Original Delta Comfort Shoes Type II G-106, Size 8 Un-Issued, dated 1971. However, the sole rubber has become hard and cracked.
The comfort shoe was developed by Natick Labs as part of Operation Safe Step, which began in 1968 with the aim of reducing the incidence of foot fungus suffered by soldiers operating in Vietnam’s inundated areas. The canvas comfort shoe was designed to eliminate the problem of troops wearing wet boots overnight. The low quarter style exposed as much skin as possible to the air while protecting the feet from mud and rough ground. The British had successfully controlled foot fungus in Malaya by employing tennis shoes in a similar fashion. Two models were produced by Natick and tested by field elements of the 9th Inf. during 1969: Type-I - Lace up Type-II - Velcro fastener with auxiliary eyelets The Type-II shoes were found to be easier to put on and take off and when laced through the auxiliary eyelets they remained on the feet whilst running through paddy type terrain. Consequently they were type classified as standard A in May 1970 and were issued in sizes 5 to 14. The shoes became known colloquially as night slippers or bivouac booties.
