Introducing An Obscure, Frivilous Blog

   For many years I have had an interest in the footwear of the USA military during the period, Spanish American War to the point that the U.S. Army quit wearing brown shoes. It has led me to study the style, construction , evolution and use of these shoes/boots. I wonder if there are any others so inclined. There is some good information on the web about the development of the 20th century Army , Navy, and Marine  shoes and there is currently an explosion if fashion boots for men based on these military designs. I hope to provide some interesting information, if not new, then somewhat entertaining. I also have many other interests and that may leak into this blog. Humor me, please. I will try to keep political stuff out of it , but no promises. Much of the 20th century Army and Navy footwear owed it's look to Colonel Edward Lyman Munson, the inventor of the Munson Last, adopted by the U.S. Army to enhance the fit and comfort of military boots issued to soldiers. The Munson Army Last was and is one of the few lasts that ever approached normal feet shape and contour. This was introduced in 1912.

    As you can see, the front of the Munson Army Last, #1, provides more room in the toe area than other shoe lasts do. Last #2 is a boot last widely used to make men’s and women’s boots, Last #3 is a last used in making men’s and women’s oxfords and chukka style shoes. The #4 last is a narrower shaped, (some say more “stylish”), last used in making loafers. While each has its application, the roomier Munson Army Last, #1, provides a non-restrictive environment for the foot to do its work. By design, shoes and boots made on the Munson Army Last snug up the arch and heel when the shoe or boot is laced up, providing a totally different feel than other shoes.

    The result of  Munson's scientific study of the feet of soldiers, including x-rays resulted in a book titled : The Soldier's Foot and the Military Shoe; a Handbook for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Line. This book is in the public domain and available here: https://archive.org/details/soldiersfootmili00munsrich
   Also resulting from this study and book was the Munson Last and the 1912 Marching Shoe built around it. an example pictured below. It was finally realized that a foot soldier was only as good as his feet.

    Next time, the reproduction 1912 Marching Shoe