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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

M-65 Field Jacket

Back in the day I was a Civil Air Patrol Cadet. We dressed out in pretty much the same as the military. It is getting cold here tonight and I think the accuguessers are saying the high here tomorrow will be 32F.

Last year my Mother dug this out and gave it to me. 














It appears to be an M-1965 field jacket made in 1972 based on the contract number above. It still fits even though its been around since the *cough* mid 70's. I have looked around on the Interwebz and it seems prudent to NOT wear this jacket tomorrow 

So be it. It's a safe queen jacket. Never thought I would have one of those.   

19 comments:

  1. If you look around on the surplus sites, you should be able to find a liner for it. That should be good (with a sweater underneath) down to 20F or so. They are awesome at blocking the wind as well.

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  2. A most excellent jacket indeed. But small short? Whodathunkit?

    And yeah...get the liner. Worth every penny.

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    Replies
    1. They run a bit large! Maybe noe so much with the liner though.

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    2. I know that they do. I'm a medium long myself, but you ain't that much smaller.

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  3. I've got a couple of them, too.

    I didn't earn mine they way you did, but got them at a surplus store when you could still buy the "Made in U.S.A." ones.

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    Replies
    1. This one was made in the US and in pretty good shape.

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  4. Government definition of cold... you survived... :-)

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  5. Haha. Two-ply canvas. It was never a good coat. Wouldn't keep you warm. Wouldn't keep you dry. Didn't have pockets for your hands. Did have a hood rolled up in the collar, but 1sg's would blow a seal if you ever tried to use it. The gore-tex jacket was much better, especially after the after-market buttons got installed so you could button in a liner.

    But the black fleece jacket is the only one I still have and still wear because it is just so cozy.

    --Hale

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  6. They issued those, with liners, to all new arrivals on Adak - I wore mine once when winter hit, and exchanged it for an Air Force snorkel parka. At least I was warm, then.

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  7. I still have my original issue (OD green) and my woodland camo one. They work OK for mild cold, with a liner they are pretty fair down to maybe 25-30 deg.

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  8. It still fits? SRSLY?
    K, you either have a naturally high metabolism, or unearthly discipline.
    I haz an envy.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, it does, but if I put a liner in it maybe not my friend!

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  9. The M65 is still my standard cold weather deer hunting jacket. With the liner and a military wooly pooley pull over sweater, a combination that was comfortable and made for the outdoors. When I bought it in the mid 80's, I was an extra large - I bought it XXL so I could layer it and it was one of the smarter decisions I made back then. :^) Loose fit = dead air, excellent insulation.

    I keep an extra liner to wear inside the house during the winter. We don't turn on the heat very often and its extremely lightweight makes a good lounging inside jacket - you hardly know its even on.

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  10. First day in ROTC I walked into the supply sergeant's office. he looked up ... and up ... and up.
    "Oh crap!" he said.
    I had fatigues by the end of the week due to Ft. Lee being only an hour south of campus. Boots took a few weeks longer.
    Didn't have Class A uniform until the next semester.

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