This shirt gets its nickname because it was worn on the Gomer Pyle USMC TV program which first aired from 1964 to 1967, starring Jim Nabors in a spinoff from the Andy Griffith Show.

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Official Name

This shirt has two types based on the same cut but with different materials. One is made from Herringbone Twill, and the other one is from Sateen cloth.

As for the naming, it’s a wide-spread different name. But based on “Cataloging And Identification Guide For 20th Century Uniforms (Marine Corps Museum, 1987)” books, it’s stated that:

1. Herringbone Twill material.
Officially named as M1953 or P53 utility shirt.
(Kevin Lyes refer to this version as the P56 shirt).

2. Sage Green Sateen Cloth Material.
Officially named P1957 shirt, but widely known as P56 shirt instead (often referred to as P58 also, yes it’s confusing).

This Marines’ Cotton-Sateen Utility Uniform was unique to the Corps, and was obsolete by 1965, having been replaced by the Army’s OG107 utility uniform or P58 (1st pattern OG 107).

Both of the shirts were used in the early Vietnam war and mostly in Okinawa. Not authorized in state-side.

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Charateristic

The shirt featured two chest pockets with concealed buttons and an internal map pocket. The Marine’s characteristic ‘eagle, globe, and anchor’ stencil was applied on the left pocket.

1. Internal map pocket
   
   “Map pocket” as available in P44 USMC jacket.
2. EGA stamp
   
   (^ above are early version stamps with solid globe EGA, design from WWII era [as seen on P41 or p44 jacket])
   
   
   (^ Later version EGA stamps w/ open face globe, Post 1953)

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Name tape

This shirt often comes with embroidered name tape on WWII USMC “Chevron” Herringbone Twill backing.

The embroidered name tape was an affectation of the 3rd Marine Division (3MARDIV), who had them made up on Okinawa prior to embarkation for Vietnam.

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Epilogue

In Action

After all, I refer to the HBT one as a P53 shirt & the sateen cloth one as P56. It makes more sense since the OG107 1st pattern is referred to as P58.

Please beware of re-stamped EGA and non-period-correct patches.
Thanks!

Source:
1. USMF forum.
2. Kevin Lyes – Vietnam: US Uniforms in Colour Photographs.
3. The 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) – webmaster.

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