Vietnamese Ranger Insignia,Headgear & Uniforms.

[kammo man]

V
Great ARVN cut Gold .
A very hard shirt to find always !!!!
And patched up , great piece , a treat to look at
owen

[VALERY226]

Before I post further items I wanted to post the history of the Biet Dong Quan as taken from their site found in the 75th Ranger Association web site.

To better appreciate a item from any military unit, one should know their history.


BIET DONG QUAN HISTORY
Advisors to ARVN Rangers
(Biêt Dông Quân)

During 1951, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) suggested to General De Lattre (Jean de Lattre de Tassigny - Commander in chief Indochina) that the French should form "counter-guerilla" warfare groups to operate in Vietminh - controlled areas. The French command rejected the concept of unconventional warfare units, although they did establish a Commando School at Nha Trang. By 1956, the US Advisory Group would turn this facility into a physical training and ranger-type school.
"

Bonsoir,

As usual, I’m really impressed by Michael highly valuable interventions on this forum. I read with a great interest the history of the BDQ, but I’ve been very “surprised” by the incredible introduction. I only can say that the author neglected to study his history:

During 1951, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) suggested to General De Lattre (Jean de Lattre de Tassigny - Commander in chief Indochina) that the French should form "counter-guerilla" warfare groups to operate in Vietminh - controlled areas. The French command rejected the concept of unconventional warfare units, although they did establish a Commando School at Nha Trang. By 1956, the US Advisory Group would turn this facility into a physical training and ranger-type school.


If Michael and the forum admin agree, let me give a more accurate view


After the Japanese capitulation, the French special units trained by the British SOE who fought in SE Asia with the “Force 136”, fight a new enemy, Viet Minh till the late of 1945, through the jungle of Laos, Tonkin, Annam and Cochichine.

Through 1946 till 1949, except low hierarchy level initiatives, the GHQ in France and the Far East French Expeditionary Force (CEFEO) don’t show any interest in special warfare and counter guerrilla tactics. Conventional minds are no ready to call traditional military tactics into question.

Fortunately due to Korea war, US advice and other foreign political and security events, minds start to change. In 1949 colonel Chavatte gives order to create small units lead by French or Vietnamese tasked to establish contacts with population, detect hidden agents, prepare new DZ or LZ, etc... In Ty Wan near Cap St Jacques, at the same time, a Counter guerrilla/ commando school is open to french (not special wrfaire qualified) and indigenous. The last are trained as clandestine agents able to conduct offensive and intelligence actions behind the lines. The action service (SA) in Indochina is born. An American offer to develop the action service is accepted by the Indochina High Commissar. US advisors are waited at Ty Wan. However, when general de Lattre reaches Indochina in December 1950, the Franco-American agreement is cancel. De Lattre does not want to share a such unit with some confidential activities. The SA will be lead at 100%, by the Frenchs.
However, fully convinced by the significance to develop special warfare and CI units, de Lattre signs, in april 51, the Groupe de Commandos Mixtes Aéroportés (GCMA- Mixed Airborne Commando Group) constitution order. During three years, subordinate to the french special service (SDECE), GCMA leads naval and ground special operations in Indochina and Laos (anti VM maqui creations, sabotage, amphibious raids etc…).

1952-53, Hoang Chung Dzim after the training of his team near Hanoï is going to reinforce a maquis. Note sterile uniforms and equipments and Madsen SMG.

Hoang Chung Dzim with two team mates. They have locally made uniforms and the second pinned on his shirt, the so scarce, GCMA badge.
In 1954, the strength of this unit, despite logistical problems and petty bickering with more traditional units, is 71 officers, 219 french NCO and EM and 15 113 trained and equipped indigenous.

If officers and NCO’s were former WWII SAS or SOE trained, assigned in France to 11st Choc Bn (SDECE French special service Bn) reinforced by volunteers with a great experience of Indochina, indigenous need to be trained to commando and CI special skills.

Ty Wan became the main center for such trainings but smaller schools open like Cu Lao Re islands (amphibious training), Kontum (Hre people were trained there), Hon Quan, Quan Loï etc…Mobile training teams from Ty Wan spent short TDY in newly formed “maquis”.


Not an high quality picture (it comes from the extraordinary capitaine Sassi film), but it presents GCMA Meo commandos in 1954. Meo always keep around their neck their silver necklace, this is their only wealth...

About the unconventional units, I must not forget to mention the North Vietnam Commandos (Commandos Nord Viêt-Nam), very similar to the GCMA but under the authority of the TFEO Force Commander. They were created in august 1951 and remained in service until 1954. Troops were Vietnamese but the commanding officers were French, most of them were detached from GCMA units.


At Hoa Binh, in november 1951, General de Lattre announce to commandant (major) Fourcade his decision to increase the numbers of commandos from 30 to 45. De Lattre,few months before, put Fourcade in charge of the North Vietnam Commandos creation.

Last but not the least, the Nha Trang School cited in the BDQ history introduction was for the “Dinassaut”, River Assault Division, an other unconventional warfare unit. B.Fall in Street without Joy, wrote of Dinassaut: (it) may well have been of the few worthwhile contributions of the Indochina war to military knowledge.

They are the roots of the VNMC, but this is an other story…

So sorry, if I've been a little bit long but as for myself these precisions are important.

Cheers

Valery

[VALERY226]

V
Great ARVN cut Gold .
A very hard shirt to find always !!!!
And patched up , great piece , a treat to look at
owen

Thanks mate!
V

[D. Michael Kim]

Valery, great shirt and additional information on the formation of unconventional units by the
French during the Indochina War. Inregards to the historical information provided, thank you
for adding information to the thread.

Command Sgt. Major Mike Martin who wrote three books on
Vietnamese elite units, the Airborne, Rangers and Marines, I
believe wrote the Vietnamese Ranger History that was presented.

He served as a advisor with the 44th Ranger Bn. on his first tour and
then with the PRU’son his second tour. I would imagine that early
information on these French units may not have been available during
his research, and language is a major factor that may have hampered
his research. I know when collecting insigne from the French airborne
and Commando units how difficult it was for me to understand what was
stated about a piece. There the picture sold the item, especially the back.

There is a variant of the 81st patch which I will post tomorrow.

[nguoi tien su]

Very interesting / needed post Valery !

[Bob Chatt]

I broached the use of this patch with a former BDQ who has been working on researching
the history of the BDQ, for the past 20 years. He is the same person who provided me the information on the unidentified patch which he confirmed was for the Ranger Commando Company. He recently sent me a map of the Duc My Training Center which he drew from memory which is very detailed in describing the center.

In all of my conversations with him, I feel very comfortable with his knowledge and the answers he has provided to me. I say this because during our conversations he mentions events and people that I myself can confirm. Based on what he said, I defer my post to his knowledge.

I have seen the same patch machine made; now I have to find where I saw it. It may identify country it was manufactured in.

The patch was not shown in Cecil's section on Laos Insgnia.

Bob, would you be ablke to shed light on this patch?

Dennis-This patch has been id'ed in Cecil's book, but over the years I also tend to lean way more towards Laotian with this. I can't explain why they used a BDQ panther, but the SGU's are always laotian.
Bob

[VALERY226]

Dennis-This patch has been id'ed in Cecil's book, but over the years I also tend to lean way more towards Laotian with this. I can't explain why they used a BDQ panther, but the SGU's are always laotian.
Bob

Bonsoir,

I checked in two versions of Cecil's book but I did not find it too (however, I perhaps need glasses). However, Bob could be right. The BDQ panther is worn by Special Guerilla Units.

These SGU members aim an M20 recoilless rifle in the southeastern corner of Laos in 1967.


According to Conboy, the initial insignia used by SGU's in MR4 was the BDQ patch with a"SGU" tab added on the top of the patch. Why not with SGU added?

Cheers

Valery

[D. Michael Kim]

Valery a picture speaks a thousand words. Very interesting and requires further research.

[D. Michael Kim]

Colonel Lewis L, Millett, founder of the RECONDO and Vietnamese Ranger Forces passed away on 11/14/2009. He was one month away from his 89 birthday. Please contact Vietnamese Rangers and Special Forces veterans and let them know. I believe the funeral services will be held at Riverside National Cemetery sometime next week. Not sure of the date.

[D. Michael Kim]

Citation for the MOH:

MILLETT, LEWIS L.

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company E, 27th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Vicinity of Soam-Ni, Korea, 7 February 1951. Entered service at: Mechanic Falls, Maine. Born: 15 December 1920, Mechanic Falls, Maine. G.O. No.: 69, 2 August 1951. Citation: Capt. Millett, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While personally leading his company in an attack against a strongly held position he noted that the 1st Platoon was pinned down by small-arms, automatic, and antitank fire. Capt. Millett ordered the 3d Platoon forward, placed himself at the head of the 2 platoons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault up the fire-swept hill. In the fierce charge Capt. Millett bayoneted 2 enemy soldiers and boldly continued on, throwing grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy, while urging his men forward by shouting encouragement. Despite vicious opposing fire, the whirlwind hand-to-hand assault carried to the crest of the hill. His dauntless leadership and personal courage so inspired his men that they stormed into the hostile position and used their bayonets with such lethal effect that the enemy fled in wild disorder. During this fierce onslaught Capt. Millett was wounded by grenade fragments but refused evacuation until the objective was taken and firmly secured. The superb leadership, conspicuous courage, and consummate devotion to duty demonstrated by Capt. Millett were directly responsible for the successful accomplishment of a hazardous mission and reflect the highest credit on himself and the heroic traditions of the military service.

Another link:

http://www.historynet.com/military-h...-l-millett.htm

[thefallenbuddha]

Some BDQ Tabs

After exchanging a few emails with Dennis, I was suggested to post some more of the BDQ patches I have for other collectors to use for identification. I would have posted these earlier, but haven't much time for the past few weeks. I will not post any repeats of patches already shown, just additional BDQ items in no particular order that have yet to be posted in this thread. I will try to add to this thread over time, as one of my BDQ rikers is unfortunately MIA at the moment due to a recent move.

To start off with, here are some tabs:

Border Defense Tabs (4 Variations)

[thefallenbuddha]

More Tabs

Binh Long Tab, Issued as with the AnLoc Tab already posted.


Third Corps Ranger Reconnaissance Force


Second Corps Ranger Reconnaissance


31st Ranger Group Reconnaissance (These Also Appeared for Other Groups, with different numbering)


Ranger LRRP (Examples of 2 Variations)

Earlier Posted "Biet Dong Doi", here shown with the Tab


33rd Battalion


Ranger Airborne Tabs (Examples of 3 Variations) - Not Necessarily BDQ, but for me I still put them in the same category

[thefallenbuddha]

Even More Tabs

Different Tabs as per Corps / Color - Group / Battalion Designations.

1st Corps- Green, 2nd Corps- Red, 3rd Corps- Maroon, 4th Corps-Yellow. Later as the applications of the BDQ changed, a universal Blue Tab was used.

Group designation was identified by the bordered number, or number on the left side of the tab, while the battalion number was unbordered, or usually to the right side.

Examples of 2nd Corps Tabs:

21st Group - 96th Battalion


22nd Group - 11th Battalion


22nd Group - 76th Battalion


76th Battalion


Colored Tabs with Designations for "HCCV" - Administrative Service, "CHCV" - Command and Service, "YTCV" - Support and Transportation, "QY" - Medic, "PD#CCX" - Anti-Tank Battery, "TT" - Communications, and "RADAR" (In English) were also used.

Some Examples:

3rd Corps, 31st Group Administration


3rd Corps, 6th Group Command and Service


3rd Corps, Support and Transportation


Late War, 4th Group Anti-Tank Battery


Late War, 7th Group RADAR

[thefallenbuddha]

Additional Battalion Patches

Ok, enough fun with tabs for now.

Here are some additional Battalion patches which no one has posted yet:

23rd Battalion Reconnaissance


71st Battalion


74th Battalion


92nd Battalion


52nd Battalion

[thefallenbuddha]

BDQ Pocket Patches

Last Post for the Moment, will add more at a later date.

To round things off, here are some variations of the standard BDQ Pocket Patch not yet posted.