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The wool cap was popular with the troops but officers thought it was slovenly. For unknown reasons it was nicknamed “beanie” and is also called a “jeep cap”. The M-1943 Field Cap (developed as part of the layered M-1943 field jacket uniform system) superceded it toward the end of World War II. The television series M*A*S*H made this World War II cap famous, although the setting of the show is supposed to be the Korean War. The jeep cap was worn in all the epiodes by the character Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly, the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital company clerk. The photo at right shows actor Gary Burghoff as Radar, with cap.
Also, hey, if you’re so inclined, you can buy a faithful, alpaca-wool reproduction of Radar’s hat right here.
