USMC Uniform question

Lightsped · July 6, 2003, 01:00 AM

I was watching a TV show about Marines and they showed some Marines with a small bright red square on the front of their camouflaged caps (cover). What does the small bright red square mean?

UnknownSailor · July 6, 2003, 01:15 AM

It is also on the trousers, at knee level outboard. As to what it means, no clue. I asked once, but I wasn't given a straight answer. After all, I'm just a sailor.

MarineTech · July 6, 2003, 01:20 AM

I don't remember the exact term for them, but they're Landing Support Specialists. They're in charge of making sure everything gets on the beach in the proper order and then is sent in the proper direction from there. The red flashes are to designate them as somebody that is to be listened to in a beach landing.

Archie · July 6, 2003, 01:59 AM

"Shore Party".

What Marine Tech said.

Snaps · July 6, 2003, 02:56 AM

Actually kids, I believe it is now called TSB instead of LSB

Lightsped · July 6, 2003, 10:44 AM

I was told that the red square means they are Combat Engineers? Strange thng, this is the first time I have ever seen this red square thing. Is it a new part of some USMC uniforms? I looked for a pic online, but was unable to find any pics of any Marine with this red square......

cookhj · July 6, 2003, 12:27 PM

no, they're not combat engineers. that's what i do. marine tech is right. they're landing support specialists. the red patches are used because back during WWII there were men who got on the beach and decided that they didn't want to fight, so they would pretend that they were landing support specialists so they wouldn't have to go inland and continue the fight. so they decided to make the LSS guys wear a patch to designate who they were so pvt snuffy couldn't pretend he was someone that he wasn't.

MarineTech · July 6, 2003, 06:21 PM

Here's a sight that a member of 4th LSB (Reserves) put up.

http://www.eskimo.com/~ktlange/storm.html

Some good info and if you look closely in some of the close-up pictures of the Marines, you'll see the red flashes on covers and on the outside of each leg at about knee height.

another okie · July 7, 2003, 11:02 PM

Do they wear these patches all the time? It seemed like I saw some on that Marine Survival School show the other night, but obviously they were not hitting a beach in the mountains.

MarineTech · July 7, 2003, 11:18 PM

Depends on the particular Marine in question. The flashes are required for landings and practice landings, but I don't believe that they must be worn all the time. Usually, they'll have 2 or 3 pairs of cammies with the flashes sewn on, and a couple without.

July 6, 2003, 01:00 AM	#1
Lightsped Member Join Date: February 3, 2003 Location: Kennesaw, Georgia Posts: 1,036	USMC Uniform question I was watching a TV show about Marines and they showed some Marines with a small bright red square on the front of their camouflaged caps (cover). What does the small bright red square mean?

July 6, 2003, 01:20 AM	#3
MarineTech Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: Presque Isle, ME US Posts: 550	I don't remember the exact term for them, but they're Landing Support Specialists. They're in charge of making sure everything gets on the beach in the proper order and then is sent in the proper direction from there. The red flashes are to designate them as somebody that is to be listened to in a beach landing. __________________ Morituri Nolumus Mori - We who are about to die, don't want to. -

July 6, 2003, 01:59 AM	#4
Archie Member Join Date: December 31, 2002 Location: Long Beach, People's Democratic Socialist Republic of California Posts: 1,402	They used to be called... "Shore Party". What Marine Tech said. __________________ The difference between 'anecdotal evidence' and 'empirical evidence' is: Anecdotal evidence happened to you; Empirical evidence happened to me. Archie Check out my journal at http://archiepreacher.livejournal.com/

July 6, 2003, 06:21 PM	#8
MarineTech Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: Presque Isle, ME US Posts: 550	Here's a sight that a member of 4th LSB (Reserves) put up. http://www.eskimo.com/~ktlange/storm.html Some good info and if you look closely in some of the close-up pictures of the Marines, you'll see the red flashes on covers and on the outside of each leg at about knee height. __________________ Morituri Nolumus Mori - We who are about to die, don't want to. -

July 7, 2003, 11:18 PM	#10
MarineTech Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: Presque Isle, ME US Posts: 550	Depends on the particular Marine in question. The flashes are required for landings and practice landings, but I don't believe that they must be worn all the time. Usually, they'll have 2 or 3 pairs of cammies with the flashes sewn on, and a couple without. __________________ Morituri Nolumus Mori - We who are about to die, don't want to. -

July 6, 2003, 01:15 AM	#2
UnknownSailor Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Location: Kadena AFB, Japan Posts: 594	It is also on the trousers, at knee level outboard. As to what it means, no clue. I asked once, but I wasn't given a straight answer. After all, I'm just a sailor.

July 6, 2003, 02:56 AM	#5
Snaps Member Join Date: December 31, 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 393	Actually kids, I believe it is now called TSB instead of LSB

July 6, 2003, 10:44 AM	#6
Lightsped Member Join Date: February 3, 2003 Location: Kennesaw, Georgia Posts: 1,036	I was told that the red square means they are Combat Engineers? Strange thng, this is the first time I have ever seen this red square thing. Is it a new part of some USMC uniforms? I looked for a pic online, but was unable to find any pics of any Marine with this red square......

July 6, 2003, 12:27 PM	#7
cookhj Member Join Date: December 28, 2002 Location: Capitol of the Confederacy, VA Posts: 590	no, they're not combat engineers. that's what i do. marine tech is right. they're landing support specialists. the red patches are used because back during WWII there were men who got on the beach and decided that they didn't want to fight, so they would pretend that they were landing support specialists so they wouldn't have to go inland and continue the fight. so they decided to make the LSS guys wear a patch to designate who they were so pvt snuffy couldn't pretend he was someone that he wasn't.

July 7, 2003, 11:02 PM	#9
another okie Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,851	Do they wear these patches all the time? It seemed like I saw some on that Marine Survival School show the other night, but obviously they were not hitting a beach in the mountains.

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