1/9 Infantry here "1st Manchus". Our plt sgt wife made Manchu hair for new soldiers. $5 a pop, still have mine over 30yrs later. Also still have my 9th Infantry Regiment belt buckle for completing the Manchu mile. Good times! Manchu late 80s and early 90s.
I participated in Exercise Caltrope Force 89 with the Manchus. It was a month long ABCA (America, Britain, Canada, Australia) ex. I was there with 3rd Bn, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Also there was the UK's 1 Para and Australia's 3 RAR. Scrim has been an integral part of Commonwealth helmets since WW1 so the Manchus having it was no big deal. It was unique given that it was made of strips of BDU as opposed to scraps of burlap and old OD t shirts like ours. We thought it funny how, when the wind blew, the Manchus' strips flip flopped alternating between cammo on one side and the nearly white opposing side. It created a sort of 'flashing' effect.
That is awesome! I was in the 2/9 Infantry in 1989 in Fort Ord. I was a gunner in a TOW platoon. I remember that exercise very well, as well as going into Marina and Seaside and Monterey with some British and Canadian guys. We got REALLY drunk. 6 guys jammed in my fantastic 1981 Dodge Colt. I don't know how we didn't get arrested. Those boys could drink!
Very cool peice of field craft and unit specific gear. I was 2/9IN Manchu in Korea before they closed the unit down. I might have to try this with modern OCP to see how it works.
Shoe goo bro, Shoe goo. That’s how many of us made them using scraps of cammo nets, strips of burlap sand bags and a few BDU strips. Then you bought a second helmet cover for inspections and to turn in when you ETS.
I appreciate you sharing the background on the piece as well as pretty detailed instructions, I may try the same at one point when I get ahold of another PASGT helmet
I served in 6/8th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord, Ca. from 91 to 93. I fondly recall having to wear the Manchu Hair on my k-pot! I had a spare cover so I had all the fabric sewn on permanently. I turned in the like new cover to CIF before I left and kept my 'Manchu Hair' cover. Sadly it got lost over the years. Also it didn't matter which BDU material was used. It's whatever you had on hand at the time. 😄😁. Nice video and nice research!
Thank you for the comment and your service! I really wished I did more research on the material. I found out after I made the video that ripstop was used as well. You live and you learn!
I love you surplus geek I’m poor now because of youuuu. That’s a good thing. I wanted to look slightly different to standard infantry but since I can’t find PRC 77 radios I can make a RTO kit sadly
I completely understand that! My wallet has been taking quite the hits these last few years! I also would love to get my hands on a 77 but just way too expensive at the moment.
At least in the units I’ve been in helmet scrim is very uncommon. By that I mean I am the only person I ever see in my vicinity that has it. I used the pieces from a camo net repair kit. If it’s borrowed just fold up the excess and return it when you PCS. If you buy your own repair kit just cut it to size.
great video and thanks for showing us how to make one, I've always struggled to find any info on how to make manchu hair. Me and my friends just started a reenactment group on the 2/504th PIR during Panama, do you know if the 82nd used Manchu Hair during Just Cause?
@@SurplusGeekyes most units used it but the 7th was the one who started it and I believe they where the only one who could wear them on base, I read somthing about that and have heard it form a lot of veterans but it may be wrong. I don’t know how to word it, but all units could wear the Manchu hair in deployments but the 7th was the only one allowed on base. At lease in the 80’s
Juice@@SurplusGeek we earned the right to wear our Manchu hair after a Rite of passage exercise. We were a COHORT unit (we all went through basic together and went to the same unit) we were A co. 1/9. We also earned the right to wear our Manchu belt buckle after completing the Manchu Mile. The Manchu hair came from the 9th Infantry Regiment...the "Manchus". I was in the 1st Bn of the 9th Regiment......1st Machus. KEEP UP THE FIRE!
Manchus is the nickname of the 9th Infantry Regiment. It comes from their participation in the Boxer Rebellion: "At the beginning of the century the U.S. Army dispatched the 9th Infantry Regiment to Qing China during the Boxer Rebellion and the China Relief Expedition where the regiment earned the nickname "Manchus". During the Battle of Tientsin, three 9th Regiment soldiers received the Medal of Honor and the regimental commander, Col. Emerson H. Liscum, was killed by Chinese fire, as was the flag bearer for the regiment. A Chinese sniper shot Liscum as he tried to steady the flag after the bearer was killed. The Chinese again unleashed a torrent of fire upon the Allies, which forced them to lie face down in mud. The dark blue uniform of the American troops provided a virtual bull's eye to the Chinese troops, equipped with western firearms, such as Winchesters, Mausers, and Mannlichers.[5] Many American troops died from Chinese sniper fire before they took the city.[6] The regiment suffered a ten percent casualty rate in the battle. Colonel Liscum's dying words gave the regiment its motto, "Keep up the fire!".
1/9 Infantry here "1st Manchus".
Our plt sgt wife made Manchu hair for new soldiers. $5 a pop, still have mine over 30yrs later. Also still have my 9th Infantry Regiment belt buckle for completing the Manchu mile. Good times! Manchu late 80s and early 90s.
That's awesome! Thank you for sharing and for your service!
Keep up the fire!
I was in 1-12 IN which 1-9 reflagged to after the battle of Ramadi. Very tough outfit of guys.
I participated in Exercise Caltrope Force 89 with the Manchus. It was a month long ABCA (America, Britain, Canada, Australia) ex. I was there with 3rd Bn, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Also there was the UK's 1 Para and Australia's 3 RAR. Scrim has been an integral part of Commonwealth helmets since WW1 so the Manchus having it was no big deal. It was unique given that it was made of strips of BDU as opposed to scraps of burlap and old OD t shirts like ours. We thought it funny how, when the wind blew, the Manchus' strips flip flopped alternating between cammo on one side and the nearly white opposing side. It created a sort of 'flashing' effect.
That's a great story! Thanks for sharing! Wish we here in the States embraced scrim a bit more!
Alternating the strip sides would help prevent that, or just using double sided prints.
That is awesome! I was in the 2/9 Infantry in 1989 in Fort Ord. I was a gunner in a TOW platoon. I remember that exercise very well, as well as going into Marina and Seaside and Monterey with some British and Canadian guys. We got REALLY drunk. 6 guys jammed in my fantastic 1981 Dodge Colt. I don't know how we didn't get arrested. Those boys could drink!
Very cool peice of field craft and unit specific gear. I was 2/9IN Manchu in Korea before they closed the unit down. I might have to try this with modern OCP to see how it works.
It's definitely unique, and thank you for your service! I'm curious to see if OCP would work.
hey brother, this does work with ocp, i do recommend using ww2 style net and mixing small, thinner strands with the thicker ones.
Shoe goo bro, Shoe goo. That’s how many of us made them using scraps of cammo nets, strips of burlap sand bags and a few BDU strips. Then you bought a second helmet cover for inspections and to turn in when you ETS.
I appreciate you sharing the background on the piece as well as pretty detailed instructions, I may try the same at one point when I get ahold of another PASGT helmet
Awesome! I'm glad you liked it and hope you make your own!
I served in 6/8th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord, Ca. from 91 to 93. I fondly recall having to wear the Manchu Hair on my k-pot!
I had a spare cover so I had all the fabric sewn on permanently. I turned in the like new cover to CIF before I left and kept my 'Manchu Hair' cover. Sadly it got lost over the years. Also it didn't matter which BDU material was used. It's whatever you had on hand at the time. 😄😁.
Nice video and nice research!
Thank you for the comment and your service! I really wished I did more research on the material. I found out after I made the video that ripstop was used as well. You live and you learn!
This is a fantastic video, I hope you make more like this !
Thank you!
Subscribing for the mustache. I will be watching your mustaches career with great interest.
Thanks for making this it helped me make mine
You're welcome! I'm glad I could help!
I love you surplus geek I’m poor now because of youuuu. That’s a good thing. I wanted to look slightly different to standard infantry but since I can’t find PRC 77 radios I can make a RTO kit sadly
I completely understand that! My wallet has been taking quite the hits these last few years! I also would love to get my hands on a 77 but just way too expensive at the moment.
This is great! I've got a new project to do now
Thanks, and that's awesome!
@@SurplusGeek Thank you for the inspiration!
We also called them "Ragtops" I was in 5/21 Inf 90-92 and 2/9 Inf 94-95 7th ID.
More vids like this, this is great.
I'm glad you liked it! I'll try to do more things like this!
We used burlap with the 1/17th 6th ID
I used trauma sheets to cut my bdus and prevents the fraying. But also I had the cotton/nylon blend bdu on hand
At least in the units I’ve been in helmet scrim is very uncommon. By that I mean I am the only person I ever see in my vicinity that has it.
I used the pieces from a camo net repair kit. If it’s borrowed just fold up the excess and return it when you PCS. If you buy your own repair kit just cut it to size.
great video and thanks for showing us how to make one, I've always struggled to find any info on how to make manchu hair. Me and my friends just started a reenactment group on the 2/504th PIR during Panama, do you know if the 82nd used Manchu Hair during Just Cause?
Thanks! I'm glad I could help! 82nd did not use manchu hair in Just Cause! Only the 7th Infantry and 75th Rangers had manchu during the operation!
Ah yes, the mop top. Or sideshow bob.
wow it looks really good! where did you get the fabric from I can’t seem to find it
Thanks! I got the fabric off eBay. You want something that is similar to the original BDU fabric, so 50/50 cotton nylon blend.
Great video!
Thank you!
We called it the 'Bob Marley' in England
i deployed with the 4/9 manchu in 08. but we never knew about this
Thanks for your service! It's a pretty cool bit of history!
Wasn’t unique to the 7th infantry division in the latter 80s and 90s. Hell, 2/9 in the second ID was wearing it until 2005 or 2006 in photographs.
Fair enough. I knew the Rangers started wearing it in the late 80s and then the 25th but didn't know about the 2nd ID, so that is pretty interesting.
@@SurplusGeekyes most units used it but the 7th was the one who started it and I believe they where the only one who could wear them on base, I read somthing about that and have heard it form a lot of veterans but it may be wrong. I don’t know how to word it, but all units could wear the Manchu hair in deployments but the 7th was the only one allowed on base. At lease in the 80’s
@@Buzza1966 it is true. You'd get smoked if you didn't have Manchu hair on your kevlar lol.
Juice@@SurplusGeek we earned the right to wear our Manchu hair after a Rite of passage exercise. We were a COHORT unit (we all went through basic together and went to the same unit) we were A co. 1/9. We also earned the right to wear our Manchu belt buckle after completing the Manchu Mile. The Manchu hair came from the 9th Infantry Regiment...the "Manchus". I was in the 1st Bn of the 9th Regiment......1st Machus. KEEP UP THE FIRE!
@@6916lightfighter KUTF!
In 'Manchu' do you mean the Northern Tribal people in eastern mongolia or is there another meaning?
Honestly, I'm not sure about the exact origins of it. My best guess would be, yes, it's in reference to the queue hairstyle.
Manchus is the nickname of the 9th Infantry Regiment. It comes from their participation in the Boxer Rebellion:
"At the beginning of the century the U.S. Army dispatched the 9th Infantry Regiment to Qing China during the Boxer Rebellion and the China Relief Expedition where the regiment earned the nickname "Manchus".
During the Battle of Tientsin, three 9th Regiment soldiers received the Medal of Honor and the regimental commander, Col. Emerson H. Liscum, was killed by Chinese fire, as was the flag bearer for the regiment. A Chinese sniper shot Liscum as he tried to steady the flag after the bearer was killed. The Chinese again unleashed a torrent of fire upon the Allies, which forced them to lie face down in mud. The dark blue uniform of the American troops provided a virtual bull's eye to the Chinese troops, equipped with western firearms, such as Winchesters, Mausers, and Mannlichers.[5] Many American troops died from Chinese sniper fire before they took the city.[6] The regiment suffered a ten percent casualty rate in the battle.
Colonel Liscum's dying words gave the regiment its motto, "Keep up the fire!".
And then Ft Ord closed due to Agent Orange.