Whats the best site for South Vietnamese and Cambodian army stuff

[Satcong101]

Another angle on ARVN stuff from my collection just a simple US advisor OG-107 Fatigue shirt and trousers to an ARVN Artillery Unit.

[hochiminhtrail]

nice one

[Satcong101]

Thanks Alex.

Can't remember now, but does the star in the top right of the pocket patch indicate ARVN Arty training, command or headquarters? I know that normally the unit designation number go there, like in my other examples below from my collection.

[Bob Chatt]

The one on the uniform is the artillery school or training center. The others are battalions.

[Satcong101]

Thanks Bob

[Satcong101]

Quick question on insignia folks, looking at the example below and in particular the backing type, is this a current reproduction or period construction? I ask because I've seen a fair few of these with the same type of backing.

[Bob Chatt]

That backing is seen on a lot of the newer made patches, and also on Korean made patches. This patch shown, is usually silk woven.

[Satcong101]

Thank you Bob, thought as much with the backing.

[nguoi tien su]

As promised before, I come back on the grouping I have had the opportunity to get.

Here are the rubbans (unfortunately not in the pristine condition of the photo...) and the ERDL tailored cap.







NTS

[hochiminhtrail]

great

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Cao-Dai anyone!

Little has been published on the Cao-dai during the Vietnam war and there seems to be little information available about their military involvement in it. Many of us have seen the berets and insignia which do not seem to be hard to find at all. Others of us own photographs of cao dai members showing them wearing army patches and camo uniforms.
The debate continues on whether this is an early army insignia or strictly the religous sect. Because of lack of information this will probably continue for some time. I have seen collectors thumb their nose at anything cao dai and have always wondered about the disinterest shown by them. I have been doing some research on the Cao dai and thought a few of you may find some of it a bit revealing and perhaps can register some of your own thoughts and ideas.
To begin with everyone wants to know about the cao dai beret insignia and what it signifies.The device has a triangle with what appears to be a spire with a sword through it. In Tay Ninh where the main cao dai temple is located there is such a triangle emblazened on it. In this religion god is seen as an eye in a triangle. This same triangle is on the beret device. Inside the triangle there is a temple spire which relates to the sect's sacred temples, inside this appears the sword which is pointed to heaven which relates to the protection aspect or if you would the militaristic corrolation of the unit. Also if you look at the sword hilt there is the shape of a small cross. On some of the various temples there are paintings of the sect's Pantheon's Saints depicted in this same shape.
The term Cao translates to (high) and the term Dai translates to (palace) Or high palace or towere(where god lives). Here is a picture of a black Cao dai beret.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

closeup of the gold cao dai insignia.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

These berets have been found in black and predominately brown the same color as the early ARVN berets. Flashes can be found in silver and gold, bullion and hand sewn cotton as well as the common stamped metal badges.
After looking at some early Army PM's and reading about early doctrine it is evident that President Diem's successers used the Cao Dai as a barrier to communist infiltration and in certain areas allowed them to protect their own areas as regional and popular forces. Essentialy becoming a state within a state.
This was a political move by the Gov of SVN as the cao dai had the loyalty of the peasant pop which in this area was something like 6 million. So it is obvious that the cao dai was used by the gov of SVN as a viable military force. However I really no longer believe that this cao dai beret insignia was actually a very early army badge.The case could be made though(depending on your interpretation) that this unit was actually part of the armed forces of SVN.
I am of the opinion though that this religion was way ahead of it's time and opposed the occupation of it's country by not only the Japanese, the french, the Viet Minh, and the Viet cong. It's history is very interesting and quite complicated and the religion is still practising arount the world. I would like to see some other interesting pics if you have them of cao dai insignia, Jeff

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Here is a shot of a brown cao dai beret with a gold flash. This is the color mostly encountered. Note on the beret that the gi who brought it back ID'd it as a army vietnam infantry capt.s beret. This could be one of the reasons for confusion on these items. Also the beret is dated 1967.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Closeup of detailed gold flash. It is presumed that gold is for officers and silver for em's.