1991 contract. Could I use this pile cap or should I get a woodland one?