Wool Shirt and Cotton Service Uniforms
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Wool Shirt
Soldiers wore this three button wool flannel shirt with the cotton and wool service uniforms. Designed to be buttoned only half way, the shirt prevented soldiers from wearing it fully unbuttoned which presented a unprofessional appearance. However, since the majority of the AEF was composed of citizen-soldiers, quite a few of whom disdained the seemingly senseless pains of military life, many would wear the shirt unbuttoned while lounging around camp if they could get the chance.
M1911 Cotton Service Coat
The light weight cotton coats, or blouses as they were often called, were worn in warm weather. The cotton service coats saw service in Mexico during General Pershing's Punitive Expedition in 1916. However coats of this type saw limited use in France because warmer M1912 and M1917 wool service coats were issued instead. This coat is an olive green color and has rimless eagle buttons which dates it before 1915.
M1911 cotton service coat in olive drab, commonly known as "khaki". Manufactured in 1917, this coat has rimmed eagle buttons.
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