In Seattle, Navy Pea Coats were popular when I was in high school (also ‘72). We used to take the bus into town to prowl the surplus stores.
Peace Surplus was founded in 1973 in downtown Tucson by the Chatinsky family. The store's roots were based in military surplus with an ample supply of weather balloons, parachutes, military fatigues, gurneys, ammo cans and much more. Even though we continue to carry the surplus name, the store has evolved into a full-service outdoor, camping, hiking, and backpacking store.
Now in Flagstaff.
As a early 60's kid I used Army/Navy parts to build an oscilloscope and copper tank aerial sections to make fertilizer/sugar rockets...