Makes sense and thanks! Fits into the Japanese made patch too. They did three tours from 65-70 and between tours were stationed in Japan.
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VMFA-542 was ordered to Japan in April 1965 and deployed to Vietnam a few weeks later. From DaNang Air Base beginning July 10, 1965 they commenced air operations. The primary mission was providing air support to Marine ground forces. The first tour ended in December 1965 and they redeployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The Tigers returned to South Vietnam late in the winter of 1966 and remained until mid-summer the following year when they again moved to Japan. The Tigers' third and final combat tour in SE Asia started on May 10, 1968. The last mission flown by the squadron was a night interdiction flight over Laos on January 13, 1970.