Lex Anteinternet: PFC Foley's boots.

Friday, February 24, 2023

PFC Foley's boots.

This is a well known photograph of PFC Edward J. Foley, 143rd Infantry Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division near Valletri, Italy, 29 May 1944. It's an interesting photograph for a variety of reasons, including the number of M1903 Springfields it depicts.

In looking at it, I noticed something odd about Pvt. Foley's boots. Note that everyone around him is wearing service shoes and leggings. I figured he'd acquired a pair of paratrooper boots, but that's not what these are.

It looks like the top 3" or so of the boot are a separate leather piece, and they have speed lace hooks, rather than eyelets, in that portion. They also don't have tapered heels, like paratrooper boots do.

Altered service shoes?

No comments:

Lex Anteinternet?

This blog has been around since 2009. In the very first post, we asked the question: "What the heck is this blog about?"

Our answer to the question was: "The intent of this blog is to try to explore and learn a few things about the practice of law prior to the current era. That is, prior to the internet, prior to easy roads, and the like. How did it work, how regional was it, how did lawyers perceive their roles, and how were they perceived?"

We also noted: "Part of the reason for this, quite frankly, has something to do with minor research for a very slow moving book."

All of this is still true, but the focus of the blog has changed somewhat. It now focuses on the era from 1890 to 1920 in general, rather than on the law and lawyers specifically, although that may be far from obvious. It's also become the location where we comment on anything we feel moved to comment on.

We hope you'll feel moved to comment as well. While we moderate every comment, so as to weed out Spam, we greatly appreciate the comments where they are offered, and hope to see more.

Thank you for stopping in!