How long have you been collecting Vietnam militaria ?

[kammo man]

To welcome the new section let me ask members to introduce themselfs and tell the comunity how long they have been collecting Vietnam ?

I myself got a pair of Tigerstripe trousers when I was 14 .
That was 28 years ago .
That also began my collecting of all things camouflage related .

Some of you know me as kammoman but my name is owen .
X-punkrocker but all good .

What about you ???

[ETN]

Hi

Hi,

My name is Erich. I was almost literally born into this hobby 30yrs ago as my Dad has been a TR collector since the late 50's. I grew up around militaria since day one. I started as a TR collector (still am a little) about ten years but switched my focus to the 1st and 2nd Indo-China war about 6 years ago. To back up Owen, I've been a punk rocker too, but I always will be a headbanger

Cheers,
Erich

[Bob Chatt]

Okay here is where I start feeling old. I started collecting in 1977. Was buying everything I could find and afford, which at that time was Vietnam items, as that was what was available. Saw Apocalypse in 1979, and the rest is history. Around 1983 or 1984 I switched 90% of my collection to ARVN. Since then ARVN has always held a soft spot for me. The only pieces I still go after for myself are VNAF Air Force wings. Only missing a couple to finish off all three series.

[thefallenbuddha]

As a kid I was interested in the military and history, and developed a reputation for this in my hometown (Catalina Island, California) and some of the local Vietnam veterans started giving me some of their patches, uniforms (mostly dress greens), and other trinkets. This started when I was about 9 or 10. The most interesting item I got was a bone ashtray shaped like a skull with the inscription "All That's Left - Tan An, 1968". I got it from a guy whose brother was in the 9th Division. I was a kid at the time, so I didn't get much more information than that. The guy hinted the tray was made out of the "bones of dead VC", which made my mother throw a fit, but I got to keep it anyway. Still have it back home....

Moving on, as a collector I am basically interested in any and all items related to indigenous troops in Southeast Asia: ARVN, FANK, Khmer Republic, etc.

[Beezman]

It started in 1991 for me, when I was 17; I guess the movies and series released in the late 80's about the war are to blame!

My main interest is for flying units, mainly USAF, and I wish I could find more items about the Kingdom of Laos and Khmer Republic, but this will likely never happen!

About one year ago, I also started collecting insignia from the 1st Indochina War, which seems to be more natural for a French collector.

[zvezdah1]

Been all over the map collecting wise. First started collecting military stuff in 74. My dad retired from the army and did two tours in nam, he retired here in Columbus right next to Ft. Benning. I kid you not when I tell you the surplus stores were full of stuff in the early 70s. Being around all of kind of took it for granted. And as Bob can echo, in the 70s, you literally could not give most Vietnam war stuff away. Go to gun shows and loads of stuff nobody wanted. I remember one trip to the Greenbelt MD military show this guy had loads of ARVN abn sf and ranger insignia in a $1 ea box! Amazing.

In the 80s after reading "Hell in a Very Small Place" I got heavily into French indo stuff and had managed to collect all the pocket badges of the units ad Dien Bien Phu, in addition to having the centerpiece of my collection, a mint unisssued set of 47/51 camos! Which I bought for the staggering sum of $200! ca. 1983

Fast forward to what we have now.

I'm only dabbling slightly in VN stuff I'm much more interested in reading about it in these threads than acquring new things.

I'm glad this forum has come into existence, it's most def. needed.

Hope Gil Burkett makes it over here as his knowledge on VN fakes is exc.!

Chris

[VALERY226]

Bonjour,
I started to collect military items when I was a kid at 10 or 11 years in the early 80's. Through french and family histories, I've been quickly interested in wars in SE asia through an historical view. Firstly involved in WWII stuff, I however bought some very cheap Indochina and VN items at the Clignancourt flee market in the mid 80's because of their killer look (for a teenager)! Few years later in the early 90's bored by the fakes in German militaria, I decided to change for this uncommon (during this years) theme. Since, I focuss my interest on some american units, ARVN services and police (CDSC), Lao and FANK. I'm keen on too Algeria war (where my father fought), Korea war (British army) and Rhodesia war.
Cheers
Valery

[hochiminhtrail]

Hi

i have been collecting IIIReich stuff from the age of 14 so that makes it 25 years now, this has become my main source of living, it s my job now.

I always had an interest in the vietnam war since my fathers good friend and Journalist died after being captured by the VC on the cambodian border and later handed over to the khmer rouge where he got probably executed.
My first book on the subject was, Vietnam a Histrory by Stanley Karnow, it was my fathers book and i think i managed to read it in englisch when i was 14 and since then Vietnam became a passion, at that stage i never understood why the French & US did not win the war, so i decided to make a field research of my own and see the country first hand, i decided to stay 3 month, and i stayed 5 years, i fell in love with vietnam, and i can say it s where i want to go back and live there.
In those 5 years i can say i traveled to country up and down, going to remote battle fields, trying to comprehend what went wrong in this war, i know probably 85% of the country, i know vietnam better the germany and france where i lived.

The conclusion to my field research was that it s not possible to win against the process of reunifcation of a country, north and south belong together, same as east and west germany, and same as for the korean penisula.

Regarding collecting i only got into it 2 years ago, i do not posses much, my main topic is ARVN, FANK, US Advisors (Navy,Ranger, Airborne).

i m happy to have this site so i can share my passion with others.

Alex

[HBT]

I've always been interested in Vietnam militaria, particularly Vietnam since an early age. When I was very little, my uncle took me to my first gun show and I was in heaven. In the 1980's you could still find jungle fatigues and boots at the thrift shops on a semi-regular basis. In grade school, I had a classmate whose father served w/ 5th GP in Vietnam. I used to always ask to see his beret.

I didn't have a means to get serious about collecting until left for college in 1993 and discovered the Internet. I found discussion boards with people selling militaria (mostly TR), and I starting building my network and getting on mailing lists.

Around this time, I discovered rag mills and had a heyday obtaining badged jackets ($10 a jacket) and tiger stripes in large sizes ($25 per garment) because the Japanese were after the smaller sizes. I was hitting the thrifts regularly and would trade vintage denim, etc to pickers for good militaria. I miss those days!

---Chris Hughes (RallyPointMilitaria.com)

[NKOMO]

My name is Arch and I started collecting Vietnam era items about 25 years ago. One of my first items was a US Navy peaked cap from the 1960's. I have since graduated into combat items and left the dress stuff behind. I mainly focus on US Special Forces and Airborne items, but I won't turn down any item that is original and decently priced. I am also keenly interested in Central American and African items.

My dad is also a Vietnam collector, but his main focus is on knives and guns from that time period. We go to a lot of gun shows together, so we look out for items for each other. It is a good arrangement and has worked out great so far.

I am looking forward to seeing your collections and learning from each of you.
Arch

[Patrick Dempsey]

Hi all,

as an interest of mine it dates to the late 1980's. Stemming in the main from the resurgence of the Vietnam era in cinema, television, and print.

A chance encounter with a French based re-enactment unit at a UK event brought the fascination to the fore and it has burned brightly since.

I have a strong interest in US advisor, Cambodian, and ARVN items and i also enjoy ANZAC and Laotian items too.

Threads are planned...




Patrick.

[Capazo]

Hi!!!

Maybe 8 o r 9 months!!!

[VerKuilen Ager]

1967, on my first tour with the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club.

[kammo man]

good to get some background guys!!!!

NTS , we need you to share your background !!

owen

[nguoi tien su]

Hehe here I am !

It will be 20 years on the 19th Aug that I received my first Vietnam militaria item. It was an H harness and a field dressing carrier. I had just turned 14 !

I would say that my two main fields of collecting are USAF and SVN items.
I do love party suits and flight suits and one of my favorite unit is the 16th SOS (Spectre).

As for SVN items, they have always been difficult to get and the documents that have been published since the end of the war are less than accurate. So it has been and still is a nightmare !

I have had the opportunity to live in Ho Chi Minh city from 2000 to 2008 and I met some great persons there who helped me in gathering some good stuff.

ARVN caps, berets and all kind of qualification badges and wings are my favorite !

NTS