Various Field Gear
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M1916 Pouch
M1916 General Purpose Pouch

These pouches were used to carry extra items such as first aid items, personal items, and etc. The pouch's elongated strap was desinged so the pouch could be attached to the M1910 haversack under the meatcan pouch. Small items could easily be accessible during training. Carl Panak Collection

Ammunition Bandoleer
Extra ammunition clips for the M1903 Springfield Rifle and M1917 Enfield Rifle were carried in bandoleers suchs as these two.

Grenade Vest
1918 dated grenade carrier

Used to carry 11 hand grenades, these carriers saw limited use during World War I. Carrying grenades this way could be dangerous, especialy if a bullet struck one of the grenades. Carl Panak Collection

Squad Bag
Squad Surplus Bag

The Squad Surplus bag used to carry extra uniforms and equipment not carried in the haversack. The bags were carried by the company's supply wagon and items in the surplus bag were accessed when needed. According to the 1917 Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and privates of Infantry of the Army Of The United States, each soldier was to have a surplus set of 1 pair of breeches, 1 drawers, 1 olive drab shirt, 1 pair of shoes, 2 pairs of socks, 1 undershirt, and 1 pair of extra shoe laces. In addition to the extra uniform the surplus bag was to contain a rifle cleaning kit which was secured by two leather thongs inside the bag. Each squad bag could hold 8 individual surplus kits. Carl Panak Collection

Grenade Vest Shelter Half
Shelter-Half with Pegs, Rope, and Pole

Each man carried a shelter-half and two were joined together to create a small tent for two men. The tent closed at the back in a triangular shape and the front was open. An couple of overcoats could be used to close the opening during, cold and windy weather. Prior to 1910 the tent was open at both ends. In the trenches soldiers used the shelter-halves as tarps covering trenches and ground cloths to sleep on. Pitching tents on the front line was impractical where soldiers needed the protection of bombproof dugouts and trenches to avoid being maimed by enemy artillery. Seen here with the folded shelter half is the rope, folding poles, and oak pegs each man carried with his shelter-half roll. Earlier tent pegs were made of aluminum. Many aluminum pegs have been found in American positions on the Western Front in France during recent years. Carl Panak Collection

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