United States of America - Complete WW2 US Army Issue Wool ''Jeep Cap'' - Battle of Bulge - Winter - worn under M1 helmet - Military equipment

Nice 100% original WW2 USA wool ''Jeep cap'', in a nice used condition - a great patina and clearly worn, the remnants of the (washed) out army issue label is still present. Described in detail in the GI collectors Guide. Original era manufacture, 100% WW2, because they stopped making this model after 1945. The jeep cap, sometimes referred to as the jeep hat,[1] originally the US Army issued Cap, Wool, Knit, M1941 is a knit cap with a short visor made from knitted yarn, originally wool. The "jeep cap" was first issued by the United States Army in February 1942 during World War II;[2] the purpose of the jeep cap was to be worn underneath the heavy combat helmets to offer soldiers both extra padding and warmth. The jeep cap was originally knitted close to the head, with a six-stitch "starfish pattern" on top (supposedly to support the webbing suspension inside the helmets), with a cuff coming out like a V from the top center of the brim and around the rest of the cap, which soldiers could pull down over their ears for even more warmth. The cap was issued in four different sizes – small, medium, large, and extra large – and made of olive drab wool; perfect examples of these original jeep caps can be found being worn by Staff Sergeant Kinchloe from the sitcom Hogan's Heroes (he wore his with the brim folded up), and Radar O'Reilly from M*A*S*H (who was seldom seen without one). Another example of characters depicted wearing the cap is the WW2 movie Stalag 17.

Although made specifically for wear under the steel pot helmet, the cap alone grew to be very popular with soldiers for its casual and relaxed look and was often worn on its own, especially on night patrols. The cap was usually only issued to enlisted men, however, officers (General Patton in particular) despised the cap for its "slovenly" and "un-military" look and ordered wear of the cap without helmet to be banned and punished by a fine, with General Patton personally pulling them off a soldier's head.[3][full citation needed][4][full citation needed] The cap was eventually phased out and replaced with the standardized "Cap, Field, Cotton, O.D., With Visor" as part of the newer, layered U.S. Army M-1943 Uniform, although it continued in use until the end of the war.

100% original RARE woolen Jeep cap in nice, worn condition.

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