That is my father's Ike jacket in the picture with me on the opening page. I originally thought that all WWII Army infantry were issued these jackets. I recently found out, however, that only a few of the infantry soldiers received these Ike jackets so named after General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The scarf used in this picture was originally owned by my father and was used here in honor of his commanding officer, Lieutenant General Lucien Truscott who wore a handkerchief himself. He wore a white one around his:

neck as a scarf and drew it over my face like a mask, just as cowmen in the Southwest use bandannas....

The idea soon caught on in the Third Infantry Division and stirred up much interest, for the silk scarf became a recognized part of the uniform. It was not many months before salvaged parachutes and captured silk were at a premium for almost every unit in the theater wore a distinctive scarf of some kind. As a matter of fact, a bandanna-like scarf should be part of the combat uniform of every soldier. p 541

Close-up of the jacket below. For numbered list of Awards, Ribbons, Medals & Insignias (click here)