Dear Sgt. Grit,
For the last ten years I have been asked to give a talk about Vietnam to history classes. A few years ago a teacher told me her class was reading "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien and wondered if I could talk to her students and give them a little better understanding of what they were reading.
I developed a power point presentation I called : The Things We (Really) Carried. Since I had purchased 782 gear when my boys were in scouting, I brought in the gear and at the end of the talk I would ask for a volunteer and let them try everything on. Since I was a Corpsman, they got to try on what I carried: web belt with "stage prop" .45 (weighs 2.5lbs), 1 1/2 gallons of water ( I actually carried 2 gallons), pack, 2 bandoliers of battle dressing, Unit one and steel pot. I pass around an NVA helmet and canteen I "souvenired" along with a poncho liner and a few other things.
Last summer one of the Marines I served with sent me an old "flak jacket" so that was added to what the kids get to try on.
Since I lost some weight over the last couple I now wear my Vietnam era utilities when I can or my "battle jacket" with Sgt. Grit patches on it.
For a few of my talks I was even able to let them try "chow" as my oldest marine son sent me some left over MRE's.
I attached a few pictures from my most recent talks.
Semper Fi,
Jack Broz, HM2
Alpha 1/4, CAP 1-4-1
Vietnam 1969-70