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Vietnam era Special Forces Green Berets


37thguy
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I've just recently started to collect VN SF Green Berets items. Since I was a little kid growing up in the 60s, I've always been fascinated by them. With my 37th Division collection large enough to have slowed down, I've decided now's the time to start looking for and collecting my 2d passion, Green Berets in Vietnam.

 

I have a few questions I hope some of you will be able to either answer or point me in the right direction.

 

1) Id like to find a good 1960's TO&E on them

 

2) Rank structure from their beginning through the war. (seems to me I read one time that they were at least a Buck Sgt)

 

3) Organization of A-B-C teams, detachments, etc.

 

4) Any good books on them, either novels, 1st hand accounts, reference.

 

5) I need some good "go to guys" that can help me every so often when I have questions.

 

I'm looking forward to learning this new era of collecting and chatting with you guys "in the know"

 

Thanks

 

-Mark

 

 

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Patchcollector

I'm certainly no expert in this arena,but here is some info I hope will be helpful.

 

Books by John Plaster(and a few others) are helpful to learn about SF activity in Nam from a first hand perspective.Do an Amazon search for "Special Forces" and more will pop up.

 

 

This website offers books about the insignia used by SF members in Vietnam:

http://www.specialforcesbooks.com/products.htm

 

 

Last but certainly not least,post your stuff here on the Forum.The "experts" will step forth and offer guidance.

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"Special Forces of the United States Army" by LTC Ian Sutherland has organizational charts for SF from 52 up.

 

FM 31-21 Special Forces Operations (Various Dates) has the info...

 

As far as rank goes, while the SF TO&E had E-5 as the lowest rank there were always lower ranking SF qualified soldiers in group. A private graduating the SFQC was awarded the SF MOS code with a SGTs skill level.

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Mid 60's A-Team:

 

CO - CPT

XO - 1LT

Operations Sgt ("Team Daddy") - E-8.

Intel Sgt - E-7

Heavy Weapons Leader - E-7

Light Weapons Leader - E-7

Medical Specialist - E-7

Asst Med Specialist - E-6

Radio Operator Supervisor - E-7

Chief Radio Operator - E-5

Demolitions Sgt - E-6

Combat Demolitions Specialist - E-5

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So it looks like E5s (Staff Sgts) were the lowest rank in SF?

SSG was E-6; E-5 was Buck SGT.

 

On paper E-5 was the lowest rank/pay grade, however many slots were filled by lower ranking personnel.

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Thanks I knew Id screw that up. I have an a late Korea era OG107 metal button shirt and it has the Specialist rank on it. Maybe one rocker on it. Is that good? I'll see if I have a pic on the computer.

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You have to see his records. If he was SF qualified his Primary MOS would have a "3" at the end (5th digit).

If he was serving in SF in '65 the MOS codes changed, with 5th character "S" the designation for SF qualified. IE: The Commo MOS changed from 05163 to 05B4S.

 

To my knowledge there is no official database available. Steve Sherman of Radix Press has compiled lists based on info derived from copies of orders.

 

http://www.specialforcesbooks.com

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Just put this together. A work in progress. Using a BAR ammo belt instead of a pistol belt with the universal pouches.

 

Tigers are repros by Tiger Stripe products as is the hat.

 

 

post-729-0-35582500-1472839999.jpg

post-729-0-60998600-1472840000.jpg

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  • 4 weeks later...

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