Johhny Quest
Private
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2020
I'm a private. I know nothing. My mess mates are as ignorant as I am. I seek help from a grizzled veteran sitting by the fire, quietly smoking his pipe. I introduce myself and soon the questions flow.
1) I've tried different ways of carrying the blanket as a donut roll. No matter what, on hot days, I sweat through my uniform and create a wet spot on the blanket. Not only that, but the blanket creates a hot area across my chest, causing me to sweat even more. It's not bad during drill or short movement, but on a long march of 10-12 miles, the blanket slung over one shoulder creates heat and gets wet. If it was cotton . . . like I'm thinking of switching to . . . it would be a wet, soggy mess when the march was over. It would be like carrying it through a downpour!
Any advice from a veteran on how to keep cool and protect the blanket when slung over the shoulder?
Should I switch to a cotton blanket in the summer?
2) I've tried and can't find a comfortable way to carry that gum blanket. I've tried to copy what some veterans do. But I find it's too hot to carry over a shoulder. I've hung it off my belt and that seems to pull my belt down as I walk. I've tried draping it over my haversack and that's not too bad but I don't see many doing that.
Any advice from a veteran on the BEST way to carry the gum blanket? Again, not during drill or a short move, I'm talking about how to carry it on a long march of 10-12 miles?
3) Before enlisting, I was a student of history and I learned about the Battle Of Solferino. I've read pamphlets by Henry Dunant, a Swiss gentleman who organized the local population to help the wounded. He introduced the idea of carrying a small kit to clean and bind up wounds.
Should I carry a small kit with small bandages to bind up my cuts and wounds? Where could I carry this little kit?
4) As you see, I wear spectacles. I'm sightless without them.
If I don't carry a knapsack, where should I carry a spare set?
5) Finally, I'm still unsure how to handle my business in the woods. Here in camp we have sinks with newspaper or you can always get a pard to give you some old paper.
Should I carry paper with me in case I have to relieve myself on a long march? How do I protect it from the rain? Where do I carry it?
1) I've tried different ways of carrying the blanket as a donut roll. No matter what, on hot days, I sweat through my uniform and create a wet spot on the blanket. Not only that, but the blanket creates a hot area across my chest, causing me to sweat even more. It's not bad during drill or short movement, but on a long march of 10-12 miles, the blanket slung over one shoulder creates heat and gets wet. If it was cotton . . . like I'm thinking of switching to . . . it would be a wet, soggy mess when the march was over. It would be like carrying it through a downpour!
Any advice from a veteran on how to keep cool and protect the blanket when slung over the shoulder?
Should I switch to a cotton blanket in the summer?
2) I've tried and can't find a comfortable way to carry that gum blanket. I've tried to copy what some veterans do. But I find it's too hot to carry over a shoulder. I've hung it off my belt and that seems to pull my belt down as I walk. I've tried draping it over my haversack and that's not too bad but I don't see many doing that.
Any advice from a veteran on the BEST way to carry the gum blanket? Again, not during drill or a short move, I'm talking about how to carry it on a long march of 10-12 miles?
3) Before enlisting, I was a student of history and I learned about the Battle Of Solferino. I've read pamphlets by Henry Dunant, a Swiss gentleman who organized the local population to help the wounded. He introduced the idea of carrying a small kit to clean and bind up wounds.
Should I carry a small kit with small bandages to bind up my cuts and wounds? Where could I carry this little kit?
4) As you see, I wear spectacles. I'm sightless without them.
If I don't carry a knapsack, where should I carry a spare set?
5) Finally, I'm still unsure how to handle my business in the woods. Here in camp we have sinks with newspaper or you can always get a pard to give you some old paper.
Should I carry paper with me in case I have to relieve myself on a long march? How do I protect it from the rain? Where do I carry it?