Question: I'm watching "Halls of Montezuma" w/Richard Widmark. Gathered on the ship before boarding the landing crafts, many (most) of the Marines have an extra, fairly wide, canvas belt, with two tube looking things going to the left. Were they for the landing, in case they hit the water or were they equipment, specifically related to being in the Pacific?
I'm asking about the belt above his web belt, it was put on over his LBE straps. http://imgur.com/gallery/q04ii
Thanks for your time.
What you are referring to is the M1926 lifebelt, a Navy item issued to the various branches of the armed forces when necessary, particularly during beach landings such as D-Day. He is actually wearing the belt incorrectly; it was meant to be pushed as far up under the armpits as possible, not worn around the waist. If worn improperly, it carried the risk of flipping the user over while in the water, drowning them. The belt could be inflated using built-in carbon dioxide canisters, or inflated through the two rubber tubes using a pump, or if necessary, air could be blown into the belt through the tubes using the mouth.
Solved!