US Army trouser question....

[Russell foulkes]

A few years ago i got me a pair of tigerstripe camo trousers (im assuming they are replicas of the LRRP ones) that have a little pocket just off to the side of the left knee. i've always wondered what this was for and then forgot about it until today. So, after a debate on the bus with my girlfriend about what it may be used for, I thought of the one place where any question can be answered-TALKBASS!!
So, can anyone tell me what this pocket wouldve been used for?

[5StringBlues]

Black Capsule

[Russell foulkes]

Originally Posted by 5StringBlues

Black Capsule

That sounds sinister!
What would've been in said capsule?

[MEKer]

Real life tiger stripes did not have a lil pocket beside the knee. Those type of cammies, btw, were actually S. Vietnamese designed and made.
After they became "stylish", things like that were added.
A small pocket by the knee (cigarette pack size) would have been very uncomfortable when you are prone on the jungle floor.
You would, however, find just that size of pocket on the upper sleeves sometimes of the shirt (or blouse if your prefer).
The regular cargo pockets on the side of the legs (mid-thigh)are bad enough. Ever try to roll over when they got a bunch of crap in them?
Original tigers had no side cargo pockets at all come to think of it that I ever saw.
And they were worn, generally, pegged pretty tight.

How do I know that?
My 3rd tour in Vietnam, I was with Co H, 75th Inf Rangers (attached to 1st CAV, 3rd Bde) and wore tigers, Thai and reg US camo fatigues. We have a great association by the way with a whole bunch of great pictures up on our website at http://www.lrrprangers.com/

[MJ5150]

Yep, TalkBass has the answers. As seen in this thread, those answers come from people with the authority and experience to answer conclusively.

-Mike

[MatticusMania]

Its a cell phone pocket.

[funkydjembe]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Its a cell phone pocket.

lol,,that's the first thing I thought of too

[funkydjembe]

Is the pocket 2 square inches?

[LowDown Hal]

condom pocket ?

[funkydjembe]

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by funkydjembe

Is the pocket 2 square inches?

Weed pocket! Wait, Vietnam? Heroin pocket!

[funkydjembe]

emergency rations,,I would keep both weed and condoms there. Is the pocket waterproof?

[Russell foulkes]

SEE?!! this is the best place ever!!!
i actually jokes about putting a mobile (cell) phone in there haha,and the Mrs said it may have been for ciggies.
thank you for your comments everyone,especially MEKer, i will definatly be looking at that link you posted.

[Relic]

As I understand it, a lot of the tiger stripe stuff was custom or tailor made to order. The pockets may have been used for 1st aid dressings and such or whatever was deemed important enough to carry on your person.

If you're interested, Tru-Spec makes a slightly modernized version. It's the basic tiger stripe but cut like the 90's era US BDU's.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Relic

or whatever was deemed important enough to carry on your person.

Morphine

[funkydjembe]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Morphine

I for one would like to have a couple of emergency doses of morphine if I was on the battlefield. Good Idea or what soldiers? Left pocket?

[Relic]

Originally Posted by funkydjembe

I for one would like to have a couple of emergency doses of morphine if I was on the battlefield. Good Idea or what soldiers? Left pocket?

All I know is that right after I had my heart surgery, they gave me morphine because whatever they were giving me before wasn't working. I had a dose....nothing, still felt pain like you wouldn't believe. Dosed me a second time, still hurting....3rd time, pain was still there but at that point I was hurling because the room was spinning which made the pain infinitely worse. I guess that I must be one of those rare people that morphine doesn't do squat for...??

[funkydjembe]

Originally Posted by Relic

All I know is that right after I had my heart surgery, they gave me morphine because whatever they were giving me before wasn't working. I had a dose....nothing, still felt pain like you wouldn't believe. Dosed me a second time, still hurting....3rd time, pain was still there but at that point I was hurling because the room was spinning which made the pain infinitely worse. I guess that I must be one of those rare people that morphine doesn't do squat for...??

Yeah?? I always thought that morphine was the king of pain killers (never had it myself),,but then again the mind is more powerful than any drug, if we knew how to control it, the brain is the ultimate master of the nerve system. First time I ever heard of morphine not working.

[MEKer]

Originally Posted by funkydjembe

I for one would like to have a couple of emergency doses of morphine if I was on the battlefield. Good Idea or what soldiers? Left pocket?

They don't do that because of huge potential for abuse, selling it and claiming it was "lost", theft of it, etc. Plus there are wounds you do NOT wanna give it for as it is a systemic depressant as well, and if, for instance, blood pressure is already low---well, you just killed yourself (if you had the ability to inject yourself or the guy that gave it to you was an idiot).


Recommendations for the lil knee pocket: Cell phone, huh? Condom, huh? LOL.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Relic

I guess that I must be one of those rare people that morphine doesn't do squat for...??

Well sure. When you mix it with your morning coffee for years, your body tends to build up a tolerance for it.

-Mike