Daniel Flynn indicated that the term “Battle” Jacket was utilized by Marines, and soldiers wore “Ike” Jackets.
I obtained my Marine “Ike” jacket sometime in late 1953 and being somewhere near 80, I do not remember exactly how I came to own it. The only name on the inside of the upper right sleeve is mine. I have photos where I am wearing it as a PFC; Cpl; and Sergeant (E-4) Since the jacket has the stripes of a Sergeant (E-4), I must have stopped wearing it by the time I was promoted to Sergeant E-5) in March of 1961. I remember how proud I was to earn Sergeant (E-5) and if that jacket could still be worn, it would have had Sergeant (E-5) stripes sewn on.
So from whenever the “Ike” jacket was authorized, until at least 1960, I do not recall it being referred to as a “Battle” Jacket; In those early years of my service, 4 years were at two different Marine Barracks (Hingham, MA and Portsmouth, NH); and 3 years with a Infantry Battalion (2/6). East Coast service interrupted by a forgettable tour with the 1st MarAirWing in Japan.
Perhaps the term “Battle” Jacket was a West Coast term; I do not doubt Daniel Flynn’s recollections, it is just that I never heard of the “Ike” Jacket being referred as anything else.
Customs differ widely over geographic locations and unit missions. While serving with 2dANGLICO 1968-1970, I never heard of jump wings being slammed into the chest of newly qualified parachutists, and was disappointed to learn that some units indeed performed that senseless ritual.
Semper Fidelis (Not just a phrase, but a way of life)
Will Clifford Capt., USMC (Ret)(CWO-3)
Hey Skipper, or should I say “Gunner” – That’s another custom which some prefer, and some don’t. When I attended recruit training at MCRD San Diego the summer of 1964, some of the series were issued one “Ike” jacket and one dress coat, and it was a combination of the old material, which was more grey in color, and some were issued 2 new material dress coats. It all depended on size and where you were in line. We were also issued the old material overcoats, which we called horse blankets. I never heard them referred to anything except “Ike Jackets. All were lost in storage on Okinawa during my first Vietnam tour in 1966. I never wore an overcoat until I was assigned to recruiting duty with OSO Hartford CT in 1978. Then it was a worth it’s weight in gold.
Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
I was issued a “Battle Jacket” at MCRD SD in Nov.1958 along with two green trousers and a green Blouse. Sadly it was lost with the rest of my seabag when I was in Vietnam. We put them in “storage” on Okinawa before going in country, then flew directly from Danang to Seattle coming out of country.
I was in platoon 275 MCRD P.I., 1956 and we were issued “battle jackets”. No Ike stuff in 1956 that I can recall.
Lost mine in exactly the same way!
The Eisenhower Jacket was fashioned after the British ‘Battle Jacket’. Eisenhower was referred to as ‘Ike’, hence the nickname for the jacket. He is seen in pictures during war wearing the jacket named after him.
During 1961, I was with the 6th Marines and the old salts that fought in WW2 and or Korea were authorized to wear the Ike Jacket, the rest of us wore the old woolen Horse Blankets . I don’t recall any Ike Jackets being issued to Paris Island Recruit Depot.
SF
The USMC version was first issued to Marines while they were in Australia during WW-2 under the command of General Vandegrift. They were given an Australian Army ” Battle Jacket” later named the “Vandegrift Jacket”. An American made version was issued to the Marines in 1945 and retained until 1960 as the “Vandegrift Jacket” that was similar to the “Ike Jacket” Harry 1371
I guess early on they were “Battle Jackets “. No wrong answer. Nick
The wrong answer is ” Ike Jacket”. No disrespect to Ike but he was Army. I like the name “Vandergrift” . Bill 0331
Vandegrift
I was issued one in boot camp 1958 it was called Ike jacket.
Also issued Ike in ’58
I would bet almost anything that the DI did not call it an Ike jacket.
Ike being USA i think the DI’s at San Diego did not want to cumshaw any thing from the Army so when i was issued one in 1960 i was informed that it was a battle jacket
Also issued a Ike jacket in May’56 PI.
When I was in boot camp in 1963 I was issued 1 blouse coat & 1 Ike jacket and a raincoat/overcoat { the one you could put stripes on } . Every time I wore them all the guys wanted to know where I got them and if I wanted to sell them. They were popular items.
In 1953 (MCRD, San Diego)….our uniform issue included an “Ike” jacket and a dress jacket (referred to as a blouse)… Both to be worn as so-called winter dress uniforms. Blouse included a belt to be worn at waist level. In green, of course!!
While stationed at China Lake Ca ( USNOTS ) In 1962-63 I wore a Ike Jacket while standing duty at the front or back gate. I still have that Jacket hanging in my closet even though it has shrank a lot.
I still have one. It was just a Ike Jacket.
Marine pilots were allowed to wear the “Ike Jacket” in the 50’s along with the “fore & aft” cover that was sometimes called a “pi– cutter”.
One of my troop handlers in 1965 was a Corporal, a survivor of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. He had been up and down the ranks a couple of times but was 100% Marine. He wore a battle jacket and told us Marines called it a battle jacket and Army soldiers called it an Ike jacket-worn by NCO’s and above.
I was issued an IKE jacket in 1054. Never heard it referred to as a battle jacket.
I was issued a “Ike Jacket” at PI in 1956. Served in California with San Diego guys and they also had them and called them Ike Jackets. We really liked them but I recall we often thought it was a little “disrespectful” to jarheads to call them Ike Jackets. Also recall only wearing it on base.
I was issued a Battle Jacket (as I remember it being called) at the end of 1958
In Feb ’64 I was issued one Ike Jacket and one blouse. I was informed that the Ike Jacket could not be worn off base as it was being phased out (annoying). We went to RVN in ’65 with BLT 2/7 and all our seabags were entrusted to supply. When I got mine back it was a seabag full of mold, my Ike Jacket as well. Miss that thing more than any other uniform item.
I agree. A senseless ritual.
All of you Marines have all disrespected Gen. A Vandegrift the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division that took Guadalcanal and was on a stand down in Australia with his Marines after the battle and was trying to make them more comfortable and ask for some new clean uniforms for his troops and was given the Australian ” Battle Jacket” that his Marines later named the” Vandegrift Jacket”. SHAME! Was not Ike Jacket!
I agree Paul, Gen. Vande tried to do right and got lost in the “Ike ” thing. Nick 0311
Graduated MCRDSD in early ’54 wearing an Ike jacket. Never heard it called a battle jacket.
I’m pissed, all of you should have joined the f’n army. ike jacket my ass!
I went through P
arris Island in 1963 was issued a green blouse and a battle jacket . I served untill 1969 from Camp Lejune to Vietnam and back 2 tours in nam and 1 in okinawa , my recollection , it was referred to as a battle jacket where ever I wore it .
I am another who was issued One Coat, Dress, Green… and One Jacket, Battle, Green… in June of 1963 and was authorized to wear it through Jan of 1965… along with the narrow PFC stripe for my first promotion. and it went well with my “Sunglasses and Surfboards and Beach Parties” that MCRDSD is so famous for issuing… according to “Paradise Island Gyrenes.”
As a member of an Army JROTC Unit for 3 years prior to this 17 year old joining the Corps, I had to break my habit of referring to that item as an “Ike Jacket” and break in fast because… My JDI kept asking if this guy named Ike ever really went through Boot Camp.
Exactly my recollection from MCRDSD Dec ’61. The only restriction I recall was the Battle jacket was not to be worn for parades or inspections. I also remember calling it an Ike jacket – but just once, when I also learned a bunch of new words. Never did that again.
Sgt. Colbert, I graduated MCRDSD in March 1957, I was issued one blouse & one battle jacket. In our platoon the DI’s called it a BATTLE JACKET, NOT A ike jacket.
The term “battle jacket” was used in the British Army since prior to WW II to refer to a short, waist length jacket, medium weight.
My previous post was not to me, It was from me.
Looks like mostly the hollywood marines call it an ike jacket. go figure!
In 1954 in Parris Island it was called a Battle Jacket in ply 426.
The USMC “Battle Jacket” was issued to Officers starting in December 1944 and to Enlisted Marines starting in August 1945. This lasted until 1960.
This jacket was similar to the Eisenhauer or “Ike” jacket worn by General Eisenhauer.
It was also called the “Vandergrift” jacket after LtGen Vandergrift USMC
issued the jacket in 1951 never heard of Ike jacket
I was issued a “Battle Jacket” in Jan. 1958 MCRDSD and you better dam well not call it a Ike jacket or you were going to have a problem!!
Just have to throw in my 2 cents worth. Joined The Corps in June 1954 and served until Dec 1979. Anyone calling the Battle Jacket ( Vandy) an IKE JACKET needs a brain adjustment. IKE= ARMY……… BATTLE JACKET (VANDEGRIFT) = MARINE CORPS. There is no way that a Drill Instructor would call it an IKE! some of you are greatly confused. They might look a little similar but the color and material even the buttons are different, stop calling it an IKE!
I was issued both the Battle Jacket and overcoat in 1960 at MCRD San Diego. Both were made of the heavy wool material. I never did wear the battle jacket and only wore the “horse blanket” once during my four year hitch. I was also issued one pair of boots and one pair of boondockers on my arrival at boot camp. I fractured my leg during the familiarization week and was set back a couple of months. On my return I discovered, much to my chagrin, that my new platoon, 363, had been issued two pair of boots. This caused me several problems and led to one thumping, with the boondocks used as the weapon, from one of my Drill Instructors. I am now 77 and I dearly love the Marine Corps and I deeply appreciate all of the values that it instilled in me.
This young pup, served 86-97. During that time we refer to it as a field Jacket.
SGT. HOLMAN
Semper Fi
Field jacket is not the same as a Battle Jacket, We wore the field jacket with or without the liner when the weather was inclement. The Battle Jacket was phased out long before you served.
This has evolved into one of those classic ‘Back in the Old Corps …’ debates. Like others here I was issued a ‘Battle Jacket’ (aka Vandegrift jacket) in September 1961 at MCRDSD, along with one ‘Blouse, Green, wool, men’s’. The jacket was issued mostly in the smaller sizes under the old ‘Issue until stocks are exhausted’ mantra … Our Corps never, ever, threw something away (C-Rations, ammo, mattresses, etc).
We also received two sets of cotton khakis, tropical (tan) wool shirts & trousers with matching piss-cutters and barracks cap covers, and cotton sateen P1957 utilities or, in some cases, the M1953 version in herringbone twill.
SSGT AB Polk, our senior DI, was abundantly clear: “Ike was a Doggie, not a Marine” SSGT Polk’s opinion – or that of any DI – trumps that of anyone else, including books, captains or websites. Moreover, it is the scholarly opinion of military historians and expert collectors the proper designation is ‘Battle or Vandegrift Jacket’; the Army ‘Ike’ jacket is a different material, color and design. So, no matter what you want to call it, the Harsh Reality is it is NOT an Ike jacket . It’s like calling a battleship a ‘boat’ or an M14 a ‘gun’: sounds right but it’s wrong.
That said, I have collected USMC uniforms and field gear for 40 years and have had a number of these jackets pass through my hatch: The differences between the Aussie WWII version – the original Vandegrift model – and the post war models are primarily the materials and a few tailoring changes.
The later version, as most of us ‘salts’ of the 50’s & 60’s received at MCRD, were made of Marine forest green wool to match the green blouse & trousers. For a brief period, there was a cotton khaki enlisted version worn with the starched matching trousers. I have had one officer’s version in tropical worsted material (from the Marine Shop in Quantico) which matched the now-discontinued tropical blouse.
As others noted here, wearing was commonly limited to base or shipboard duties. I was allowed to wear mine as Duty NCO or Corporal of the Guard but nowhere else. My recall is the jacket was not authorized after about 1965 and I can’t locate the MCO setting the actual date.
It caused a considerable amount of grief during wall locker or Junk on the Bunk inspections until I made E-4. Inspecting officers frequently hassled me about trying to look Old Corps and accusing me of buying it from a pawn shop, Oceanside clothing or surplus stores. The saving grace was my name originally stamped inside the sleeve. Not a few Gunny and First Sergeants suggested springing for a ‘real’ blouse and tossing the jacket.
Merry Christmas to all!
Semper Fidelis
Well said . Great reply Stoney! Semper Fi and Merry Christmas Harry 1371
Capt. Clifford: I think I served under you at 2nd ANGLICO late 68 until early 69 after returning from Nam. You saved my butt from extreme disciplinary action after over indulging in adult beverages and having a tussle with MP’s in Jville. I was facing several charges and spent the night in the brig. You stood tall for me before the CO and I only received confinement to the base for a month. Nothing was reflected on my record and I was honorably discharged in 1970, and made a career of law enforcement serving with the Virginia State Police for 48 years. I greatly appreciate the life changing intervention. My future career choice would have never happened if it had not been for you standing tall for me. With Great Respect, Jim
I was a Marine from 1950 to 1970. I was issued a BATTLE JACKET (PART OF THE ENLISTED WINTER UNIFORM, OFFICERS HAD BOTH A SUMMER AND WINTER UNIFORM VERSION) in Boot Camp and still have one. We were instructed in no uncertain terms that Marines wore “Battle Jackets” and the army “Ike Jackets.”
The two ARE similar but not identical.