144                                  U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-1991


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                                          ~ Drawing by Sgt Charles G. Grow, USMC
The fedora" style favored by LtGen Waiter E. Booiner was ofien seen, 9 January 1990.

and other commanders resulted in a redistribution of desert uniforms. Marines
assigned to the 1st FSSG working in the port at Jubayl largely gave up their
desert uniforms and reverted to green camouflage utility dress. That alleviated
the more pressing requirements and, by February, all Marines in the 1st Marine
Division were entirely clothed in desert camouflage.
    Correct wear of the desert battle dress uniform, sometimes referred to as the
"chocolate chip" uniform, included the desert hat and either the jungle boot,
black leather combat boot, or, by late February and March, the tan desert boot.
When in combat dress during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, prior
to the ground offensive, the full uniform consisted of appropriate equipment as
well as the green camouflage flak jacket or armored vest and kevlar helmet, both
of which came with special issue desert camouflage covers. With the onset of
hostilities, General Myatt required everyone to wear the flak jacket and helmet.
The pack also had a desert cover provided. The desert cover was sometimes
used as a field expedient cover for the M-16.
    By December, the onset of cooler weather brought with it increasing use of
the cold-weather night desert camouflage parka, a loose coat complete with a
removable liner. General Myatt left it as a matter of choice whether Marines
wore the parka under or over the flak jacket. Matching trousers came with the
parka. Most Marines, however, used the night desert camouflage trousers
infrequently. Instead, in addition to the parka coat, many wore civilian sweatsuit
tops and bottoms under their desert utilities. Most sweat suits were gray in
color, but it was not unusual to find division Marines wearing red, yellow, and
blue Suits. Since the weather had grown very cool and wet in January and little
of the color showed anyway, unit commanders generally permitted the wearing
of sweatsuits and non-regulation watch caps of various colors without comment.
    Supply shortages made it difficult for commanders to achieve total unifor-
mity. From the beginning of Operation Desert Shield, items of green camou-