USMC Marine US WW2 Paramarine Frogskin Camo HBT Combat Fatigue Shirt Vtg Rare

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USMC Marine US WW2 Paramarine Frogskin Camo HBT Combat Fatigue Shirt Vtg Rare:
$4999.99

Item:USMC Marine US WW2 Paramarine Frogskin Camo HBT Combat Fatigue Shirt

Size/Measurements: There is no size marked on the shirt, but it measures 23.5" from underarm to underarm across the chest, 18.5" from shoulder to shoulder across the back, 30.5" from the collar/body seam to the bottom of the hem down the back, and with a 25" sleeve from the shoulder to the end of the cuff.

Condition: This shirt is in Good Condition. There's a bit of edge fraying at the front right hem. A few small holes in the left chest. A 1 1/2" horizontal slit tear in the upper left back. A few small holes at each side of the upper back. Some dark soiling at the back right cuff. Some scattered patina to the front snaps. Some scattered fading throughout. Retains a good amount of the vibrant frogskin camouFlage colors. Fully reversible from a green “jungle” side to a brown “beach” side. Classic HBT 100% cotton construction. Features fully functional darkened metal “glove” snap closures down the front, at the cuffs, and at the slanted chest pockets on each side.Exhibits the name “HILL” hand marked in black at the front right hem on the brown “beach” side, as well as the name "KATES" stenciled in black at the underside of the left chest pocket flap also on the brown "beach" side, suggesting this shirt was issued to two different Marines. Carries "WESTERN COSTUME CO." markings at the underside of the left chest pocket flap on the green "jungle" side and at the upper left sleeve on the brown "beach" side, denoting this shirt also saw use as a movie prop at some point after the war. A fine example of a very scarce piece to encounter today.

Historical Background:The US military saw the success of German paratroopers in 1940, and quickly set about creating its own elite airborne units. The US Marine Corps, already an elite force, scoured its ranks for the fittest men to organize into parachute battalions. The "Paramarines" fought on Gavutu and Tanambogo, Tulagi, and Guadalcanal in the Solomons, taking part in the pivotal battle of Edson's Ridge, wrested the island of Vella Lavella from the Japanese, and saw their last action on Bougainville in late 1943, early 1944. The unit was then disbanded, and the battle hardened Paramarine vets formed the nucleus of the newly formed 5th Marine Division; almost all of them served as NCOs on Iwo Jima in early 1945. PFC Chuck Tatum of "The Pacific" fame recalled in his book "Red blood, Black Sand": "The swashbuckling, cocky attitude of the paratroopers exerted a strong influence on the makeup of the 5th Division."Paramarines were issued specially designed uniforms and equipment, including a unique two frogskin camouFlage fatigue uniform introduced after it had been determined the various one-piece jump smocks were unideal for combat. The Paramarine fatigue shirt featured "glove" snap closures down the front, at the cuffs, and at the slanted chest pockets on each side. We have shown a photo of 5th MarDiv Sergeant Dale O'Harley wearing a very similar Paramarine fatigue shirt on Iwo Jima on March 7, 1945, while taking the opportunity to "smoke 'em if you got 'em". A former Paramarine transferred to the 5th, Sgt. O'Harley continued to wear his old Paramarine fatigues on Iwo.

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