Were you in “The Shit?”
Benrus was founded in 1921 and was one of the watchmakers who equipped the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. After a major escalation in the Vietnam War in 1964, Benrus issued a new generation of field watches.
Meeting specific requirements requested by the Pentagon, the DTU was updated to extend its service life. The watch is recognizable by its lack of insignia, a common practice for American equipment used in Vietnam.
The new DTU comes with two straps that match those provided to U.S. servicemen in “The Shit.” It comes on a leather bund strap, which was designed to prevent the steel watch case from injuring the wearer when exposed to extreme temperatures.
For those who are firmly anti-bund, like myself, Benrus also provides a fatigue green nylon NATO strap. The whole package looks and feels like something you might stumble upon in an Army-Navy surplus store.
