Some 80 years ago, “backpacking around Europe,” a GI takes a breather along the Rhine in increasingly Allied-occupied Germany, April 1945.
LIFE Magazine Archives – William Vandivert Photographer
Besides his M1 Garand cane (muzzle awareness be damned), he is lightly equipped with his M1936 khaki webbed belt and suspenders complete with E-tool, while two extra 80-round bandoliers for said Garand are carried bandito style. A pair of cardboard K-ration “Supper” boxes are tied together. As a party favor, he has what looks like an M1 pineapple grenade on his left shoulder.