Can you identify this photo?

[tonydawe]

I desperately need some help identifying the source of the attached photo.

The photo is the inspiration for a very poignant and moving vignette called "Compassion", sculpted by the very talented Mark Ricketts for the now-defunct Classicae Artworks.

Mark thinks the photo may be a Time-Life pic from the Korean War, but I need to know if the soldiers in the photo are USMC or US Army.

Can anyone help me, please?

 

[tonydawe]

A quick search on Google Images has revealed that the pic was taken on August 23,1950,so it's definitely from the Korean War.

Can anyone tell me if these two infantrymen are USMC or US Army?

 

[Steve]

The USMC still wore the canvas "yellow" khaki leggings in Korea and these guys have what appear to be "tanker" boots with the buckles. That would make them Army. Most likely Task Force Smith, but that is a guess.

 

[Steve]

Photo id

Tony, I just checked TF Smith on google and the monument to these guys which stands at the site of their battle at Osan clearly shows the same sort of boots worn by the two men in the photo. That does not preclude Marines having obtained the boots but all three guys in the photo have them so I think it safe to conclude they are US Army.

 

[tonydawe]

Thanks Steve,

You've helped to confirm my own conclusions. The boots are the give away. They were introduced to the Army in 1943 and remained in service throughout Korea.

The other evidence which leads me to suspect they are US Army and not USMC is the shirt worn by the solider in the background. The pocket flap is not USMC.