Extremely rare MAAG grouping

[ReverendJake]

I am proud to present to you a small MAAG Taiwan grouping from my grandfather. He was attached to the Matsu Defence Command Advisory Team, this was a group of between 5 and 8 american soldiers and sailors who acted as advisors to the ROC army on a small island very close to communist China. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Matsu was considered to be one of the most dangerous places on earth. My grandfather spent about a year on Matsu as a communications expert. MAAG Taiwan items are uncommon, but MDCAT items are incredibly rare, I doubt that any of you have ever seen any examples of MDCAT insignia or will ever see any anywhere else. If you do have any examples, I would very much like to see them. These pins were worn either above the pocket or on a Ridgeway cap (wearers discresion). They were not authorized to be worn on Matsu. Any ideas on where the MDCAT pin and patches were made? The pin back looks very similar to the kind used be the Taiwanese army and on MAAG Taiwan name plates. The patches look japanese made to me, but I am not sure.

[ReverendJake]

Back of pin

[ReverendJake]

Patch 1 front

[ReverendJake]

Patch 1 back

[ReverendJake]

Patch 2 front

[ReverendJake]

Patch 2 back

[ReverendJake]

He did not acquire the patches until years later, but I believe that they are early to mid 1960's. The pin was given to him while on Matsu.

[ReverendJake]

Here is an example of a Taiwanese made MAAG Taiwan patch and an either Japanese or Taiwanese made specialist patch. This shirt was worn stateside and in mainland Taiwan by my grandfather. On Matsu, only og107's were worn (and bathing suits on occasion). My grandfather was a proficient swimmer back in the day, (he was a lifeguard at the famous Club 63 NCO club), he did EOD work with the ROC army.

[R Michael]

Great grouping and rare stuff! I have a large slide grouping of a US soldier that was on Tiawan/formosa about the smae time period you are talking about. Would love to see more if you have it.

 

 

Mike

[Tonomachi]

Thanks for sharing these pieces with everyone as I had never heard of MDCAT before. I believe you were correct in that the MDCAT pin was probably made in Taiwan based on the pin fastener which matches the pin fasteners on the rear of this Taiwanese paratrooper wing.

[ReverendJake]

Thanks for sharing these pieces with everyone as I had never heard of MDCAT before. I believe you were correct in that the MDCAT pin was probably made in Taiwan based on the pin fastener which matches the pin fasteners on the rear of this Taiwanese paratrooper wing.

 

Thanks! Those wings wouldn't happen to be id'd to an american, would they?

[MPage]

Interesting stuff. I only very recently learned about "Mudcat" after seeing this US Army film (starts at 03:46):

 

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iODirPrzGQE[/media]

[Tonomachi]

Thanks! Those wings wouldn't happen to be id'd to an american, would they?

 

No they are not.

[Patchcollector]

Outstanding stuff !

[GNeff]

I served two tours on Matsu the first in 1960 and the second in 1962. In 1960 while I was their the MUDCAT Pin was created by Lt. Col Duffield. He made the original drawings and submitted them to Walt Disney to get approval to use the image of Sylvester on the pins. After the first batch were approved they were passed out to all of us to wear either on our hats or above our pocket on our uniform. I have lost mine over the years and was really glad to see an image of one. Thanks for sharing.

[ReverendJake]

Thanks for the information on the background. It's always great to hear from vets, but especially MDCAT vets.

[Tonomachi]

I finally found one of these MDCAT pins on eBay.

 

 

[moneywayne]

Hi! I'm a Taiwanese collector and I recently grab this beautiful MDCAT Chief Advisor's tour jacket!

the original owner called Corcoran "柯克仁" (of course, assumed name for sure)

[MilitaryPicker1941]

That’s an amazing jacket!