From Germany to the Gulf: My Boot Experience

I hate jump boots.

A lot of MPs loved them but from where I sat, they were uncomfortable and I’d never owned a pair that didn’t cause blisters. I had to wear them for gate duty, but I would not wear them into the field if I could avoid it. I wanted something that supported my feet well, were comfortable, and kept my feet dry.

Now the old recruit boot, once it was broken in, was as far as I’m concerned the most comfortable boot made. The two pair issued me in Basic training fit like a glove and I walked them to death.

So by the time I hit Germany, I needed a good pair of field boots.

Enter Herman Survivors. These were the same boots the German Army received. Since we were stationed in Germany, we could wear them.

I’d heard a lot about them. Everyone said they fit very well. They gave you support, kept you dry and warm in winter and comfortable in summer.

I went to clothing sales and purchased a pair.

They lived up to their hype. They were great in the field, and even still shined up like a dream. I started wearing them even for gate duty. No one ever said anything, so I continued.

Every FTX they went into the mud and still looked good afterwards.

Then came the Nijmegen road march. 100+ miles of walking through Holland. While most of my team opted for jump boots, I opted for comfort. Almost everyone who wore the jump boots had blisters. I didn’t get any. None of us could walk properly for several weeks after it was over, but it wasn’t the boots fault.

I wore the boots throughout the Gulf War. Through Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait and back again.

Then I came home.

Because of issues I don’t have time to discuss, I ended up signing in at Ft. Carson (I didn’t even have a uniform on this side of the ocean). Everything I owned was eventually sent to me but a duffle with boots never made it. Among the boots, my Hermann Survivors.

I missed them for years to come.