Boots on the Ground

These boots are made for working

With the term Boots on the Ground back in the news, I am reminded of a previous Boots story.  Having just returned from Israel where boots unfortunately but necessarily had to be on the ground in and around Gaza recently, I offer this 
tale ...

We were advised to bring thick work socks.

Volunteers arriving in Israel to provide essential civilian support services at various army bases had that advisory on their suggested packing lists. 

Here’s why …..

When the olive drab fatigues which serve as work clothes for volunteers are issued, the quartermaster at your assigned base makes an attempt to accommodate body-type diversity in doling out sets of Small, Medium, and Large trousers & shirts. Trouble is, the sets are not necessarily matched, nor do they fit! Boots are supposed to be another matter.

When my group was asked for individual shoe sizes, it sounded like good news and we anticipated a reasonably comfortable fit. In reality few of us knew whether a USA 10 Medium was a European equivalent 43, 44, or 45. So, even with metric precision, our boot sizes were an approximation. Hence the recommendation for packing thick work socks. If adequately thick, the inevitable blisters resulting from an almost fit might be avoided. Luckily my socks met the thickness challenge, adequately handling gaps between heel, toe, and the stiff, unforgiving leather. Overall, the uniform also worked out well …. so long as my belt was made tight enough to hold up my over-sized pants.

Somehow in the end my group actually looked like a unit …. and we performed our assigned tasks admirably.

(Click to read David's previous blog posts)