Even though the US Army did ISSUE cigarettes, matches, writing pens, writing paper, envelopes, knives, eye-glasses, soft caps (hats), and wrist watches (Hamiltons); some personal items were cigarettes, smoking pipes, Zippo cigarette lighters, writing pens, eye-glasses, SUN-GLASS's (either sent to him or bought in the PX), custom Baseball caps (green of course), civilian knives, and sometimes civilian firearms such as revolvers and shotguns. The knives, revolvers, and shotguns were often inherited from GI's before them; and most likely arrived in country from US Advisers from the 1950's and early 1960's. Music cassettes and recorders were often possessed by mounted troops (tank and ACAV crewmen); cassettes such as Buffalo Springfield, Deep Purple, Doors, Santana, Black Sabbeth, Led Zepplin, Steppenwolf, Cream, Beach Boys, Monkey's, etc. Mandatory GI issued equipment was: steel helmet (M1), plastic 1 & 2 qt canteens, ammo, rifle/machingun, grenades, C rations. Officers and NCO's carried maps and compass's. RTO carried the PRC-25 man portable back pack radio: RTO-Radio Telephone Operator/PRC-25 nomenclature of man-portable radio.
WWII US GIs & Vietnam GIs were basically the same. Exceptions were the following:
1. WWII/Vietnam GIs wore the same M1 steel helmet.
2. WWII/Vietnam GIs initially wore leather combat boots until the jungle boot was issued after 1965.
3. WWII GIs carried lighter back packs/Nam GIs carried much heavier ALICE infantry back packs because they were in the field longer. WWII GIs were advancing continuously and thus could pack their gear onto the transports for the next offensive; Nam GIs were stuck on a continuous tour of field duty (they weren't advancing anywhere; Nam was a body count war not a ground gaining war).
4. WWII GIs were issued 16"/10" long bayonets/Nam GIs were issued 6 1/6" long bayonets.
5. WWII GIs carried semiautomatic rifles (M1 Garands and M1 Carbines)/Nam GIs carried fully automatic rifle (M16s).
6. WWII GIs fired .30 caliber ammo (30-06); Nam GIs fired .308 (M60 Machine gun) and .223 (M16).
7. WWII GIs used wood & steel ships, planes, small arms, boats, etc.?Nam GIs depended heavily upon aluminum and plastic planes, small arms, boats, etc. (the US Navy Swift Boat & US Army M551 Sheridan tank & M16 rifle were mostly aluminum).
guns, ammo, clothes, protection and other necessary items such as underwear
A Harriet Carter store carries all of those items you see on infomercials on your television. They also carry personal gifts and health items of all sorts.
Girlfriends & wives. Soldiers have carried and still do carry pictures of anyone who they hold dear. Soldiers away from home, especially in combat situations need reminders of those they leave behind. Some soldiers anyway. Some soldiers do not carry anything that reminds them of home, especially those serving in special ops units.
Firstly, and most importantly, soldiers took their military issue items such as weaponry, (rifles/side-arms/knives), uniforms, blankets, paybooks, emergency rations and ID tags/papers. Secondly, and I think what you may have wanted answered, was what soldiers took of a personal nature. This varied widely but the most common items where photos/love-letters/poems/embroidered handkerchiefs, sweetheart badges and other small keepsakes that could easily be carried on their person. Items from wives and girlfriends took priority over items from general family members. Tabacco in tins and cigarette lighters were favourites as well. More practical items where also taken. Bearing in mind that the Western Front was very cold most of the year, additional clothing items from home were common - such as knitted socks, scarves, longjohns, balaclavas and the like. Most soldiers had some possession of emotional value on them. They saw these items as a link with what they cherished most and after experiencing the horrors of war often took solice in a physical connection with their normal lives and loves. Sadly, many of the smaller personal items were used in identifying the bodies of fallen soldiers.
condoms
US soldiers typically carry a variety of essential items in their pockets, including a multi-tool, flashlight, compass, notepad, pens, and a folding knife. Additionally, they may carry personal items such as identification cards, money, or small personal mementos. The specific items carried can vary based on individual preferences and the nature of their mission.
plastic
There were quite a few personal items that a solider would take to war. They would take wedding bands and pictures for example.
carry over from one publication to the next.
guns, ammo, clothes, protection and other necessary items such as underwear
Soldiers carried a blanket, food, gas mask, canteens, a mess kit, a shaving kit, ammunition, weapon cleaning kit, shovel, bandages, sometimes an ampule of morphine, and personal articles in their kit. Depending on where they were sent, they might have many other items; examples are gloves, earplugs, sunglasses, binoculars, maps. Sometimes soldiers were assigned to carry items that were not for their own use, such as one mortar shell per man, or a gasoline can per man.
You can carry electronics, books, things of that sort but you can't carry items such as... - Sharp Objects - Guns, obviously - Fireworks, or any flammable items - Hairspray, Gel, Lotion, Shampoo - Beverages are allowed only if they're purchased at the Airport Personal items like shampoo & lotion are allowed but not as a carry-on.
Retail outlets that sell the Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium are outlets such as Best Buy and Meijer stores. These items can be directly purchased from the Celestron company's official website. Other online retailer outlets such as Amazon and eBay also carry these items.
A Harriet Carter store carries all of those items you see on infomercials on your television. They also carry personal gifts and health items of all sorts.
You can bring a backpack on a plane as a personal item. Most airlines will allow you to carry on the backpack rather then check it in.
The weight of your personal rucksack that you would carry up to camps on Mount Everest are around 12 – 15kg. The heavier items needed up the mountain are carried by Sherpas for you.
=The soldiers took donkeys to carry wounded men!.=