Ex-military DUers: Do you still have your duffel?

[Robb]

My dad kept his, sort of a love-hate thing, I think. It was the only thing he said he wanted after the Marine Corps. And I just went on a trip with a former sailor who packed his gear in it.
Love it? Hate it? Kept it? :shrug:

[oneighty]

1. Oblivion

I could not let this post pass on lonely and without comment.

Of course in the Navy we called them 'Sea bags'. I had two sea bags at different times. My first sea bag in the summer of 1951 was white in color. It was a nice sea bag and was comfortable aboard a U.S. Navy ship.

My second sea bag was army color although I was still in the Navy. I was never comfortable with the Army colored sea bag. Somehow it just did not look right on the shoulders of Sailors. I did not like that sea bag.

If you care to Google 'The Lone Sailor Statue' you will find the Bronze sailor standing alone and proud. By his side you will see his faithful friend and constant companion; his sea bag.

I remember my sea bag like that standing faithful by my side and protecting for me all of my possessions.

180

And on edit. No I do not have my sea bags anymore. Just memories.

[DemoTex]

2. Lost the duffelbag, but I still have my poncho liner from Viet Nam.

I DEROSed from Viet Nam with a much-coveted cammo poncho liner and a very rare silk blood chit (which I carried in a flight suit pocket for all of my 250+ air combat missions).


Poncho liner


Silk blood chit

[auntAgonist]

4. at risk of sounding ignorant here, but ...

what is a blood chit? thanks.

aA

[DemoTex]

9. A blood chit promises a reward for the safe return of a downed pilot.

Basically, the Viet Nam era blood chits carried the following message:

I am a citizen of the United States of America. I do not speak your language. Misfortune forces me to seek your assistance in obtaining food, shelter and protection. Please take me to someone who will provide for my safety and see that I am returned to my people. My government will reward you.

This message was translated, on the blood chit, into Burmese, Thai, Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Malayan, Indonesian, Chinese and modern Chinese, Tagalog, Visayan, French, and Dutch. I never heard of a single instance where a blood chit helped a downed aviator (although there might have been a few). Where I did most of my flying, over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, almost anyone you might encounter on the ground would be very hostile to anything with an American flag on it. I carried my blood chit mainly for luck, and it was the only thing I carried in my pockets (other than pencils and other survival gear) on combat missions.

On edit: Thank goodness, my blood chit went unused during my 365 day tour of duty.

[auntAgonist]

20. thank you so much for that information...

I'd never heard of it before. I too am glad yours went unused!

:hug:

aA

[Love Bug]

3. Lost my sea bag in a move, many years ago

It was handy, tho -- you sure could pack a lot of stuff in it!

[matcom]

5. tossed it years ago

have my Class A's and one set of BDU's in the back of the closet somewhere. that and my dog tags are all that is left

[giant_robot]

6. My duffel bag, field jacket, and a couple of other things

are in the hands of ex-girlfriends. I had no particular sentimental attachment to them, so what the hell.

[underpants]

7. Yes and ALL my medals, dog tags .... that's about it

I left my Class A's with my buddy who gave me a ride to Ramstein. They said I didn't have to wear them to get on the plane.

[Left_Winger]

8. Yep

I am a pack rat and I have many things from that time.

[XNASA]

10. F*ckin-A ditty bag.

I've still got mine somewhere.

[Orsino]

11. It's still around here somewhere.

Also some BDUs 'n' boots. But no, I will not go fight your dirty little war.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

12. All I have left is one dog tag

I keep it on my key ring.

[puerco-bellies]

13. Memories, like the corner of my ditty-bag..

Wow, haven't thought about, or seen that thing in years. It may be long gone but I can still CLEARLY remember how my ditty-bag used to dig in to my shoulders. You could put every thing you need to live in it and then some.

My ditty-bag went MIA during my commercial fishing days.. The only thing I still have from my Navy stint is one of my dog-tags on my keyring, the other went to a former "love of my life".. I guess I should have got her a diamond. :-)

[sarge43]

14. Yup

It's stuffed full of my needlework and yarn.

[leeroysphitz]

15. I have mine but can will no longer use as luggage like I did

way back when as it has my SOCIAL SECURITY number stenciled along with my name on the side... LOL I guess it was a MUCH different time back in the early 90's.

[AllegroRondo]

16. Still have mine.

I just keep it in the basement with all the other crap I dont know what to do with.

[YankeyMCC]

17. Still have mine

thought I would use it but I haven't. Still I don't see myself getting rid of it.

[Squatch]

18. I have a few of them

along with wet weather bags, rucksacks, LBE, CVC helmet, etc.

[ET Awful]

19. I had to turn mine in, along with all my uniforms and such. n/t

[TheBaldyMan]

21. The QMS came and collected it along with the rest of my kit :)

I still miss it, it was too long, too narrow and difficult to carry :sarcasm:

[5thGenDemocrat]

22. No -- I lost my duffel bag somewhere along the way

But I do still have my M-65 (the all-olive drab) field jacket. I had it completely deconstructed and reassembled about ten years ago by a very good seamstress and, other than the fact the zipper now needs replacing, it's in excellent shape. The jacket is now (two...carry the one) 32 years old and should be good to go for another 32 -- meaning one of my surviving nieces or nephews should like inheriting it very much.
John
Company D-15-4
Fort Knox, Kentucky
January-March 1974

[Crazy Dave]

23. No idea where my duffel is...

...my field jacket became too worn about ten years ago but I still have my P-38 can opener from army boot camp in 1982.

This isn't mine, it's turned black.

[qnr]

24. I still have my seabag, does that count? n/t

[DS1]

25. Have it, don't use it

Trying to forget