WITH THE 1ST MARINE DWISION IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM            147


                                        Paintng by LtCol Donna J. Neary, USMCR
                            Marine Tanker.

it was made of roughened tan leather and without eyelets. Since the desert boot
initially appeared among Marines assigned to CentCom headquarters in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia, it was viewed as an affectation and called the `,tinkerbell boot."
   The abrasiveness of desert sand tended to wear off fl~e black dye of the
leather combat boot and the jungle boot; eventually d~e entire boot caine apart
as the result of abrasion and constant use. Replacing worn-out boots proved
difficult because of the strained supply situation during the allied build up.
Frustrated by the slowness of resupplies of any boots, division Marines