(assuming you never served)…get the impression some people think you did serve? I’ve worn some variety of such for decades, but only recently have I got the impression that some people are thinking I served and are…looking on me with approval…is the only benefit I think I’m garnering at this point.
But it makes me uncomfortable cause I don’t want anyone thinking I’m pretending to have served. I just want to be warm.
Maybe it’s just that you cut a fine figure in that snappy new coat?
I got mine from my son, who did serve. If anyone thanks me for my service, I bore them to tears telling them all about my son and his service and how he is currently second in his class in college and his 4.0 GPA and how he was chosen Veteran of the Day at his college. So they have learned not to ask.
Regards,
Shodan
PS - Did I mention he was chosen president of his veteran’s club? Would you like to see some pictures? If you come home with me, I can show you his service medals.
I think only if you also have any patches or emblems, otherwise it has always just seemed like fashion choice to me. Especially with pea coats, I’m more likely to think that they are dockworkers than military.
I used to wear a peacoat that my father bought me at the Army surplus store. I was 12, so it’s highly unlikely anyone ever thought I was in the Navy.
I remember liking the coat and looked for another one a few years back. Expensive! My father liked to shop at the Army surplus store because it was dirt cheap, but apparently not anymore.
I would say your wife is going to be mad at your for hitting on other women, but with a pickup line like that she doesn’t have anything to worry about 
To get back to OP, the only time I had military surplus stuff was when I was in high school and really obviously too young to have served. I think most people assumed I was just broke (not too far from the truth) and was wearing surplus gear because I couldn’t afford anything else.
stolen valor
I wear a Navy pea coat from the 40’s whenever the temperature’s going to be below zero outside, but I’ve never gotten an awkward vibe from anybody. It doesn’t have any trim or insignia on it. That style of coat is fairly popular around here because it’s so warm and cuts the wind. With a sweater under it, I’m warm even if it’s well below zero outside.
That seems odd to me. I would no more assume that you were a sailor for wearing a peacoat than I would assume you were a B-17 crewmember for wearing a bomber jacket, an Irish fisherman for wearing a big wool cable-knit turtleneck sweater or that you just came from a polo match because you are wearing Ralph Lauren.
Literally every men’s fashion store sells peacoats in their winter line.
I used to wear surplus before I was in the Army, not so much any more.
It seems weird to me too, but I vaguely remember a Charles in Charge episode where one of the girls wearing grandpa’s pea coat was a big no-no because she wasn’t navy.
I could see myself unconsciously making the mistake that someone wearing army surplus items did actually serve. If I stopped to think about it, I wouldn’t make the same mistake, but I might not always stop to check.
I have a t shirt. From a relative.
Basically a " I survived cancer X" kinda shirt. Which they did…for awhile ( a fair while fortunately)…till they didn’t…
I wear the shirt…because A, hey, its a nice frickin shirt…B hey, its the only frickin clean one right now…C, hey, its a nice rememberance of them…C, it raises awareness of cancer X…and on an on…
But I do sometimes wonder if folks see me and think “hey, Billfis678 is a toenail cancer survivor!”
PS. A pea coat is once nice assed coat…assuming weight isn’t an issue and it is pretty darn cold…
I once wore my dad’s old Vietnam-era peacoat, and got hesitantly saluted by young men in uniform who obviously weren’t sure whether they were supposed to salute, but who just as obviously decided to err on the side of caution.
As it happens, though, I actually was a naval officer at the time. So it was kind of like that episode of SEINFELD where Elaine throws out – what else? – a coat.
“So now Joe Mayo wants me to buy him a new coat.”
“Because you threw it out.”
“No! Because I was in charge of the coats. It’s insane!”
“But you did actually throw his coat out the window.”
“But he doesn’t know that! As far as he knows, somebody stole it!”
“Um.”
“And that’s the person who should be responsible!”
“But that’s you!”
I wore stuff like that in the late '60s; lots of people did, and nobody assumed anything.
I wouldn’t look twice at a pea coat. It’s just a style of coat now. My daughter has one. Bought it at Kohls.
I did serve for quite a while and I would feel very weird wearing parts of my old uniform. The exceptions are the components of the PT uniform and various cold weather gear when shoveling snow. I like both styles of PT jackets I have and wear them when I go to the gym.
On an unrelated note, anyone want some surplus ACU uniforms? I have a couple of bins worth.
Not from my clothes, but I do get looks when I stand at parade rest while in line at McDonalds.
I’ve never gotten this impression, even when wearing SANDF surplus jacket and pants (the old nutria browns, not camo) on my way to paintball. Probably the hair and shoes make the difference.
I’ve also don’t think I’ve been taken for a Navy man when I wear my surplus peacoat. Maybe a Time Agent…
When I was in middle/high school, fad clothing was big. One day one of popular kids wore something “new” and within a week it was everywhere.
Pea coats was one of these. Lasted a couple of months at most. High school kids wouldn’t be mistaken for ex-service folk. And I associate pea coats with that now. High school clique stuff vs. “independent” minded person.
Then in college there were a lot of ex-service folk around. (Many with less than honorable discharges.) There was a strong correlation in that era between anti-war and standard/etc. discharged folks and wearing fatigue type stuff. The opposite of what one might expect.
So I don’t associate surplus style stuff with ex-service folk. Quite the opposite.
Back when I was a poor youngster, I wore an army surplus jacket. Around about the same time, I did a sponsored charity head shave.
Before my hair grew back in, I was confronted by a group of young men who mistook me for a skinhead/neo-nazi.
