[USNBandit]

My guess is that the grenades got split up by his unit. All his gear went in a pile of gear at the hospital that was contaminated with blood and was disposed of.

He left the battlefield in his gear and hit the ramp at Ramstein wearing a hospital gown. I'm pretty sure he didn't make a stop at FEDEX to ship his gear home.

[Little Bill]

This is 42 years ago; a guy got dinged bad enough fot a Dust Off. Cut all constricting equipment, do first aid, evac. Bod went one way, equipment the other, never knew anyone who was charged for lost stuff in that situation.