Original Item: Only One Available. The composition sole combat service boot, or "double buckle boot" as it is commonly known, originated as part of a project to create a universal combat uniform. Revised footwear was included in this project that was hoped to provide improved performance in the field while at the same time reducing the number of items the Quartermaster had to supply. In fact, a major impetus to bring the combat boot to fruition was the result of the poor performance of existing footwear during the early stages of the North African campaign. Though early combat boot experimentation looked at new designs and special purposes, the end result was a universal issue boot that was formed by combining the latest service shoe development with a simple and economical double buckle cuff. Approved by the Army Service Forces in 1943, the boot was being mass produced during the latter stages of the war, and by late 1944/early 1945 was being issued in quantity to troops overseas.
These boots were also seen being issued during the Korean War alongside the M48 service boots. These boots, which are a matched pair of size 9s, were issued to Francis R. Spohrer (ASN: US-51132517) some time in 1951. We have not been able to locate any service information, making for a wonderful research opportunity. What we were able to uncover in an obituary is that he was stationed in Germany from 1951 to 1953.
The boots themselves show little to no signs of wear on the soles, they only show light wear on the leather portions of the boots. Both boots were made by the United States Rubber Company and are in a size 9. In 1940, U.S. Rubber purchased the remainder of the Gillette Safety Tire Company, and began to expand and modernize the Eau Claire factory, greatly increasing production. During World War II, U.S. Rubber factories were devoted to production of war goods, and produced military truck and airplane tires, as well as the canvas-top, rubber-soled Jungle boot for soldiers and marines serving in tropical and jungle environments. U.S. Rubber ranked 37th among United States corporations in the value of wartime production contracts.
In 1942, the United States government restricted the sale of scarce rubber products for civilian use and production at the plant dwindled. The company sold the Eau Claire plant to the government, which then converted it for the manufacture of small caliber ammunition and renamed it the Eau Claire Ordnance plant.
By December 31, 1943, the need for tires outweighed the need for ammunition. U.S. Rubber repurchased the plant from the government for more than US$1 million, and converted it back to synthetic rubber tire production. The company began an expansion and modernization program at the plant that lasted through 1951.
This lovely pair comes more than ready for further research and display.
