Whats the best site for South Vietnamese and Cambodian army stuff

[nguoi tien su]

Wahoo... As every one else, I did not believe in the helmet... The tiger shirt is really great !

Patrick, I was wondering if your IV Corps photos could not be Cambodian mixed with Vietnamese.
The scarves some soldiers wore, plus some faces and also the SSI and tab on one shirt make me think that way.
It also just could be Vietnamese Khmer as the IV corps is a khmer area. The the scarves look significant?

Am I day dreaming or on the second photo, the 5th guy standing is wearing the NCO or Officer ARVN school belt???

NTS

[Bob Chatt]

Okay, my guy finally came in today. When I don't want him to come around he is here every day.
According to him, the badge is no doubt Cao Dai. They wore the badges all the way up until the end. In 1967 or 1968 the ARVN Gov. tried to switch headgear so that everyone was to wear the USMC type covers. But,this was not enforced, and that is why you see the badge continually being worn. This also explains why there are so many over them, when you consider the badge was worn from the 50's all the way until the fall of the South.
Hope this helps, and we can all move on to another subject that gets us all involved again.
Bob

[nguoi tien su]

Thanks Bob for the post.

Well, I must say I am still not a 100% convinced and will carry on the researches (today one 1965 photo in the Delta of an advisor working with Hoa Hao and two 1968 photos on which the guys are decribed as regional Forces, with funny bush hats). The badges are not completely clear though, so they can't be taken for granted.

I really need to find someone who actually wore that badge. But it's not that easy...
But your info is important anyway.

Cheers.

NTS

[hochiminhtrail]

Hi Bob

great info, i m changing my mind after all those testemonies from former veterans and a vietnamese collector, now i can endorse the Cao Dai theorie.

Alex

[Patrick Dempsey]

Hi Patrick,
This is the picture he sent me, The tigers are still enroute and have not been able to examine them in person yet!

Hi Jeff,

quite a find!

I find it interesting that in contrast to recent world conflicts, elements of the Vietnam era press corps dressed in as military a manner as was possible.
I would be very interested in seeing more of the set if you find time when they arrive.

Patrick, I was wondering if your IV Corps photos could not be Cambodian mixed with Vietnamese.

Hi NTS,

I think there is a good possiblility they could be ethnic Cambodian.
Good eye on the belt, it does look to be that type. I do not have any images of the man in a full, clear shot sadly...

Okay, my guy finally came in today.

Hello Bob,

thanks for the follow up. Via the thread my opinion has changed regarding this insignia, and i have learned a great deal regarding it.

It has been a good discussion.

My thanks to all.



Patrick.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Patrick ,here is a picture of 2 NVA dead at Khe Sanh taken by the correspondent.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

And here is a pic of a belt and buckle taken off of one of the bodies. He could not remember which!

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Correspondent has sent me some nice shots, here is one that I thought you Cambodian collectors might like! Jeff

[hochiminhtrail]

can someone explain me how did ARVN troops wore their Ribbon bars on the shirtrs, as mostly they have pin backs to rear, how do you wear this to your shirt without hurting you.

Alex

[zvezdah1]

I assume they're clutchback fasteners as worn on american uniforms.

Chris

[hochiminhtrail]

yes i think so , but on a thin shirt it must be really a pain to wera this

Alex

[zvezdah1]

HI Alex,
Not really and if they had similar to american regs. they have to wear a shirt of "impervious material" (US army speak for undershirt) under the uniform shirt. Tho don't know if that carried thru to VN.

Chris

[hochiminhtrail]

i m not sure if you saw the battle yesterday for the ARVN ribbon bar offered on ebay. Well i lost it big time, it went for something like 170 $,
i just stopped bidding because it was getting to high. And i was the only bidder except the guy who won the item.

i m not sure what made it so expensive, was it because it had early campaign bars?? not sure.



Alex

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Alex,
Don't know why it went so high, they are rather rare to find but I still think that is out of line. Jeff

[hochiminhtrail]

well i guess i will be on the look out for the next one.

Cheers

Alex