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1960s and Vietnam War A Co, 1st Bn, 6th IR, 198th BDE, 23rd ID Ace of Spades Helmet Markings


Cap Camouflage Pattern I
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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

While at Ft. Hood and while in Vietnam some members of A Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, 23th Infantry Division marked their camouflage helmet covers with their company insignia, the Ace of Spades, some with an "A" inside for A Company. This is similar to C/2/35 3rd BDE 25th ID, who marked their helmet with an Ace of Spades containing a "C" for Charlie Company. Picture of C/2/35/3/25 can be found here: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/301155-vietnam-war-3rd-bde-25th-infantry-division-helmet-markings/

 

I found these photos on: http://www.a-1-6.org/ go check it out!

 

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Slightly resized due to forum file size limit, not enough for a close up of the helmet to be worth it.

 

 

 

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

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He is doing the fairly common practice of wearing two camouflage bands.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

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Resized due to forum file size limit, I have included a full resolution close up.

 

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

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In Ft. Hood, so at least some of them marked their helmets before going to Vietnam.

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This one has an "A" inside

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

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This is not marked on the helmet, but is an actual ace of spades playing card tucked into the helmet band. This was done by many soldiers, some in units that as far as I know don't use the ace of spades as insignia, but in this case is seems likely it is due to his company insignia.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

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In this case a whole Ace of Spades playing card is drawn on. Also note the other helmet, which has an ersatz camouflage band made from a tire inner tube, like marines often did. This helmet also has a bullet hole and a peace button.

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

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an Ace of Spades playing card on his boonie, and an Ace of Spades drawn on the helmet at his feet.

 

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

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These aren't helmets, but illustrate that the Ace of Spades was Alpha's symbol.

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post-153751-0-37661200-1527807354.jpg

 

 

Most unusual that this GI in the above photo is wearing the Brigade patch as a shoulder patch, as this was the authorized position of the Brigade patch.

post-11652-0-84585000-1448951707.jpgpost-1761-0-13231700-1380731789.jpg

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Great thread!

 

I found this cover a while ago and always wondered what it was. It looks like it may be a match.

post-8296-0-64546900-1527844168.png

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

Great thread!

 

I found this cover a while ago and always wondered what it was. It looks like it may be a match.

Maybe it is A/1/6/198/23, but they aren't the only unit who used the ace of spades, and it was also used by individuals with no meaning as unit insignia, like this solder:

 

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he is a member of C Co, 1st Bn, 503rd PIR, 173rd Airborne

as far as I know, no unit in the 173rd used the Ace of Spades as insignia. the only insignia I know of the 173rd using is the 173rd SSI: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/300018-vietnam-war-173rd-airborne-helmet-markingsssi/

 

and 3rd battalion 503rd:

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Cap Camouflage Pattern I

post-153751-0-37661200-1527807354.jpg

 

 

Most unusual that this GI in the above photo is wearing the Brigade patch as a shoulder patch, as this was the authorized position of the Brigade patch.

post-11652-0-84585000-1448951707.jpgpost-1761-0-13231700-1380731789.jpg

 

Seems like at least A/1/6 did it fairly often.

 

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fort hood

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