G-1, Gregory Sportswear INC, Vietnam era

[Curahee]

Overall impression;

This is my first G-1 and original. I bought it a week ago at the MASH store in Osaka Japan during my holiday there. Cool thing is I could choose from several jackets and try it on (size 42) and examine it myself It's the 7823D type but dated late 1967 it has a real mouton collar with some fading on the right side, knits are like new and are of the folded over two ply type, leather is a nice chocolate colored goatskin broken in nicely, very supple with some stains and small cuts but overall in perfect condition No funny smells, lining is perfect except for a small hole wich has been stiched rather roughly,collar greenish brown. Zipper is a Conmar brass paperclip type, works fine and has a leather zip pull.

Here's me after 3 hours drooling over jackets and other stuff, bought the G-1, a pair of vintage sunglasses (60's) and
to top it off a Plaboy dated july 1965.

Patches;
HML-267 "Anytime anywhere", US flag on left shoulder, USMC patch right shoulder, 367-HML "Hover Cover" patch on the back, nametag reads Mike Justus, 1st Lt USMCR

History;
The jacket belonged to Michael Eugene Justus, born 11/15/1946 in Long Beach CA, KIA 3/25/1970 Marble Mountain south Vietnam after a horrific midair that took place when two AH-1G's were making their victory break coming back from a mission over the runway and the main rotor of the wingman hit the lead bird.

Service: US Marine Corps
Flight class : 69-12 > HML-267 at Camp Pendleton
Started tour: 10/16/1969 > HML-367 Cobra Helicopter Squadron, providing utility and attack combat support to landing
forces and operations ashore. Tasks include re-suply, troop insertions/extractions, special insertions medical evacuations
VIP transport etc.

This is my first original and I'm very pleased with it, although it saddens me to know that Mike has died in action while serving his country. Oh and in case anybody wonders about that Playboy........

 

[johnwayne]

Nice G1 - interested to know what you paid in the land of the Rising Sun? I guess it compares to US/UK current prices albeit they vary greatly it seems - let me guess £150 / $250ish??

I bet the Playboy seems pretty tame by todays standards!!

Wayne

 

[havocpaul]

With that provenance and patches got to be more than that price range?

 

[Curahee]

John/Paul,

I paid JPY 82.500,- you do the math, yeah it's pretty tame but it has way more style. Porn it seems you can get every
where these days, besides I'm more the reading type anyway

 

[Anonymous]

They just don't make women like that any more do they ? Can't beat a late 50's early 60's lady.

J_H

 

[Curahee]

Re: G-1, Gregory Sportswear INC, mid 60's (Mike Justus Lt. USMC)

Indeed but the Playboy was meant as an extra and not the main atraction. I hop[ed for some more feedback/reactions
about the jacket.

 

[Chandler]

Re: G-1, Gregory Sportswear INC, mid 60's (Mike Justus Lt. USMC)

I hop[ed for some more feedback/reactionsabout the jacket.

It's very nice, and the background info that comes with it is quite astounding. But I have to wonder how MASH came by this item. Makes me sad, considering the original owner was KIA.

BTW, 82.50 Japanese Yen converts to .87 ¢ U.S. -- methinks there's a typo somewhere...

Chandler

 

[Anonymous]

Cool Playboy. Morbid jacket history.

 

[Curahee]

Re: G-1, Gregory Sportswear INC, mid 60's (Mike Justus Lt. USMC)

I hop[ed for some more feedback/reactionsabout the jacket.

It's very nice, and the background info that comes with it is quite astounding. But I have to wonder how MASH came by this item. Makes me sad, considering the original owner was KIA.

BTW, 82.50 Japanese Yen converts to .87 ¢ U.S. -- methinks there's a typo somewhere...

Chandler

It should read JPY 82,500

Wing nut, it is morbid and I have mixed feelings about the jacket. I mean should I own it at all ? Never thought I would feel this way when I first saw it, it was just a cool jacket but now that I know more .....ah whatever.

 

[MikeyB-17]

I nearly bought a Gregory Sportswear G-1 years ago, from Aero. Sadly a 42 in a Gregory wasn't like other 42's, and it was too small. Ended up with an Irvin B. Foster instead.
It is a shame that the chap was KIA, but I think he'd sooner see it worn and be remembered/commemorated. What's the alternative? Stick it in a drawer somewhere and forget both it and him? Destroy it because the wearer died in the service of his country? Nah. Wear it and think of Michael. If people ask, tell them about him. Military men fight, sometimes military men die. A sad fact, yes, and one often forgotten, but no reason not to enjoy the jacket, IMHO. I like to think he'd be happy someone owned his jacket who appreciated it, and what he did.

 

[jack aranda]

Well said, Mikey.

Curahee, I think you do no dishonor to Lt. Justus in the wearing of this jacket. As Mikey pointed out, the alternative is for it to molder on a shelf in a quonset hut surplus store. I suppose you could remove his name tag and insignia and forward them on to surviving family as a gesture of respect. Then you still have a fine G-1 to wear, and they have mementos of his service. I'm not attempting to 'stir the pot' or create a controversy where none exists, Curahee, just 'noodling' off the top of my head about possible solutions to your apparent dilema. I'm impressed that you've taken time to think about this.

 

[better duck]

Well said, Mikey.

Curahee, I think you do no dishonor to Lt. Justus in the wearing of this jacket. As Mikey pointed out, the alternative is for it to molder on a shelf in a quonset hut surplus store. I suppose you could remove his name tag and insignia and forward them on to surviving family as a gesture of respect. Then you still have a fine G-1 to wear, and they have mementos of his service. I'm not attempting to 'stir the pot' or create a controversy where none exists, Curahee, just 'noodling' off the top of my head about possible solutions to your apparent dilema. I'm impressed that you've taken time to think about this.

I "noodle" on after Jack and this is what comes to mind: if (and only if) it bothers you, you could try to contact surviving family, tell them how you came into posession of Eugene's jacket, and offer to sell it back to them for what you paid for it. If they kindly refuse you have a great G1 with a story to tell and a clear conscience, if they agree: ah well, without a G1 but with clear conscience: that could be a tough one. Thinking about it, that would probably be the way for me to go, but I totally agree with Mikey: there is no shame of dishonor in wearing this jacket and telling this airman's story.

 

[Curahee]

Well said, Mikey.

Curahee, I think you do no dishonor to Lt. Justus in the wearing of this jacket. As Mikey pointed out, the alternative is for it to molder on a shelf in a quonset hut surplus store. I suppose you could remove his name tag and insignia and forward them on to surviving family as a gesture of respect. Then you still have a fine G-1 to wear, and they have mementos of his service. I'm not attempting to 'stir the pot' or create a controversy where none exists, Curahee, just 'noodling' off the top of my head about possible solutions to your apparent dilema. I'm impressed that you've taken time to think about this.

I "noodle" on after Jack and this is what comes to mind: if (and only if) it bothers you, you could try to contact surviving family, tell them how you came into posession of Eugene's jacket, and offer to sell it back to them for what you paid for it. If they kindly refuse you have a great G1 with a story to tell and a clear conscience, if they agree: ah well, without a G1 but with clear conscience: that could be a tough one. Thinking about it, that would probably be the way for me to go, but I totally agree with Mikey: there is no shame of dishonor in wearing this jacket and telling this airman's story.

Mike, Jack , Peter,

All good and valid remarks ! appreciate it, and I it did cross my mind contacting his family. Peter, I do have a clear conscience. Afterall I didn't steal it or anything for Pete's sake. I will wear it with honor.

BTW I found this website with all sorts of info about his unit and history, for those who are interested.
http://www.popasmoke.com/