The American Soldier: U.S. Armies in Uniform, 1755 to the Present

232 Pages·1990·68.43 MB·English

by  Philip Katcher

THE
AMERICAN SOLDIER
U.S. Armies in uniform, 1755 to
the present
Philip Katcher
160 full-colorillustrations
The American Soldier is an all-new look
at U.S. ground forces. It stresses the
development ofAmerica's Army and
Marines from their colonial beginnings
through to the present, showing how each
campaign from the French and Indian
Wars to the Panamanian Invasion of 1989
has affected them. Campaigns rarely
featured in general texts, such as the War of
Texan Independence, receive coverage
in this book.
Special attention has been paid to the
history, organization, weapons and overall
philosophy ofAmerican ground troops in
each era. The history ofthe combat soldier's
personal equipment is also traced
throughout the period, ending with a
description ofa 21st-century fighting suit
now being developed. Elite 20th-century
units such as the Special Forces and Rangers
have their own chapters.
Detailed information, dates and numbers
make the text more than just a general look
atAmerica's ground forces. In addition to
the text, full-color illustrations by the
world's leading military artists, backed up
with dozens ofblack and white
photographs, paintings and drawings,
trace visually the development of
American military uniforms, both for dress
and in the field.

•
THE
AMERICAN
SOLDIER
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THE
AMERICAN
SOLDIER
U.S. Armies in uniform, 1755 to the present
Philip Katcher
MILITARY PRESS
New
York
Soutolito Public Library
94965
California
Sausalito,
HALF-TITLEPAGE: USMarinesinVietnam,heavilyburdened rathermoresecurelyattachedtotheequipment. [USArmy
withflakjacketsandextra ammunitionbandoliers,carryto viaShelbyStanton]
therearcapturedCommunist 12.7mm anti-aircraftmachine
guns. [USMarineCorps] BELOW:Membersofthe5thSFGA1 picturedinFebruary
1962.Theflashesweremadebygluingapieceofblackfelton
Titlepage:FinestudyofaUSArmyriflesquadleaderin toalargerwhitepiece,explainingthevariationinthewidth
autumn 1950:CorporalCarrollVoglesofthe35thRCT, oftheborders.AtthistimeofficersstillworetheSpecial
basedonthe35th Infantryfrom 25thDivision. Nounitor Forcesdistinctiveinsignia,ratherthantheirrankinsignia,on
rankinsigniaareworninthefield. HecarriestheMl rifle, theflash. [USArmy]
andatriple-pocketgrenadepouch (left) andfirstaidpouch Jacketflap: AcaptainoftheWomen'sArmyCorps,
areattachedtohisriflebelt.Theextrabandoliersaretypical picturedfrom 1944.Theshoulder-patchisthatofSHAEF
enough-butonesuspectsthatthegrenades,rather (SupremeHeadquartersAllied ExpeditionaryForce),where
precariouslyattachedbyslippingtheirspoonsintopockets, manyWACswereemployed.Theshoulder-bag,beige
werethephotographer'sidea ... incombattheywouldbe stockingsandbrownbuckled shoesareall regulation.
(C)OspreyPublishingLimited Compiled andedited by RichardWiddows
This 1990edition published by MilitaryPressand Designed byJanetteWiddows
distributed byOutletBookCompany,Inc.,a Random
Housecompany,225 ParkAvenueSouth,NewYork,
NewYork 10003
ISBN0-517-01481-5
Printed and bound in HongKong
87654321
All rightsreserved. Apartfrom any fairdealingforthe
purposeofprivatestudy,research,criticismorreview,as
permittedundertheCopyrightDesignsand PatentsAct, 1988,
nopartofthispublication maybereproduced,stored in a
retrievalsystem,ortransmitted inanyform orbyanymeans,
electronic,electrical,chemical, mechanical,optical,
photocopying, recordingorotherwise, withouttheprior
permissionofthecopyrightowner.Enquiriesshould be
addressedtothepublishers.
1
Contents
Introduction 7
The Colonial Wars, 1755-1783
8
The War of 1812 24
The War of Texan Independence, 1835-1836 30
The Mexican-American War, 1846-1848 36
US Cavalry on the Plains, 1850-1890 42
The Civil War, 1861-1865 52
The Union Army 54
The Confederate Army 78
The Indian Wars, 1866-1890 96
The US Army, 1890-1920 104
The US Army in World War 2, 1941-1945 116
US Army Rangers & LRRP Units, 1942-1990 128
The US Marine Corps, 1945-1990 140
The Korean War, 1950-1953 152
US Army Special Forces, 1952-1990 156
The Vietnam War, 1962-1975 168
&
US Forces in the Americas, 1983 1989-1990 180
The US Army Today 186
US Infantry Equipment, 1775-1910 202
US Army Combat Equipment, 1910-1990 212
colorillustrators
GerryEmbleton: 12-13,38-41, 98-103
Michael Roffe: 14-23
BryanFosten: 26-29, 204-21
PaulHannon: 32-35, 182-185
RonVolstad: 44-51,56-77, 80-95, 130-139, 158-167, 190-201, 214-224, back cover
JeffreyBurn: 108-115
Chris Collingwood: Frontcover, 120-127
AndyCarroll: 142-151
MikeChappell: 154-155, 172-179
Angus McBride: Jacketflap [from MAA 100: Womenat War1939-45, Jack Cassin-Scott (1980)]
ToAnn, whofindsitfunnytoseethenameKatcherinbookstores.
Acknowledgements
Many people havecontributedgenerously with theirtime, knowledge and help ingathering much ofwhat is found
in this book. Thanks for all their help over the years are due to Thomas Arliskas, William T. Barrante, Paul
Braddock, Richard Carlisle, Robert Cassidy, Philip Cavanaugh, Rene Chartrand, Richard Claydon, Robert
Crisman, Gary Christopher, John Elting, Gerry Embleton, John Ertzgaard, Mike Hilbner, David Horn, Don
Johnson, Lee Johnson, Lee Joyner, David A. Katcher, Vincent J-R Kehoe, Fritz Kirsch, John Lyle, Michael
J.
McAfee, John Mcllhenny, H. Michael Madaus, Benedict R. Maryniak, Bernie Mitchell, John A. Morrow, Chris
Nelson, George C. Neumann, David Oswalt, Sheperd Paine, Herb Peck Jr., Ernie Peterkin, Russ Pritchard, Bill
Printz,HarryRoach,GerryRolph,DavidScheinmann,JohnSickles,JudithStillwell,DavidL.Sullivan,Dr.Thomas
Sweeney, Tim Terrell, Don Troiani, Richard Tibbals, Lee A. Wallace Jr., Richard Widdows, Martin Windrow,
MikeWiney,GeorgeWoodbridge,WilliamYarborough,KevinR. Young,MarkoZlatich,andespeciallytomywife
Rebecca. What's helpful in this book is largely dueto them; anyerrors are my fault.
The material in this book isderived mainly from the followingtitles in theMen-at-Arms (MAA) andELITE
military series, published by Osprey:
MAA 18 George Washington'sArmy, textby Brig. PeterYoung (firstpublished 1972)
MAA48 Wolfe'sArmy, Robin May (1974) [reprinted 1989}
MAA 56 TheMexican-American War1846-48, Philip Katcher (1976) [reprinted 1990]
MAA
MAA7630 TThheeAUmSeArricmayn1I9n4d1i-a4n5,WaPhrisli1p86K0a-tc9h0e,rP,hi(l1i9p84K)atcher (1977) [reprinted 1990]
MAA 104 Armiesofthe Vietnam War1962-75, Philip Katcher (1980)
MAA 143 Armiesofthe Vietnam War(2), LeeE. Russell (1983)
MAA
157 TlakJackets:20th-centuryMilitaryBodyArmor, Simon Dunstan (1984)
MAA 159 Grenada 1983, LeeE. Russell & M. AlbertMendez (1985)
MAA 168 USCavalryon thePlains1850-90, Philip Katcher (1985)
MAA 170 American Civil WarArmies(1):ConfederateArtillery, CavalryScInfantry, Philip Katcher (1986)
MAA 173 TheAlamoSc the WarofTexanIndependence1835-36, Philip Haythornthwaite (1985)
MAA 174 TheKorean War1950-53, Nigel Thomas & Peter Abbott (1986)
MAA 177 American Civil WarArmies (2): UnionArtillery, CavalryScInfantry, Philip Katcher (1986)
MAA 179 American Civil WarArmies (3):Staff, SpecialistScMaritimeServices, Philip Katcher (1986)
MAA 190 American Civil WarArmies (4):State Troops, Philip Katcher (1987)
MAA205 USArmyCombatEquipment1910-88, Gordon L. Rottman (1989)
MAA207 American Civil WarArmies (5): VolunteerMilitia, Philip Katcher (1989)
MAA214 USInfantryEquipments 1775-1910, Philip Katcher (1989)
MAA226 TheAmerican War1812-14, Philip Katcher (1974) [reprinted 1990]
MAA230 TheUSArmy1890-1920, Philip Katcher 1978) [reprinted 1990]
(
ELITE2 The USMarineCorpssince1945, LeeE. Russell (1984)
ELITE4 USArmySpecialForces1952-84, Gordon L. Rottman (1985)
ELITE 13 USArmyRangersScLRRPUnits 1942-87, Gordon L. Rottman 1987)
ELITE20 Insidethe USArmy Today, Gordon L. Rottman (1988)