U.S. Army Medic Uniform

An average NCO medic participating in Operation Overlord, such as T/4 Irwin Wade of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, would have been equipped with some combination of the following clothing and equipment.

Clothing

  • M1 helmet and liner (optional netting)
  • M1941 watchcap (knit wool)
  • Shirt (wool or herring bone twill, treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • Undershirt (crew neck t-shirt or tank top)
  • M41 or M1943 field jacket (treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • Trousers (wool, herring bone twill or cotton, treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • M1936 web belt
  • M1938 dismounted leggings (treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • Socks and long underwear (wool, treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • Service shoe (Type II or Type III, treated by soldier with anti-gas dubbing)

The CC-2 anti-gas paste used to treat the soldier's uniforms resulted in greasy and foul-smelling clothing that many of the men were forced to wear for many weeks after the invasion.

Equipment

  • M1940 identification tags
  • Red Cross/Geneva Convention brassard
  • Red Cross/Geneva Convention ID card
  • Anti-gas supplies including 2 gas detection brassards (one worn, one stored in M7 bag)
  • M7 rubberized gas mask bag
  • M1920 suspenders
  • M1936 pistol belt (supported by M1920 suspenders)
    • 2 M1932 canvas pouches with medical supplies
    • 2 M1910 canteens and cups (with M1910/M1942 covers)
    • M1942 first aid pouch
  • 2 M1932 cantle ring straps
  • M1928 haversack
    • Rations: 3 "K" rations, 3 "D" rations, 4 ration heating units and water purification tablets
    • Raincoat
    • Blanket
    • Shelter half
    • Shaving kit
    • Personal effects
    • M1926 mess kit (meat can) with pouch
    • M1910 entrenching tool or M1943 folding entrenching tool
  • M1926 life belt
  • M1940 identification tags

Weapons

  • None. Medical personnel were considered non-combatants under the Geneva Convention and were not allowed to carry weaponry. Although not authorized, medics sometimes carried M3 or M8 knives for cutting clothing. Medical officers were authorized the use of a pistol, but only for defensive purposes.