Vietnam War Era U.S. Marine Corps Guidebook

This is a USMC issued "Guidebook for Marines". The book is in used, fair condition. This book was well used and well loved, hence its dog eared and thumbed through appearance. Nonetheless, the spine is strong and there are no torn or damaged pages. This book is dated 1966.

This is an essential item for the Vietnam collector, especially a USMC collector of that era. This book details how a Marine was to appear and to train in the mid-1960's. This would have been the USMC "bible" for all Marines going to 'Nam in the middle years of the war.

It was a truism for a long time that the USMC made do with the U.S. Military's hand-me-downs. Prominently featured in this book is the employment, use and maintenance of WWII and Korean era weapons that had long since been discarded by the active U.S. Army, such as the 3.5" bazooka, the M-1 Garand, the BAR and the M-1919A4 .30 caliber machine gun. These are featured alongside the modern weapons of the 1960's, such as the M-14, the M-60 and the M-79.

This book covers basic tactics, first aid, land navigation, uniforms, parades, customs and courtesies and gear layouts. It is a fascinating insight into the world of the USMC before the Vietnam experience irrevocably changed the Corps.

What is notably absent from this Vietnam era book is any mention of the growing conflict in Vietnam. Nor does it have any mention of the specific clothing and equipment being issued for that war.