Flags on mePay

[mcmike]

Generally I expect any VC/NVA flags on mePay to be fakes. Curious if anyone has an opinion regarding the dealer of this flag at

http://cgi.ebay.com/Viet-Cong-Flag-A...item35a71a1c1d

Anyone care to opine?

Thanks,
Mike

[thefallenbuddha]

Standard modern made souvenir items from Vietnam....

[mcmike]

Thanks, FB. I have bought a couple of things from you and have appreciated your service.

Mike

[thefallenbuddha]

Yes, I remember you!

For the record, though, I would also add the seller does do a good service. The items may be modern souvenir pieces, but if you purchase something, it will arrive in a timely fashion, etc, and you will get the item pictured.

[mcmike]

Tonight I bought a VC cap from him. Looks old enough but frankly it was so cheap it doesn't matter if it is real or fake. I bought an unusual Japanese fatigue hat from you early last year, and then someting else later on but I can't remember what. I ususally throw my $$ away on helmets. Too much of my $$$$ goes to eBay!

[dogman68]

Spent 2 tours there 1968 thru 1969. I never saw a VC flag that was red, white and a yellow star. They were red, blue, and a yellow star. However, I was not there in 72 and things happen. Also never saw one with sewn in writing, but like I said things happen and who known what was done after I left. Be nice to find some vets who were there in 72-73 and see what they were recovering in the bush.

[Gil Burket]

What appears to be white on this item is actually a faded blue.

This is part of the artificial aging they used to abuse these poor things to make them look like they have survived a battle. More likely it survived multiple washing in a bucket of bleach.

The flags with unit designations were actually more common 20 years after the war ended. the government issued "hero unit" flags for various commemorations. After these events souvenir hunters mistook them for wartime items and bought them up. Well, the vendors noticed this and have been making them ever since.

I will let the NVA experts comment on this, but I believe most of the genuine wartime flags flown in the south by the NLF wre the standard red and blue field with a a yellow star.

About 12 years ago I accepted a couple standard NLF flags in trade. The one positive you could say is they were made just like the old ones, with the center cut out so you only had to sew the yellow star once (it saved cloth!).

As far as the embelished flags, they are also making them for ARVN and even US units as well. We could start a whole thread on fake flags!

[dogman68]

I just received information from a member of the 25th Infantry Division that was in 111Corps in 1972. He stated that VC flags started to show up in 72 that were indeed red, white, with a yellow star. They belonged to the A30-B317 unit that was operating in that area. As for the frilly looking junk in the picture above I doubt that would be in the field. the ebay pic is probably the real deal or a really great replica. Sending pic and ebay # to friend to see if he can authenticate.

[mcmike]

I did ask the seller if I could depend upon the flags bein authentic, or if he felt they may be produced post war. He seemed very honest in stating that he believed the middle flag (the "guerilla" flag) was repro, but he said he was unsure of the validity of the other two. I passsed and bought a couple flags from a former ground-pounder who was in nam in late '60s. Lost on his black PJs and backpack though. Man, I was already shopping for a mannequin. Double D'oh!!!!