Duffle Bag Cuts
FYI, a GI's "baggage" was limited to what he could get in his duffle bag (the Navy and Marines called it a "sea bag"). That bag had to hold all his personal issue clothing, plus everything else he had. It is not long enough to hold an assembled rifle or the full length stock, so many GI's took the stock off their souvenir rifle and cut it under the rear band. This made the stock short enough to get in the duffle bag, hence "duffle bag cut".
A lot of gear the soldier wore in combat, like cartridge belts, packs, field jackets, canteens, helmets, etc. as well as foot lockers, bedding, and the like, were not personal gear. They were unit property and when a soldier left a unit, that equipment stayed with the unit for issue to someone else.
Jim
