Vietnam
Gallery 4
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(Left) The Republic of Vietnam 2nd Class Civil Actions Medal, awarded by the Vietnamese government for meritorious service during the period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1974. (Right) The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross; the Vietnamese government issued the award to all units subordinate to Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. |
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This 1955 dated Ike jacket was worn by one of the first members of the Special Forces as denoted by the unique SF insignia on the left shoulder. The Special Forces trace their origin to the 1st Special Service Brigade, a joint American-Canadian unit in World War II. The 5th Special Forces group initially deployed troops to Vietnam on a temporary basis in 1962; the headquarters moved to Vietnam in 1964 as the unit intensified it's training of the South Vietnamese Special Forces and assistance in battling the Viet Cong. |
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Barry Sadler was a Green Beret who did a hitch in Vietnam, wrote a few songs about the experience and recorded an album
that vaulted him into unlikely fame - the most well known being "Ballad of the Green berets". It was a top hit of 1966, during a time
when the war was stirring patriotic zeal.
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Another example of the "Open Arms" leaflets. This example promises anyone who defects that they will be treated fairly, enjoy the rights of a citizen, provided a home, and varying amounts of Piasters to be paid each month according to how many adults and children they have in their home. It also stipulates that they will receive a living allowance, money for the upkeep of their homes, etc. There was an additional reward of 500 to 75,000 Piasters for turning in different types of weapons. |
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Purple Heart Medal and letter with details of the award to Marine Private First Class Donald S. Purk of Dayton, Ohio. PFC Purk was wounded in action while on a patrol near Quang Nam on 18 January 1968. It's interesting to note that the medal issued to PFC Purk was actually made during World War II. Allied planners anticipated more than 1,000,000 casualties in the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland and ordered thousands of Purple Hearts in advance. Use of the two atomic bombs precluded the need for an invasion, so the medals went into storage and were later issued during the Korean War, Vietnam, and with minor refurbishment, the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
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Selection from a group of photographs taken by PFC Purk during his tour of duty in Vietnam. |
