JOHN WAYNE "THE GREEN BERETS" GRENADE VEST
Olive-drab grenade vest, 17 1/2" x 10 1/4", with patch pockets for 11 grenades, used by JOHN WAYNE (1907-1979) in the 1968 film, "The Green Berets". The U.S. Army provided a great deal of material support and equipment, including weapons and soldiers, for the film, which was filmed at the army base at Fort Benning, Georgia. The vest is marked on the back: "The L.N. Gross Co." and "4-18", the latter indicating the date of manufacture as April, 1918. It is also marked: "U.S." the upper edge features three leather tabs with metal grommets, likely to facilitate a carrying strap. The webbing straps that would have been present on the item when it was issued are missing. These vests were first issued at the end of World War I, but saw wider use during World War II by the Marines in the Pacific, who used them to carry both grenades and shotgun shells. Very good. Includes a COA signed by Ethan Wayne, John Wayne's son and the president of John Wayne Enterprises, LLC.