Military Uniforms facts

While investigating facts about Military Uniforms, I found out little known, but curios details like:

The United States Government was in full support of the movie Independence Day [1996] offering real military uniforms and even jets until the film makers refused to remove Area 51 from the movie. The government withdrew all support.

President Ulysses S. Grant was born Hiram Ulysses Grant but changed his name at West Point to avoid having his military uniforms marked with initials "H.U.G."

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 50 of the best facts about Military Uniforms I managed to collect.

1. In the islands of Tanna there is a "cargo cult" that worships the U.S. army and a Jesus-like WWII soldier named John Frum. The natives dress in American military uniforms and build fake airplane runways, believing John will return to bring trucks, Coca-Cola, radios, and other riches.

2. In 1943, the British took a civilian's corpse, filled his lungs with water, dressed him in a military uniform, gave him fake intelligence letters, and dropped him off the coast of Spain -- all in an elaborate ruse to draw the Germans away from Sicily. It worked.

3. Blind workers manufacture 72,000 dress uniforms for the Army every month and that other companies employing blind workers supply materiel to other branches thoughout the military

4. In Germany, soldiers are considered "citizens in uniform", firstly responsible to their own conscience and not to their leaders. As a result, there were no military courts since 1945.

5. A Canadian who flew a Spitfire in WWII kept his Military history secret for 56 years because a fire destroyed his log books and uniforms.

6. During the Napoleanic War a French vessel wrecked off the coast of Hartlepool killing all the crew except for one monkey dressed in a military uniform. The people of Hartlepool having never seen a Frenchman or a monkey before held an impromptu trial for the monkey and sentenced it to death.

7. The American flag is reversed on military uniforms so that it never appears to be retreating.

8. The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Sydney Harbour Bridge was disrupted when a man in military uniform rode up to the ribbon on a horse, slashing the ribbon with his sword and opening the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the name of the people of New South Wales before the official ceremony began.

9. It's illegal in the United States for an actor to wear a military uniform in a theatrical production that "discredits the armed forces"

10. Simply wearing a US military uniform in public or falsely claiming to have served is not a violation of The Stolen Valor Act. Only wearing or claiming to have earned certain decorations with the intention of profiting monetarily or in some tangible way is a violation of federal law.

What is true about military uniforms?

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There is a widespread but incorrect belief that onscreen portrayals of U.S. military uniforms must contain inaccuracies to protect actors and producers against claims of impersonating military forces.

The American flag is reversed on military uniforms because when the soldier/marine/etc marches forward, the US flag must face forward. It must not be seen to be in retreat, therefore, the stars are actually on the right side of the badge, so they face forward direction always. - source

Very few of the Waffen SS soldiers were tried for war crimes, as they were essentially a military unit with recognized uniforms and had little to do with the concentration camps.

Blind workers manufacture 72,000 dress uniforms for the Army every month and that other companies employing blind workers supply materiel to other branches thoughout the military

During World War I the French military had a ceremonial uniform belt with Medusa's image on it.

Wilhelm studied law at the University of Bonn, but usually wore some type of military uniform in keeping with his family's Prussian military background.

The Sam Browne belt, an element of many military and some police uniforms, was invented by a British general to compensate for his missing arm. It was so practical in so many ways that it was adopted by his troops and even rival armies.

Spies and scouts were two different categories: scouts wore military uniforms and if captured were imprisoned, while spies dressed as civilians and were often executed if captured.

WWII Italian and German POW's were held in relatively secret NC camps. They worked on military bases, on local farms, and in pulpwood harvesting. In some cases, they were allowed to visit movie theaters and restaurants under the cover of US uniforms.

The American flag on the military's uniforms is worn backwards because when a calvary soldier carried the flag into battle the stars led due to wind pushing the flag back.

The camouflage print for U.S. military uniforms in WWII was designed by the garden editor of Better Homes and Gardens, Norvell Gillespie.