Vietnamese Ranger Insignia,Headgear & Uniforms.

[Patrick Dempsey]

Dennis,

as we have discussed previously the finds are magnificent and of top quality, the shirt and the meeting of the veteran(s) is a fantastic outcome, as is the flag which is also quite superb.

When you meet the veteran next perhaps you could ask him about his decision to have the zippered pockets added, it would be interesting to discover if he can recall his inspiration for them? Quite a common modification for airborne related adviors, but not encountered that often for Ranger advisors such as yourselves.

Great uniform and documents, thanks for posting here, congratulations!

[D. Michael Kim]

standing in the second row with the captain bars on the boonie hat.

Alex

Buy the gentlemen a beer!!!!!!!! If you look closely all insignia stood out in the picture, and through a scope it would have been magnified many times. There is no such thing as camouflage insignia.

Case in point, over a year after I departed the Battalion and was back in country
I saw something on a set of Vn. Ranger orders that my name was on.

It stated the my counterpart was KIA, but his name was crossed out the Bn. XO's name Cpt. Nguyen Van Uc, a heavily decorated Ranger and Dalat graduate was replaced. When I inquired about the situation, I found out that he was the only one killed on the operation by a sniper. He always wore the beret in the field with shinny metal insignia.

I still have those documents, which imparts happiness and sadness at the same time.

[D. Michael Kim]

Dennis,

as we have discussed previously the finds are magnificent and of top quality, the shirt and the meeting of the veteran(s) is a fantastic outcome, as is the flag which is also quite superb.

When you meet the veteran next perhaps you could ask him about his decision to have the zippered pockets added, it would be interesting to discover if he can recall his inspiration for them? Quite a common modification for airborne related adviors, but not encountered that often for Ranger advisors such as yourselves.

Great uniform and documents, thanks for posting here, congratulations!

I too found the zippered pockets interesting and uncommon. I will be seeing Don tomorrow and will ask him the question.

For those who collect insignia, be on the look out for PART 3.

[Patrick Dempsey]

Hi Dennis,

that would be kind of you.

I have added the photos to page 1 of the thread as per your request.

[kammo man]

The zippered pockets carried on in the French tradition I presume .
owen

[D. Michael Kim]

Part #, Ranger Insignia

The following BDQ insignia are my recent finds.

The first group consist of a 37th Ranger Vietnamese Ranger Bn. Scroll in a straight line, a 41st BDQ Bn Tab and a 38th Bn. Pocket patch. The first is seldom found, the second is not listed by C. Smyth, and the pocket patch I have not seen before.

If you look closely at the pocket patch, you will see that the patch is completely done in a chain stitch pattern. The picture does not do the patch justice, and when I get my new scanner up and running, I will send another picture. The embroidery is so good the back almost looks a good as the front.

It is one of my favorite patches and my former Battalion.

[D. Michael Kim]

The second grouping includes a beer can recon scroll for a plaque piece, a pin back beret Ranger badge, and an unidentified badge.

The unidentified badge consists of a jump status indicator with the hand holding an umbrella, rather than a knife. I believe that this badge is Vietnamese airborne related, but am clue less as to its use. Help and information wanted on this item.

[nguoi tien su]

I have seen that in a book, somewhere... I will try to find out.

The parachute is nicknamed "pépin" in french, and so is the umbrella.

VERY nice items.

[D. Michael Kim]

I have seen that in a book, somewhere... I will try to find out.

The parachute is nicknamed "pépin" in french, and so is the umbrella.

VERY nice items.

Very interesting, and I look forward to any information. Bob mentioned that this was in a VINC article which I will try to find.

Thank you also for the information on CIP and their association with the 1st Airborne Bn.

[D. Michael Kim]

Here is another scroll that I found a couple of years back. It is for the 52nd Ranger Bn. It is bevo woven and the only one that I have seen.

Of interest Biet Dong Quan (RANGER) is in Vietnamese and not English, and instead of Bn. on the right it has III (relating to the Bn. being assigned to 3rd Corps)

Actually, this piece is one of several that I got directly from a former ebay seller in Vietnam (no longer selling on ebay), who had some very interesting pieces.

[D. Michael Kim]

One last item. A An Loc Tab celebrating the Battle of An Loc, and a hand made Cammo. BDQ SSI. This hand made patch is another favorite.

[D. Michael Kim]

Here is a beer can type BDQ Qualification Badge.

[D. Michael Kim]

Last Saturday, I visited with Don and his wife, and after checking everything out we sat down and talked story about his tour. He showed me 2 photo albums of which I selected some pictures to put with this grouping. I also got copies of his orders assigning him to the rangers
and a copy of his certificate.

Before I left he gave me a V.C. pennant shown for permanent safe keeping, something that I have never seen before. Looking at the item in my mind it had to be for a unit no smaller than a Company. Talking with Cmd. Sgt. Major Mike Martin who served 2 tours with the BDQ (author of books on the Vn. Airborne, Rangers and Marines) and PRU’s in IV Corps, he said that he had also seen captured pennant’s like the one I described and it may have been for a battalion or larger size unit due to the fringe along the edge. Any information on this would be appreciated.

I had a conversation with a associate of mine last evening on what this pennant could have been used for. He mentioned that it possibly could be a car pennant. He mentioned that in the movie The Green Beret, the general that they snatched had a pennant on his automobile. Any guesses? With the fringe around the edge he believes it was for a high ranking individual.

[D. Michael Kim]

I had a long conversation this evening with a former Vietnamese Ranger about the pennant previously posted (post 6) and received this response.

He believes that the significance of the gold fringe surrounding the edge of the pennant refers to a special honor presented to a unit after success in a specific battle.

He also provided me with information on the unidentified patch I posted in the Vietnamese Marine Corps Insignia thread which I will postm later.

[D. Michael Kim]

Dennis-On the first photo, the bottom patch, how did you identify the tiger head patch as VNMC? I have seen this identified as unkown CIDG, Unknown Mike Force, Unknown Regional Forces, Unknown VNMC, and also a Unknown infantry unit. Would love to know a 100% positive id on it.
Bob

After contacting the Vietnamese Marine and Ranger web sites I have a answer that I would like to share. Please pardon the masking of my name over the patch but it is to screw up the patch prirates as much as I can.

Eureka, I struck GOLD!!!

The unidentified patch that I had thought was a marine patch because it came with a grouping of other marine insignia, has been identified. I had sent the information on this patch to the Vietnamese Marine and Ranger web sites and this evening I received a call from a former BDQ with the answer. We talked for over a hour and during this time spoke of many things that were familiar to both of us. He was forwarded my request, and had a wealth of information that he will transcribe for me and I will share as I receive it.

The unidentified patch has been identified as a ranger pocket patch that was worn by Ranger Commando Company personnel. When the United States pulled out of Vietnam and the Rangers took over all of the Special Forces forward bases and personnel, they became one of the largest military forces with over 40,000 soldiers. The Rangers were now becoming more infantry oriented and Groups and Brigades size units were being formed to fight a conventional war. Because they were now fighting in larger sized units, in October 1974 it was decided by Ranger Command that a Ranger Commando Companies be formed to support the different Groups. The best rangers from each Battalion were selected and sent back to Duc My for retraining. These companies were very short lived from October of ’74 to the fall of Saigon in April ’75. This may be the reason why this patch has remained unidentified for such a long period of time.

This soldier had a very interesting past, first as a mascot for 5 years beginning at the age 10 with the 7th Marine Combat Engineer Bn., 1st Marine Division. He is Amerasain and was given a name of a comic and cartoon character, and was made their mascot. In 1970 at the age of 16 he volunteered for the Ranger Forces and went to Duc My for training. He also served for a short period of time with the Vietnamese 11th Airborne Bn. for cross training experience.

After the fall of Saigon he avoid capture and made a living at odd jobs never staying in place for long periods of time. Being Ameraisian and young he got away with his ruse saying that he was a student. The populace was segregated and were given two options, work in the fields at manual labor or return to your place of birth. In this manner the victors were able to control the population. But in 1982, because of his constant moving he attracted suspicion upon himself. He was arrested and spent six years at a re-education camp, to him better known as a concentration camp. He was released in 1988 and made his way to the United States.

His call was completely unexpected and the wealth of information that he has astounds me. When we were taking about the Ranger beret badge he told me the meaning and symbolism which I will relate to the group as soon as he sends it to me. One symbolic word relating to the badge refers to the word TITAN, which is very interesting, because my call sign with the 34th Ranger Battalion was Titan Locker 06. I guess that I was destined to serve my two tours with them.