[at-l] Gore-Tex ???

[lubitz@alpha.fdu.edu (Richard S. Lubitz)]

My worst experience with totally waterproof boots wasn't on the trail but 
on the parade grounds at Ft. Dix. As a drill sgt I had to have spit 
polished combat boots.  One pair had been painted with a product called 
Leather Luster which made them look like patent leather.  It also served 
to waterproof them thoroughly.  One very rainy day we were out teaching 
manual of arms (right shoulder arms, etc).  The ridiculous part was that 
the trainees were keeping the weapons under the ponchos to keep them dry 
and I had no idea that they were doing it right but no one with authority 
had either the courage or the smarts to go against the training schedule 
which said to do this outside.  
Anyway, I am wearing fatigues bloused into my boots and the poncho stops 
about 12" above my boots so that section of the cotton pants is getting 
wet and wicking the water into the boots.  The waterproofing worked 
perfectly since not one drop of water leaked out of the boots.  During the 
lunch (what the army calls dinner) break I took off the boots and poured 
about a pint of water out of each of them.  BTW I made a command decision 
and we continued the training in the barracks that afternoon.

Rich