U.S soldier Bag

[michal19]

hello
my yesterday coincidence shot
my interest are are german militaria this is my first US soldier item
what was the purpose of this bag?maybe someone met some similiar?

[Rakkasan187]

This is called the Duffel Bag. It was used to hold uniforms and clothing. These are commonly marked with the Soldier's name and serial number as a means of identifying the Soldier..

Nice to see a WW2 era duffel bag... and based on the date 1943, this is one of the earlier bags.

This type of bag was adopted in 1943. It has a shoulder strap and neck closure which can be padlocked. Unit markings were sometimes put on the duffel bags to help identify when unloading ships and forwarding equipment to the right units.

Through the years the Army duffel bag has changed from canvas material to a rayon material and now to a different design completely. When I was issued my 2 Army duffel bags in the 80's they were stenciled with my name and serial number (Social Security Number) and then when I arrived at my first unit the bottoms were painted and marked with the tactical markings of my unit. After leaving that unit and reporting to another unit the bottom of the duffel bag was painted over and new tactical markings and identification was added.

Smitty

[michal19]

thank You very much
good to have some item from USA
it was found in south of Poland
maybe arrived with the invasion...

[Rakkasan187]

Here is the Soldier. He was from West Virginia..

Smitty



ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 35275143 35275143
NAME BUKRIM#STANLEY########## BUKRIM#STANLEY##########
RESIDENCE: STATE 54 WEST VIRGINIA
RESIDENCE: COUNTY 001 BARBOUR
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT 5340 FT HAYES COLUMBUS OHIO
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY 10 10
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH 02 02
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR 42 42
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION PVT# Private
GRADE: CODE 8 Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION BI# Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
BRANCH: CODE 00 Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
FIELD USE AS DESIRED # #
TERM OF ENLISTMENT 5 Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
LONGEVITY ### ###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL 0 Civil Life
NATIVITY 23 NEW YORK
YEAR OF BIRTH 17 17
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP 1 White, citizen
EDUCATION 4 4 years of high school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION 721 Semiskilled miners, and mining-machine operators
MARITAL STATUS 6 Single, without dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY 7 Selectees (Enlisted Men)
CARD NUMBER # #
BOX NUMBER 0916 0916
FILM REEL NUMBER 3.338 3.338

[michal19]

thank You i've searched the web but didnt find anything
interesting info

[Rakkasan187]

If this Soldier's records were not destroyed in the 1970's National Archives Fire, then it may be possible to obtain more information about him, his unit, where he served, what battles he fought in, ect.

Smitty

I may be able to assist you in researching this Soldier..

[Phill Lockett]

This is called the Duffel Bag. It was used to hold uniforms and clothing. These are commonly marked with the Soldier's name and serial number as a means of identifying the Soldier..

Nice to see a WW2 era duffel bag... and based on the date 1943, this is one of the earlier bags.

This type of bag was adopted in 1943. It has a shoulder strap and neck closure which can be padlocked. Unit markings were sometimes put on the duffel bags to help identify when unloading ships and forwarding equipment to the right units.

Through the years the Army duffel bag has changed from canvas material to a rayon material and now to a different design completely. When I was issued my 2 Army duffel bags in the 80's they were stenciled with my name and serial number (Social Security Number) and then when I arrived at my first unit the bottoms were painted and marked with the tactical markings of my unit. After leaving that unit and reporting to another unit the bottom of the duffel bag was painted over and new tactical markings and identification was added.

Smitty

Hi Smitty

Great info , did the individual have to paint and mark their duffle bags?

Would great to see an image of your duffle bag!

Also thanks for getting the information regarding the individual.

Forum members should know, Smitty goes out of his way to help people track down relevant information concerning veterans and its very much appreciated.

Respect brother!

Phill

[Rakkasan187]

Phill,

Thank you for the kind words. I am humbled by them. In many cases the Soldier's did indeed have to mark their own equipment to include the duffel bag. There were stencil and ink sets provided and the Soldier's cut out the stencils and marked individual and unit equipment. I have a chart somewhere in the masses of my collection that show the proper location of marking clothing and uniforms..

As for my marked duffel bag, here are a few shots of my equipment and gear that I carried while stationed in Berlin, Germany with the 6th Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment (Strike). You can see the bottom of my duffel bag is marked B co. 6/502 2nd Plt. 2. The 2 at the bottom indicated 2nd Squad of 2nd Platoon of B. Company 6/502nd Infantry..

Smitty

[BlackCat1982]

Stanley Bukrim.

[Phill Lockett]

Thanks Smitty

That was quick laying out all your kit-just for me!!!
Seriously, good to see identification markings and how it is expressed.
Smitty would you know or have come across various and odd ID markings for other US Army units in your time.
I guess there are specific markings for Armour, Cav, Eng , Artillery etc.

Phill