THE SUMMER SERVICE UNIFORM
The summer service uniform, known throughout the Marine Corps as "khakis," was first adopted for wear in 1904. Before the introduction of the utility uniform in 1941, khakis were worn not only in garrison, but also in field exercises and in combat. In temperate climates, this uniform was worn only between April-September. In tropical posts and stations of the Corps, it was worn year-round. Khakis were authorized as the working uniform, and also for leave and liberty.
 (above) The battalion staff of 2/4 on Corregidor, March 1942. All hands are wearing the M1917A1 helmet, summer service uniform, gas masks, and standard 782 gear. USMC Photo
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(above)LtCol Beecher, CO of 1/4 with
his runner on Corregidor, March 1942
USMC Photo
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In the early campaigns of World War II, including Wake Island, the Philippines, and Guadalcanal, khakis were worn in combat. After the utility uniform was adopted, khakis were worn as an "all purpose" uniform in field and garrison. Although khakis were thereafter seldom worn by infantry units in combat, they were worn almost everywhere else in the Pacific.
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(left) A Marine rifleman as depicted in Table of Organization E-100, April 1943. He wears the summer service uniform with field scarf and leggings. His 782 gear consists of the M1 steel helmet and the marching pack.
USMC Photo
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For enlisted Marines, the summer service uniform consisted of a long sleeve shirt and trousers. Both were constructed of 100% cotton. The shirt had two flapped pockets on the chest and a convertible collar. The trousers had two side pockets. As standard with all enlisted service and dress trousers, there were no hip pockets.
 (above) Marines conducting close order drill early in World War II armed with the M1903A3 service rifle. They wear overseas covers and leggings. Of note is the shade difference between the summer service shirt and trousers. Courtesy World War II in Color
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Officers were permitted by regulation to wear either the same uniform as enlisted Marines, or to procure their own officers's quality khakis. They sometimes wore uniforms made of gabardine, and worsted wool blends.
In many camps and stations, Marines lived in tents. They often didn't have access to electricity and irons. To press their khakis, they sometimes resorted to "cot pressing." This entailed laying their shirts and trousers flat on their cots under the cot pad. They would then sleep on the uniform, using their body weight to flatten the worst wrinkles.
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(left) Colonel Franklin Hart, CO, 24th Marines, at his desk in Camp Pendleton, Calif., in the summer of 1943. He wears an enlisted summer service shirt with field scarf.
Colonel Hart served more than 37 years on active duty. He participated as an observer in the Raid on Dieppe, France on 19 August 1942. He was one of only a handful of Marines who took part in assaults in both Europe and the Pacific.
USMC Photo
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(above) Corporal Edgar R. Huff (at left) conducts close order drill with a platoon of recruits at Montford Point Camp, Camp Lejeune in 1943. The recruits wear the summer service uniform with cartridge belts and bayonets.
USMC Photo
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(above) Saturday morning inspection mid-1943–Camp Pendleton, Calif. The young Marine at right has his M1 rifle inspected by his skipper.
They wear field marching packs. At completion of Saturday inspections, liberty call was usually sounded. USMC Photo
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(left) Pfc Charles J. Berry, of Lorain, Ohio, 1943. He wears the summer service uniform with barracks cover. Of note is the unauthorized tie clasp Pfc Berry is wearing. As a prewar Marine, he was still allowed to wear the battle pin on his shirt collar points.
Pfc Berry, later promoted to corporal, served as a Paramarine in the Bougainville campaign. He was later assigned to 1/26, 5th MarDiv. He was a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient killed in action on 3 March 1945. USMC Photo
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(left) GySgt Tom Williams, USMC-HC, at the Cradle of Invasion event, Solomons Island, Maryland (2003)
The Gunny wears a common uniform combination; summer service shirt with dungaree trousers. He also wear the khaki "pisscutter."
USMC-HC Photo
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UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
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