>>64215825
>What was the reasoning/context behind that?
Marines were hard core into flak protection and it showed. In the osprey book flak vest and ballistic it showed in the casualty data. If you wear flak then you obviously will suffere less from fragmenation but also local contanimation from dirt, wood and other nasty shit.

But it was really fucking hot however. Im sure anyone that has served in the jungle will really consider the possibility of goin inna jungle with no flak protection just to reduce heat casualties.