In the sixties, ponchos were heavy plastic-like material. The sun would destroy them, cold weather made them brittle, and the slightest crack allowed rain to pass through without slowing down a bit. If you had a good one and covered up and sat real still, it would keep you dry as long as the temperature was low enough. But a warm spring rain or any movement on your part would cause you to start sweating and soon you were as wet inside as it was outside. Later in the sixties they came out with a poncho that was less heavy, an improved plastic coating, more flexible fiber, and just as worthless. The only really efficient use of Army ponchos was the "Graf Jackets" that the German tailors all seemed to know how to make. Bring one of the heavy wool blankets and a poncho to the unit tailor and he would cut and sew and put in a zipper and voila...you would have a jacket that was waterproof and warm. So warm you couldn't wear it indoors. And most units would turn a blind eye to the fact that they weren't "issue" items and allow you to wear them in the field. I never owned one, I did wear one for a couple of hours but the owner recognized it and talked me into giving it back...but that's whole nuther story. I couldn't afford to have one made, never had an extra poncho or blanket, and besides, an old sergeant showed me how to put the cold weather parka and liner and fur hood together. There's a combination that will drive you outdoors. And you didn't have to pay to have it made. I still have one hanging in my closet and there have only been two occasions since coming to Colorado that it has been cold enough for me to wear it...besides...it weighs about 20 pounds.

But I digress. Vietnam showed us that we needed a more efficient and lightweight poncho. So they came out with a nylon poncho with a camoflage pattern on it that was less than half the weight of the old plastic ones. The nylon was supposed to "breathe" so you didn't get the heat build up like the old ones. Unfortunately, they "breathed" water, too. Those ponchos and their updated cousins in sandy colors, were still in use when I parted company with their use. Somewhere along the line they developed a pair of pants and jacket made out of the same stuff the old ponchos were made out of. They called them "wet weather suits". If you wear them together, the sweat factor kicks in and you wind up all wet, again...plus the run-off will soak your boots. If you wear the top only, the rain runs off and soaks your pants. I have a couple of them hanging around, too. They will keep you dry in a snow storm but you'll freeze to death unless you have some kind of insulation on under them. I hear they have a new poncho now that will actually stop water...I will believe it when I see it.

All the young'uns are running around now in those new jackets that I think are Goretex. They swear by them, they even have vents under the arms so you can keep from building up a good sweat. But they cost over a hundred bucks a shot.

Well...I don't remember why I got started on this little reverie...oh yeah...I better go back out to the garage and put the cars away...if I don't see something else on the way.