You've got the time period right, but the usage wrong. The Johnson and
Johnson Permacel Division made it for the U.S. Military during World War
II, but the original use was to keep the moisture out of the ammunition
cases. Because it was waterproof, soldiers referred to the tape as "Duck
Tape."



maybe cause the bullets were flying overhead & when you reached doeb for
more ammo, you had to "duck" to peel the tape off