Articles of Interest Gear: Chapter 4
11 snips
Nov 12, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Ray Christian, a former Army drill sergeant, shares how military life shaped his identity and influenced American style, while Patricia Ziegler, co-founder of Banana Republic, recounts transforming military surplus into fashionable attire. They delve into the M65 field jacket’s evolution, the shift from protest fashion to mainstream trends, and the impact of scarcity on surplus clothing, offering a fascinating look at how military gear became a stylish staple in civilian wardrobes.
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Joining The Army As A Life Reset
- Ray Christian recounts joining the Army at 17 and learning middle-class routines like regular meals and laundry.
- Military life provided structure, medical care, and skills that he credits with social mobility.
Service As Citizenship Proof
- Military service became tangible proof of citizenship and worth for marginalized groups, especially Black Americans.
- Serving offered social recognition and a pathway to rights, which explains political fights over who can serve.
A Peace Sign On A Field Jacket
- Charles McFarlane shows a WWII field jacket defaced with a peace sign, illustrating 1960s counterculture reuse.
- Surplus clothing became a canvas for protest and symbolic reworking of military imagery.
