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Nice Cold War Souvenir Germany Tour Jacket


bryang
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Neat find. I wonder how common these things were.

 

Our unit had a small tailor shop in the basement of one of our barracks in Baumholder. It was an AAFES PX concession. I went to pick up some items I'd had sewn, when the old German pulled me over to show me a looseleaf binder. There had to be about forty different designs to choose from. Colorful, but I declined.

 

I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but back in the day Officers and career NCO's typically did not wear these. These were more common to the younger troops.

 

I especially got a kick out of the ones that said "When I die, I will go to heaven, because I have served my time in Hell.... Baumholder, Germany." Um... yeah. I am sure the Vietnam vets really got a chuckle out of such protestations about being stationed in Europe.

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Salvage Sailor

 

Our unit had a small tailor shop in the basement of one of our barracks in Baumholder. It was an AAFES PX concession. I went to pick up some items I'd had sewn, when the old German pulled me over to show me a looseleaf binder. There had to be about forty different designs to choose from. Colorful, but I declined.

 

I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but back in the day Officers and career NCO's typically did not wear these. These were more common to the younger troops.

 

I especially got a kick out of the ones that said "When I die, I will go to heaven, because I have served my time in Hell.... Baumholder, Germany." Um... yeah. I am sure the Vietnam vets really got a chuckle out of such protestations about being stationed in Europe.

 

Like USN tour jackets, these were mostly purchased by first (and only) hitch troops as souvenirs.

 

Gil, my very close friend, drafted into the Green Machine in 1971, was one of three in his AIT class to go to Germany. As they walked down the ranks handing out the orders it was Vietnam, Vietnam, Vietnam, Germany, Vietnam...even today he is all smiles when talking about his fortunate 2 year hitch in Germany.

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I had one for the Mrs...we were just kids then 20-21...at Ramstein AB...was red with the map of Germany on the back and the 86th TFW and the 512th TFS wing and Sq patches on it...and her nick name...strawberry...was in the attic forever then went o the scrap yard...but she liked it a lot...

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