Circa. 1940s
An HBT jacket from the late World War 2 era. These jackets were worn by US troops from 1943 until the end of WW2 and throughout the Korean War. It displays a rare, originally applied 9th Infantry Regiment Name tape.
The 9th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Manchu Regiment," carried a storied legacy into the 1940s and 1950s. During World War II, the regiment served as part of the 2nd Infantry Division, landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day plus one (June 7, 1944) and fighting in the Normandy campaign, the Battle of the Bulge, and the drive into Germany. After the war, it remained in Europe as part of the occupation forces before returning stateside. In the 1950s, the 9th Infantry Regiment again entered combat during the Korean War, where it endured some of the harshest fighting of the conflict, including at Bloody Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge in 1951.
There were three specifications of the 2nd pattern HBT jacket: 45B, 45C, and 45D, each with various design nuances. They were produced in colours OD-8 and later, OD-7, but each exhibited a spectrum of hues depending on the manufacturer - some appearing more greenish and others more brownish. This example is a 45D with a single-panel back and a gas flap.
Excellent condition with signs of real wear and a subtle fade pattern - All buttons, fittings and fixtures are present. There is some light, sporadic discolouration and staining. There is a pen-written name above the left breast pocket, "Jim".
