Nixon White House aide's Vietnam/Cambodia uniform - red dirt & all

[RustyCanteen]

A retired Marine who did several tours in Vietnam came by my booth, looked at the boots and said, "Oh, Cambodian dirt!"

 

 

I guess once you've seen it, you won't forget it.

 

Neat story.

 

RC

[Bob Hudson]

found a buddy for him at my booth:

 

[RustyCanteen]

If that didn't get some attention I don't know what would.

 

Very nice, just an amazing find.

 

RC

[Bob Hudson]

If that didn't get some attention I don't know what would.

 

Very nice, just an amazing find.

 

RC

 

I put up a sign explaining what the uniform was about, and it did indeed get lots of attention, but no buyers with a fistful of hundred dollar bills.

[Bob Hudson]

The other White House staffer on this trip was Presidential Counsellor Bryce N Harlow. In the box with Klein's stuff was brown wrapping with "HARLOW" written on it. It seems like it was something for clothing, maybe that's how the delegation members got their uniforms - in plain brown wrappers...

 

 

Harlow gave a pretty good account of the fact-finding mission in a speech later in 1970. Here's a PDF of that:

 

Harlow061870.pdf

 

While Klein and Nixon had been Naval officers in WWII, Harlow served in WWII as an Army officer on the staff of General George C. Marshall.

 

And I found another newspaper story, one that gives pretty good rundown on the policy decisions that led to this visit:

 

[Terry K.]

What an amazing find!

Not just a uniform from Nam, but from one of the people who helped form the policys.

Wonderful find,

Terry

[Squeaker]

I'm sure it is long gone, but this is a very cool uniform with some interesting history. I especially liked the dirt that came with it. How often do presedential staff uniforms come onto the market like this? I'm guessing not often?

[RustyCanteen]

I'm sure it is long gone, but this is a very cool uniform with some interesting history. I especially liked the dirt that came with it. How often do presedential staff uniforms come onto the market like this? I'm guessing not often?

 

I believe Bob found a buyer not long after this thread was started. I would hazard a guess that most uniforms that are encountered are dress uniforms, but something like the one posted by Bob, complete and with mud still on it? It's priceless.