Vietnam
Gallery 9
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The summer service uniform, known throughout the Marine Corps as "khakis," was first adopted for wear in 1904. Before the introduction of the utility uniform in 1941, khakis were worn not only in garrison, but also in field exercises and in combat. In temperate climates, this uniform was worn only between April-September. In tropical posts and stations of the Corps, it was worn year-round. Khakis were authorized as the working uniform, and for leave and liberty. This uniform was worn by Marine Corps Sergeant P. Eckart; unfortunately, Sergeant Eckart's artifacts ended up in a flea market box, so no other information is available. |
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This U.S. Navy jumper was worn by an Airman (as indicated by the green hash marks) assigned to Fighter Squadron 213 (FITRON 213 or VF-213). In November 1965, VF-213 joined Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) and began the first of six combat deployments to Southeast Asia aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV-64). This deployment marked the first use of the F-4 Phantom as a conventional bomber--a role destined to make the Phantom a mainstay of the US Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Over the next seven years, the BLACKLIONS flew over 11,500 combat missions and delivered over 6,000 tons of ordnance. On 20 December 1966, Lietenant D. A. McRae and Ensign D. N. Nichols downed an enemy AN-2 Colt for the squadron's first kill. In March 1971, VF-213 became the first fleet squadron to fly the Phantom more than 1,000 hours in a single month.
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Souvenir Vietnamese peasant hat; these conical straw hats were typically worn by Vietnamese women, especially in South Vietnam. |
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This jumper was worn by a Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class who had been attached to a Marine Corp unit in Vietnam. Corpsmen served with field units throughout Vietnam and Cambodia as well as aboard the hospital ships USS Sanctuary and USS Repose. By the end of the war, 620 had been killed or mortally wounded in action, with another 3,353 Wounded in Action. Navy Corpsmen were awarded 3 Medals of Honor, 29 Navy Crosses, and more than 4,500 Purple Hearts. The inset shows the Vietnam Service Medal ribbon with Fleet Marine Combat Operations device worn by Navy personnel to indicate they had served in Marine combat units; next to this device is a silver star, indicating participation in 6 different campaigns. |
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This (Vietnamese-made) green beret was worn by a member of the 5th Special Forces Group while serving in Vietnam. The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was officially activated on 21 September 1961 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and one year later elements of the unit began serving temporary duty tours in the Republic of Vietnam. Full deployment of the Group was completed in February 1965. From its operational base at Nha Trang, the Group deployed throughout South Vietnam; its detachments established and manned camps at 270 different locations which trained and led indigenous forces of the civilian irregular defense groups, as well as regular units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam. Although one of the smallest units serving in Vietnam, the Group colors fly twenty campaign streamers, and its soldiers are among the most highly decorated in the history of the United States - 17 Medals of Honor were awarded, 8 posthumously. The Group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) Vietnam 1966-1968, The Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Vietnam 1968; Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, 1st Class. Other teams and elements received numerous other unit citations including the Naval Presidential Unit Citation, valorous unit awards and numerous Vietnamese unit awards. On 5 March 1971, the colors of the 5th Special Forces Group were returned to Fort Bragg, ending their service in Vietnam. (Donated by Al Cowlan) |
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The Columbus Citizen-Journal headlined the long awaited cease fire in Vietnam. The proclamation that American Prisoners Of War would be home within 60 days may have been overly optimistic; there is lingering doubt that all POWs were in fact returned. The Paris Peace Accords specifically mentioned the return of the POWs being held by North Vietnam, but nothing of those in Laos or Cambodia.
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