Cold-War Crisis Background:


Soldiers from the U.S. Army represent the vanguard of NATO's presence in the Malden islands group. Bases were established on both Malden and the smaller island of Everon.

Due to Malden's low strategic value, the American garrison initially consisted of just troops-in-training rather than experienced veterans. U.S.-led NATO forces primarily catered to refuelling and resupplying aircraft flying between the continental United States and NATO bases in Western Germany.

Prior to 1982, American forces were only based on Malden and were led by General Williams. Command of the garrison was eventually transferred to Colonel Caper Blake by mid October, 1982.



Equipment:


U.S. Army soldiers predominately Battle Dress Uniforms (BDU) concealed in the ERDL woodland camouflage pattern.

ALICE load bearing rigs are utilised by most troops on the ground, while the PASGT helmet serves as the standard-issue combat helmet; also camouflaged in ERDL. Vehicle crews/pilots wear simple olive drab green overalls with CVC-T56 crewman helmets and SPH-4 flight helmets.

U.S. Special Forces operatives - otherwise dubbed as "black ops", wore completely black fatigues and chest rigs along with balaclavas or green ski masks to conceal their identities. For operations that took place in day conditions however, operatives preferred to wear dark green face masks with ERDL-camouflaged fatigues.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIZpIamuO5g