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Vietnam war 3rd BDE 25th Infantry Division Helmet Markings


Cap Camouflage Pattern I
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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

I've noticed these helmet markings in use by the 3rd BDE 25th Infantry division in Vietnam during Operation Baker, mostly in this video:

Not quite sure what they are but I think they are unit markings. 2 different ones seen, one an ace of spades with a "C" and one a cactus?

 

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At the time of Operation Baker the 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division was operating separately from it's parent in the Central Highlands in the II Corps, the rest of the division was in III Corps. The Infantry units of the 3rd Bde were the 1st Battalion 14th Infantry, the 1st and 3rd Battalions 35th Infantry, while the one with the Cactus will definitely be for one of the battalions of the 35th Infantry, their long standing nickname being the Cacti, the symbol on their unit crest, the other, the spade one must then be for the 1st Battalion 14th Infantry, though this unit has a traditional Chinese dragon symbol, and is nicknamed the Golden Dragons.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

Lots of NVA rucks on GI's or Marines, WW2 helmets with sewn on chinstraps, and love the pink flashlight at the end...

Weirdly that's the 3rd pink flashlight I've seen in pics of vietnam.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

At the time of Operation Baker the 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division was operating separately from it's parent in the Central Highlands in the II Corps, the rest of the division was in III Corps. The Infantry units of the 3rd Bde were the 1st Battalion 14th Infantry, the 1st and 3rd Battalions 35th Infantry, while the one with the Cactus will definitely be for one of the battalions of the 35th Infantry, their long standing nickname being the Cacti, the symbol on their unit crest, the other, the spade one must then be for the 1st Battalion 14th Infantry, though this unit has a traditional Chinese dragon symbol, and is nicknamed the Golden Dragons.

Thank you!

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  • 3 weeks later...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I

The "C" and the Ace of Spades is probably C/2/35 3rd Brigade, the "C" for Charlie Company and the ace of spades because C/2/35 are the guys who started the Ace of Spades death card deal.

 

Good read on the death cards: http://www.psywarrior.com/DeathCardsAce.html

 

The video in the original post shows them putting death cards on dead VC.

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  • 1 month later...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I

Weirdly that's the 3rd pink flashlight I've seen in pics of vietnam.

Found a 4th and the reason why they are pink, to make them easily identifiable as non sparking so they will not cause explosions. Why grunts can be seen carrying them is still beyond me.

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