In 1939, the U.S. Army took the existing 4-pocket service coat that had been in service since 1926 and modified it for use as a dress uniform and as a field uniform. To help accommodate its field role, the new jacket design feature a pair pleats in the shoulder areas, called a "bi-swing back." It also incorporated a half-belt of similar wool material, eliminating the need for the leather belt, as well as the sewn in metal hooks to support said belt, that had been part of the uniform before. However, due to staunch traditionalists, the hooks were returned to the coat to support the brown leather belt, despite there already being a half-belt on it. The coat had four pockets: two breat pockets and two lower pockets that were bellowed in order to support its role as a field uniform. All the pockets button with brass buttons featuring a raised eagle.
As material shortages became apparent, and the advent of the M41 Field Jacket, the role of the 4-pocket service jacket was used more in a garrison role and rarely in the field. Because of this, the Army Quartermasters decided to save on production costs and materials and eliminate the "bi-swing back" and flattened the bellowed pockets. Also due to shortages, jackets were no longer produced with half-belts nor hooks to support leather belts. This 1942 version is probably most common.
Soldiers often left their 4-pocket tunics at garrison when they shifted to the front. We are only in garrison roughly two times a year, where we actually stay in barracks and where Class As or Bs are appropriate. Sometimes there are dinners and certain social events that can also be dress uniform worthy. Thus, it's not common for us to wear the service coat at most events. They also kick open the doors to more collecting (finding the right unit pins, combat badges, ribbons, patches, whatever), but really, that's the fun of it.
When shopping for one of these, try not to rely on the printed size on the coat. It's always best to get a set of measurements if it's not possible to try it on. If it's a reproduction one, they generally have the sizes down to reflect true. However, originals may have undergone some shrinking over the years due to improper maintenance and cleaning, age, post-manufacturer alterations, and even mismarked garments. There generally isn't too much color alteration on these coats nor post-war variations, especially since the Ike jacket took over as the service coat in 1944.
Pictured above is a 1942 patterned Service Coat representing a member of the 48th Armored Medical Battalion. Inside are a wool shirt and the khaki mohair tie tied in a single knot. It bears the Dinstinctive Unit Insignia (D.U.I) of the 48th, a Combat Medic Badge along with service ribbons over the left breast pocket, and patches of a Tech Corporal along with service history hash mark and overseas bars.
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