 In the battle dress, the NCO wears boots, he always has, well, almost. Many soldiers at Valley Forge did not have shoes, much less boots. They marched and fought with no more than rags that were wrapped around bleeding, frostbitten feet. Those volunteers literally knew the meaning of a come as you are war. From the crude rough and soiled moccasins worn by soldiers more than 225 years ago to the smooth and polished jump boots to the tansway boots of today boots have been basic to soldiering. Whether strapped, laced, buttoned, buckled or wrapped by leggings boots have marched, paced, sloshed, trampled, jumped and charged over or threw dirt, mud, snow, brush, rock, sand and water. In peace and war, the boots of the American soldier left their prints in many places. From Yorktown, Littlebighorn, Shiloh, San Juan Hill, Luzon, Cantigny, Koblenz, Omaha Beach, Iwo Jima, Kaison, St. George's, Sinai, Yander, Panama City and Kuwait City to name just a few. With boots on, U.S. soldiers have fought wars. Police cities stood between hostile forces, provided humanitarian relief, rescued civilians and died. Boots have been buried with soldiers, removed from bodies, amputated along with legs and shattered by mines. No matter where, when or what the mission, an Army non-commissioned officer was there wearing boots.