WWII solider personal protection

It is sad the US troops did not have plexiglass glasses and some sort of chest/back armor plate during combat operations.  Our deaths could have been greatly reduced by some sort of body armor that would give some protection against small arms fire and shell fragments.  From my studies shell fragments caused more casualties than small arms fire during the world wars.  A chest and back plate of almost any thickness could have deflected angled small arms fire and stopped most shell fragments from causing injury or death.  Our troops today enjoy much better bodily protection with ceramic plates that stop bullets even if ribs are busted.