Thread: WW I Military Shave

Another Shorpy...

Circa 1914. "Army or National Guard camp." National Photo Co.

A Close Shave: 1914 | Shorpy Historic Photo Archive

My dear Larry,

What a great picture. Thanks for sharing it.

Among my many shaves in the army, the ones that remain vivid in my memory are those in the jungles of Vietnam: cold water in the steel helmet, a tiny mirror, an army issue plastic guillotine, a spread of vile foamy shaving substance from a can — and the hope that a sniper mad at the world would not take out his anger on my Hollywood face.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Among my many shaves in the army, the ones that remain vivid in my memory are those in the jungles of Vietnam...

A flashback to start the day, eh, Obie!!

I've read some military stories where soldiers were required to shave, even when in a combat zone. Some stories paint a more relaxed picture. Out of curiousity, were shaves required in Viet Nam for the grunts?

Would also be interested in shaving equipment and methods.

Water placed in ___?
Heated water with ___?

You get the idea.

My dear Larry,

Yes, I often have flashbacks from Vietnam. All sorts of flashbacks, some humorous, many sad, but mostly tragic. Ah well, that's another story.

I was a U.S. Army combat correspondent in Vietnam, and I used to go out with the grunts and cover the battles. Of course, since I also was a soldier, I carried a rifle, ammunition — and a camera.

After Vietnam, I stopped watching war movies, which I loved as a child, and grew to hate guns even more. That, too, is another story.

Many grunts went without a shave for days. It was hard to require us to shave in the jungle every day. I shaved whenever possible. The water I used in my steel pot was from my canteen, and just enough water with which to get by. The steel helmet made the best sink possible. And I had a mirror given to me by the Red Cross.

Yes, many memories from my vacation in Vietnam.

Regards,

Obie

Brings back memories of when I was learning to shave. My first razor was my Grand Dad's olive drab, government issue, double edge. He carried that razor all over France during WW1. My dad shaved with that razor and then went electric. Then I inherited it from my Dad. I must have been around 14 or 15 at the time. I shaved with that razor for many years. If I could only remember what I did with it!

I'm not an expert, but as far as I know, soldiers had to shave during the World Wars. I think, that ensured the gas masked staying close on skin.

Gillette was an official army supplier at least in WW I. That would make senes, considering the gas mask theory.

Originally Posted by Moleman

... as far as I know, soldiers had to shave during the World Wars. I think, that ensured the gas masked staying close on skin.

That reminds me. Flyers in WW II were careful shavers, according to an interview with a flyer in a Military History channel show, to ensure a tight fit with their oxygen mask.

Yep. This is how they established there world dominance of the shaving world.

Originally Posted by Moleman

I'm not an expert, but as far as I know, soldiers had to shave during the World Wars. I think, that ensured the gas masked staying close on skin.

Gillette was an official army supplier at least in WW I. That would make senes, considering the gas mask theory.

When I was with the armed forces in a mobile radar outfit (USAF) we had light turbine engined generators. The exhaust was somewhere around 600 deg C which would heat a steel pot of water or anything else rather quickly. Back then it was just a can of goo and D/E.

It's getting a little thick here, what with the implied "tough conditions" of you military guys. Heck! I saw R Lee Ermey one time bake a cake, complete with icing and candles, on the manifold of a jeep! You couldn't have had it that bad.

R. Lee Ermey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Any of you maggots out there unfamiliar with his humor, this was a joke. Anyone who "knows" him, probably understood. For those who didn't understand...

"Drop and give me 100 pushups!"