In the case of the United States Army, a rifleman who was in combat would wear the following, generally from "top" (head) to "bottom" (feet)

• M1917 helmet of WWI vintage, later transitioned to the M1 helmet in the summer of 1942, this process was completed by the end of the year. Sometimes, like during the Battle of Midway, the M1917 and M1 can be seen together.

• M1937 wool shirt and M1937 wool trousers, in Olive Drab no. 3 (a mustardy khaki color; varied heavily) shade fabric. Supplemented in service by the olive green herringbone twill shirt and trousers; the M1937 trousers were later largely replaced by the baggy Olive Drab no. 7 (a dark brownish green) M1943 pants.

• M1941 field jacket, of light Olive Drab no. 3 fabric, generally replaced beginning in the summer and fall of 1944 with the Olive Drab no. 7 M1943 jacket, with four large pockets. The M1943 jacket was much baggier, with the intent being that soldiers would layer their clothing for cold climates, something that was unable to be done with the M1941.

• M1923 cartridge belt with M1936 suspenders, also in Olive Drab No. 3 fabric, holding 10 en-bloc clips for the soldier's M1 Garand. An additional bandolier or two was often carried, as well as one Mk II fragmentation and one M2 (red), M8 (hexachloroethane), M14 (thermite), M15 (white phosphorus), M16 (early; green, orange, red, violet, yellow, black, or blue) or M18 (1944 on; burned faster and more vividly; only available in red, yellow, green, and violet) smoke or incendiary grenade. Later cartridge belts and bandoliers were manufactured with Olive Drab no. 7 fabric. The M1942 first aid pouch was also carried, holding a sterile Carlisle bandage and either sulfonamide tablets or powder. This was clipped to the bottom (usually front) of the M1923 cartridge belt, using the eyes on it. Later manufactured in Olive Drab no. 7 fabric. Automatic riflemen were issued the M1937 cartridge belt with M1936 suspenders, capable of carrying twelve 20-round magazines for the BAR. For officers or some enlisted men who often carried a pistol or carbine, an M1936 pistol belt was issued; this had no integral pouches and the soldier could add them in configurations he saw fit using the eyes; carbine pouches held two 15-round magazines; pistol ammuntion pouches two 7-round magazines, with the pistol itself in the M1910 leather holster.

• M1910 metal canteen with cover. The canteen was silver, with the cap being made of black plastic. it could be clipped anywhere on the cartridge belt using the eyes. Many soldiers, especially medics or those in hot climates, often carried two.

• M3 scabbard with M1 or M1905E1 bayonet. The scabbard was made of green fiberglass, with a metal throat. It could be clipped to the M1923 cartridge belt's eyes using the metal clips. The M1 bayonet for the M1 Garand was 10-inches long with a 4-inch handle; The M1905E1 was a shortened (from 16 to 10 inches) WWI-vintage M1905 bayonet. Soldiers not issued with weapons able to accept a bayonet were given the M3 Trench Knife.

• M1928 haversack with M1910 entrenching tool and a pouch for the soldier's meat can (a food dish) with knife, fork, and spoon. The soldier's daily rations would be carried in the haversack, along with an extra change of clothes and personal items collected or sent from home. These items were in Olive Drab no. 3 fabric. In the late fall of 1944, the unsatisfactory M1928 haversack was replaced with the M1944 combat pack, with its attached cargo pack. The M1910 entrenching tool generally also went away during the summer of 1944, replaced with the M1943, which was shorter and easier to use. Infantry divisions that arrived in the ETO in late 1944 were completely equipped with the new M1943 uniform and M1944 combat pack.

• M1938 dismounted leggings, later replaced in the fall of 1944 with the new M1943 two-buckle boots, which eliminated the hassle of lacing up the leggings each time you put your pants on.

• Type II Service shoes, of brown leather, replaced with the above M1943 two-buckle boots

This re-enactor soldier seen here (front, back) wears a standard uniform typical of that seen in midsummer 1944, let's say in the bocage country of Normandy

He wears;

• M1937 wool shirt with the M1941 field jacket

• M1923 cartridge belt with M1936 suspenders and M1942 first aid pouch

• Herringbone twill trousers (with the distinctive two large pockets), M1938 dismounted leggings, and Type II service shoes

• M1928 haversack with the M1910 entrenching tool and meat can pouch

• M1910 canteen with cover, clipped on cartridge belt

Several specific items were produced for use in only certain situations;

• Assault jackets, for use mainly during the first waves on D-Day; it was very heavy when wet, had an awkward storage arrangement, and was hard to get off easily. Only about 14,000 were produced.

• Uniforms and uniform parts impregnated with CC-2 anti-gas paste, as well as paper armbands that changed color (from brown or khaki green, to pink) when exposed to poison gases, intended for use during the D-Day landings. The paste when dry gave the uniforms an oily or greasy sheen, but they were dry to the touch. The paste smelled terrible when it got wet, and many soldiers were forced to wear their impregnated uniforms for up to several weeks after the D-Day landings. It has been revealed in recent years that long-term exposure to the paste caused serious health problems among veterans.

• M1926 life belts, issued for the D-Day landings. The belts were intended to be worn around the armpits, but many times they slipped down around the waist, flipping the soldier over and drowning them. Many soldiers often wore two due to their heavy gear load

• M5-11-7 assault gas mask in its rubberized canvas carrying bag. An additional paper armband was carried in the bag. Used in the first waves on D-Day; later waves had the unwaterproofed M3-10-6 gas mask.

• Camouflage uniforms, used only very briefly in Normandy by some armored and engineer units and withdrawn after friendly fire incidents; the spotting resembled types of camouflage used by the Waffen-SS.

Sources:

The US Army in World War II (1): The Pacific, by Mark Henry

Carlisle bandage

US haversacks