Here’s a photo of that famous Jacket. Much more comfortable than the “Blouse.” When I got out I almost had a bidding war going for it. Should have kept it, but.
This picture was taken on Sanjo Street, Nara Japan 1953. I was a Corporal then.
Bob Schwerin
S/Sgt USMC
Had a bunkmate in VMGR152 that had one in 1957. Neat jacket.
Yes – much nicer than the blouse. Mine was issued to me in ’61 in boot camp – one of only 3 or 4 in our platoon. It was not supposed to be worn off-base or for inspections, etc. I wore it on leave, riding Santa Fe across country twice. Very comfortable, and it still fit until about 15 years ago. Not sure why it would shrink after so long.
Mar /1964 Our Platoon was told the Corps was phasing out the Battle Jacket and we were the last series through San Diego CA to be issued any and if the had your size you got one just like you said, you could not wear it on liberty or formation inspections, only on leave. It was an expensive part of the uniform with sewing on new chevrons with promotions. but four years later I was rewarded when I sold the jacket and I pair green trousers for $200.00 while walking out the barracks hatch for the last time!
RJ, Shrinkage of our uniforms does seem to be a problem as time goes by. Some say that we need to lose weight to get them to fit again. I tried that and it didn’t work, so I am concentrating my efforts to grow taller and see if that will make the difference.
Gio 7511 71-91
Had one in ‘63, in 2nd Recon Bn, CLNC. Remember that they were being phased out back then.
I believe they were known as “Ike” jackets.
Here We go again; the “Ike” jacket was Army, the “Vandy” was Marine Corps. Bill 0331
There are obvious differences between the Ike and the Vandy. Most obvious is the color Marine green and Army olive drab. Paul
In ‘57 I was issued one blouse and one battle jacket.
I was issued one blouse and one “Battle Jacket” in 1964. I was told that it couldn’t be worn off base as it was handed to me. Only remember wearing it a couple times, and it got lost along the way of a 20-year career. I did like it better than the blouse….
should have said 1967
I still have mine from when I was an M P at China Lake 1962 1963. Found out wool shrinks after hanging in a closet for 59 years.
I got one along with a blouse coat for boot camp issue in 1963.. At that time no one referred to it as a Vandy jacket.
I’ve been collecting USMC uniforms and 782 gear for some 40 years. I have owned a number of these, dating to mid-WWII, Korea and CW eras, in all shades and materials.
Like others here, I received a jacket at MCRD SD in 1961, along with one blouse. I was only allowed to wear it on guard duty, never off base. I got a lot of grief in my pre-NCO days during locker or junk-on-the-bunk inspections for trying to be ‘salty’
It was properly called the Vandegrift jacket, as it was first approved by Gen Alexander Vandegrift as CMC in 1944 for officers and in 1945 for enlisted. However, the wearing by First MarDiv Marines dated to 1943 while in Australia, when BGen Vandegrift adopted it for his Marines . Modeled after the Aussie and British battle jackets, hence the term. Ike was Doggie, so we never – ever called it an ‘Ike’ jacket.
According to later USMC History (Fortitudine, Spring 1990) the jackets were much later referred to as ‘Ike’ jackets … even though the material and design was different than the Army WWII version.
There was also a cotton khaki version (circa 1950’s). The green wool version was officially declared obsolete in 1968, although most commands had ordered them not worn by mid-1960’s.
Never heard the term “Vandy” jacket, but we wore “Ike” jackets on base (MCAS El Toro) all winter in 1957 and loved them. Wish I still had mine, fitting or not.
Bob Cooney
VMR152
I to was issue an IKE jacket in 1963. went to NAM in 1967. left it in my sea bag, with the of my uniforms. got back to the real world in Nov. 1968. got ,my sea bag open it up and all of my wool uniforms including the IKE jacket was missing. I sure miss my wool uniforms.
We called it the “Battle Jacket”. It was comfortable. (Back in 1958 it was issued in boot camp)!
I was issued both the blouse and the Ike jacket in 1960. Both were wool. I never ever wore the Ike but I still have it and the blouse. They both have Lance Corporal stripes although I got busted for the second time only 90 days before discharge. I stood three junk on the bunk inspections during those 90 days. The only chevrons I changed were the ones on my tropical shirt. If you remember the stripes were tucked inside on the bunk display. I was so squared away that not one item was ever touched.
I was issued the battle jacket in January 1953 and wore it until I got out at the end of 1955. It was the most comfortable uniform around. While in Japan and Korea with MWSG-17 and MAG-33 we stood inspections in them and could wear them on liberty. The Aussies at Iwakuni tried to buy them from us, but to no avail.
Sgt. Daniel Colbert
My grandfather was issued one before he retired in the late 1940s and never wore it. He gave it to me in the mid-1970s and I wore it proudly, then my younger brother took it over while I was in college. It was an honor to have one from the man who showed me what a man, as well as a Christian (he pastored for many years), is supposed to be.