Service Shoes with Leggings at the Start of WW II
The World War II combat boot design evolved from the service shoes used with leggings. The Model 1939 "Shoes, Service, Compositon Sole" was an ankle high shoe/boot made of tanned leather in a dark red color, originally with leather soles, changed to rubber soles after 1940. The same shoe design was modified in early 1943 (called Type III) to reverse the leather (rough side out) and add reinforcing rivets. A simplified version of the Type III shoe was adopted later in 1943 as the "Shoes, Service, Reverse Upper", different from the earlier service shoes in that it was built a little lower with no toe cap and with nylon laces instead of cotton. The latter two types were the most common service shoes of the war.
In the field, all of the service shoes where worn with leggings that extended the shoe up the calf. The leggings had a strap that looped under the shoe in the space in front of the heel. The leggings were laced up with a series of hooks and grommets. At the start of WW II longer leggings were in use in khaki or light OD shades. By 1944 a shorter, dark OD #7 legging was issued. Most ground troops wore the service shoe-legging combination until late in the war. Service shoes continued in use for garrison wear even after tha war. [At left is a detail from a 1942 photo taken at Ft. Knox, KY.]
A World War II soldier received an initial issue of two pairs of shoes which could be resoled twice, then were replaced with a new or rebuilt pair. The replacement rate varied depending on conditions where the shoes were worn, ranging from a year in the US to only five months in the Southwest Pacific. [Click here for Shoes and the Army, Under Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, 4 June 1945.]
Boots, Service, Combat M-1943 (Double Buckle)
The "Boots, Service, Combat" became the first true combat boot, made by extending the service shoe with a high top cuff that closed by a pair of buckles [See top photo on this page, and right]. The boots were developed as part of the M-1943 field uniform, authorized in November 1943, but not issued to many troops until late World War II, issued only to overseas units. The higher top replaced the leggings, a great simplification of both supply and combat use.
In construction they were the same design as the "Shoes, Service, Reverse Upper" with the extended top (some made by literally adding the cuff to previously contracted shoes). The leather was reversed, rough side out, to absorb waterproofing oils and wear better than a polished leather. Some boots were made with the cuff smooth side out, others with rough side out. The one piece sole and heel were molded synthetic or reclaimed rubber.
The "Boots, Service, Combat" were also made for women, using the same patterns as for women's service shoes with the double buckle cuff added.
Boots, Service, Combat M-1943 (Double Buckle)
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