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February 1st, 2012, 02:08 PM
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#1 | | Snappin In
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Germany
Posts: 27
| Ear protection??
I just finished watching "The Pacific" and again was wondering about the use of ear protection now and then.
I guess during WW II it was not really usual? Or is this just a detail dropped for the movies?
And what about today? I know the guys have the headphone of their radio underneath the helmet on one side. What about the other ear?
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February 1st, 2012, 03:01 PM
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#2 | | Lifer | Quote:
Originally Posted by DeutschFNG  I just finished watching "The Pacific" and again was wondering about the use of ear protection now and then.
I guess during WW II it was not really usual? Or is this just a detail dropped for the movies?
And what about today? I know the guys have the headphone of their radio underneath the helmet on one side. What about the other ear? | I did ask my Father-In-Law once about wearing Hearing Protection in 'The Big One'...WWII.
He served From 1939-1946 in the U.S. Army.
He went from the Horse Cavalry(Machine Gun Troop!) to Armor.
Invaded North Africa, then Sicily, Anzio, Up the Appenines to Bologna...
He said: Huh? 
Yep, We BOTH Wear V.A. Hearing Aids!
Nope, Nothing...
I do remember in Basic we had some rudimentary ear-muffs, and in A.I.T., the Drill Instructors would reach in their shirt pockets and pull out two Filter Cigarette Butts and put them in their ears and tell us to do the same thing!
In R.V.N., I can't remember a time anybody but Artillery and Armor had the 'luxury' of being able to wear ear protection...
I would like to hear from our Younger Veterans as to how it was in Iraq and Afghanistan?
CAVman in WYoming
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February 1st, 2012, 03:08 PM
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#3 | | Lifer
Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Western U.S.
Posts: 3,875
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I served in the Marine Corps from 1975 -1985 and then again from 1990 - 2000, and yes, I too enjoy those really nice VA hearing aids.
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February 1st, 2012, 03:13 PM
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#4 | | Lifer
Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,297
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The only time I had hearing protection was when I had an intercom headset on in my HMMWV. That was more for ease of communication though and I ripped that thing off every time I dismounted. No VA hearing aid for me, not yet.
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February 1st, 2012, 03:29 PM
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#5 | | Designated Marksman
Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: new york
Posts: 552
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Yep, Rangers, and the 82nd, and the infamous hearing aids.
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February 1st, 2012, 03:49 PM
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#6 | | Snappin In
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Germany
Posts: 27
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Hmm, I can imagine not wearing anything outside is so lala.
But inside of a building??? Room clearing with a SBR and nothing in my ears???
Gosh, there's always some job even worse than yours...
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February 13th, 2012, 04:23 PM
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#7 | | Squad Leader
Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Prattville, Alabama
Posts: 287
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Huh? What did you say? Speak up!!!
Seriously, except for the earplugs issued for the range and such, we never had ear protection, even on the flight line! FOD, doncha know?
In a combat situation, I would not want anything keeping me from hearing that faint floorboard or door hinge creak when Ali Boo-boo's trying to shoot me. Even these "new" electronic ambient protectors interfere with very faint sounds, and being battery-powered, will fail at the worst possible time. Even my nephew, an OIF M-249 gunner said nobody thought about hearing protection unless you counted the fingers in the ears when they knew a grenade or explosive was fixing to go off. Lose a little bit of your hearing or living? Sorry ears, you loose.
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February 13th, 2012, 04:26 PM
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#8 | | Scout Sniper
Join Date: May 2011 Location: US
Posts: 759
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They issue tactical earplugs now and they are wonderful. Too late for me, though, even though I wore them religiously in Iraq. http://www.earplugstore.com/aosinranplug.html
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February 13th, 2012, 04:43 PM
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#9 | | Squad Leader
Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Missouri
Posts: 273
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Howard-Leight's foam plugs are the best, they give you 33db of protection.
You can get a large box of 200 sets for only $22 on Amazon.
Link here.
I highly recommend wearing active hearing protection *over* the foam plugs, that way you get better hearing protection *and* you can still hear range commands, etc. by turning up the volume on the active hearing protection.
The other important thing is to use the foam plugs the right way. You must roll them in a very tight cylinder, pull up on your your ear and shove them way down in the ear canal and let them full expand. Makes a huge difference.
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February 13th, 2012, 08:43 PM
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#10 | | Old Salt
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,209
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We never had ear plugs in the Army in the 60's. My ears still ring.
Regards
Ox
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February 13th, 2012, 09:17 PM
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#11 | | Squad Leader
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: DFW
Posts: 226
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I was able to use 1 ear plug IF we knew an ambush was going to happen during our exfil. With plugs in, you can't really tell which direction the fire is coming from or commands from the TC. I would say 80% of our TICs happened too fast for us to have time for ear pro.
Those fancy Bose headsets feel like a vise on your head, rarely every work, and fill up with sweat right back into your ear canal really quick.
Afghan 08-09
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February 28th, 2012, 08:43 AM
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#12 | | Rifleman
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: N.E. Florida
Posts: 78
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No ear plugs in the Army in the late 60's. The annual reunion sounds like Abott & Costello doing their "Who's On First" routine.
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March 8th, 2012, 10:48 PM
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#13 | | Automatic Rifleman
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 168
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The Army had earplugs early 60s.
You'll see them in plastic bottles fastened to gear or shoulder straps.
They were usually required for trainfire.
VN was a bit different, especially for guys who actually were in the bush.
Listening was pretty important.
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March 9th, 2012, 03:19 PM
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#14 | | Rifleman
Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio
Posts: 47
| Quote:
Originally Posted by CAVman I did ask my Father-In-Law once about wearing Hearing Protection in 'The Big One'...WWII.
He served From 1939-1946 in the U.S. Army.
He went from the Horse Cavalry(Machine Gun Troop!) to Armor.
Invaded North Africa, then Sicily, Anzio, Up the Appenines to Bologna...
He said: Huh?
Yep, We BOTH Wear V.A. Hearing Aids!
Nope, Nothing...
I do remember in Basic we had some rudimentary ear-muffs, and in A.I.T., the Drill Instructors would reach in their shirt pockets and pull out two Filter Cigarette Butts and put them in their ears and tell us to do the same thing!
In R.V.N., I can't remember a time anybody but Artillery and Armor had the 'luxury' of being able to wear ear protection...
I would like to hear from our Younger Veterans as to how it was in Iraq and Afghanistan?
CAVman in WYoming | We never put ear pro in before leaving the OP in Iraq.
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May 15th, 2012, 08:17 PM
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#15 | | Newbie
Join Date: May 2012 Location: Georgia
Posts: 4
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We used to stick a live .45 ACP in each ear when shooting the M-14's, M-60's, and 1911's. The 5" guns weren't too loud if you were inside the gun mount, but outside they would rattle your cage pretty good. The .45 rounds seemed to work OK except I do say 'huh' a lot.
:o)
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