Combat boots should wear better and last longer than navy low black leather shoes.
I think the answer is the Navy was the most difficult to bring under a central authority. They ignored orders from Congress figuring FDR was their buddy, until he told the himself in '43. Up until then they were buying whatever they damn well pleased, but after that point their buying took a nosedive.
I agree on the smells, some are like a cattle prod to the memory bank.