PBR Patches - Vietnam

[River Patrol]

Anyone collect these, please show your patches/jackets here.

[tredhed2]

Yes, those are some neat patches. Very desirable too.

 

ASMIC sells numerous catalogs, incl one on Navy Riverine Forces. Please check out this link

 

http://stores.ebay.com/asmic-pubs52

[Tonomachi]

Attached are photos I have kept for reference. The first photo shows an individual wearing one of the patches you posted.

[Tonomachi]

More photos

[Tonomachi]

Here are photos of a uniform I've kept as reference.

[M60 Driver]

Attached are photos I have kept for reference. The first photo shows an individual wearing one of the patches you posted.

 

Top photo is probably Barry Shillito, a long time professional Pentagon wonk. That is why his uniform has no rank insignia.

[gwb123]

Greetings Riverine Collectors!

 

Something I thought you would like to see and a story that will make you cry...

 

As shared on other threads, I was actively collecting uniforms while living in Hawaii from 1983 to 1989.

 

I stumbled across this in a small vintage clothing store that used to be just inland from Wakiki Beach and up the road from Ft. DeRussey.

 

I had just begun to collect. I knew it was a Navy item, but at the time I didn't have a clue what the patches were for. Well, actually I understood that most of them were for a submarine, the USS Greenfish. It was the RIVDIV 593 PBR and Rung Sat Special Zone patch that had me puzzled. Later I figured out that this sailor had served both on a submarine and a river patrol boat! How is that for contrast?

 

I believe the jacket was custom made somewhere in Asia (no label of any kind). Note the matching sleeve rating made of the same denim.

 

At the time, I stretched my budget and paid about $20 to $25 for it. I spent a lot of time wondering if I had wasted my money on some kind of phony rock and roll jacket.

 

A few years later when living in Dallas, I dug this out for a friend of mine who was building a museum there. When I pulled it out of the bag I can honestly say it was one of the few times that I actually got a "wow" out of him. It was on display for awhile, and the museum is currently in storage.

 

A question I have for the group is this.... What is the signifigance of the matching yellow and black star above the PBR patch? Combat tour? Boat commander? I have looked in references over the year but have never seen it mentioned.

 

Hope you found this interesting.

[gwb123]

Thought that was good? Take a look at the backside...

[River Patrol]

Exceptionally nice jacket! The star signifies Patrol Officer. It is rare to see them in color. River Division 593 was a late war unit.

[River Patrol]

Tonomachi

 

Your RivDiv 531 jacket is typical 3rd pattern jungle jacket, in excellent condition. The patch is late war and well used. I'd love to have that jacket in my collection.

[Cpl. Punishment]

Reviving this thread. Would love to see what other PBR items are out there.

[Bearmon]

 Brown Water Navy in RVN (Coast Guard and Army MRF too
    Look for this topic  in the navy SSI catagory

[Salvage Sailor]

Added Link -->>  Brown Water Navy in RVN (Coast Guard and Army MRF too)