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Nice Storage Unit find**AIRBORNE RANGER**


S McKibben
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Very good, I wonder what his MOS was, can't tell from the Pre Vietnam photos, he was as mentioned just out of Training with SF, so wears the correct Unassigned Branch discs rather than a Combat Arms or Combat Support/Support Branch discs. His MOS will probably be listed on one of those documents. Also he is listed in that Lima Rangers site roster, but it does not list period/year of service, do you know when he was in L Co 75th Inf?

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Judging by what I see in those pics/docs it appears that Fouts was in SFTG before he served in Co L (Ranger)

Figured the same and it wasnt uncommon.My relative did the same.Two tour SF man then L Co.

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Also one of the local SF guys who is now 85 years young served in VN 11 times from 61-71.His last tour was with the Americal.Hell of a guy and always a honor to talk with.Just cant get him to sit still long enough to get a real interview. :lol:

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Fout is listed in militaryusa as a radio operator 05B

Aha, then I would say no CIB after all, he was most likely in the HQ Platoon of L Co.

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S McKibben

Thank you all for all the great info and coments. It will a great center piece for my collection. Whats nice is yhey are still going thru the unit so hopefully more to come. I really dont have much from vietnam era so would say great place to start.

Shawn

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Aha, then I would say no CIB after all, he was most likely in the HQ Platoon of L Co.

He could have been awarded a CIB as an 05B while in SF. What I 'ge't from the pics is that he was an SF "Baby" before he served in L Co. He's pictured as PFC in SFTG, Then as a SP4 in fatigues, wearing a beret with flash. If the beret is green then he was SF Qualified. The flash appears to be either 7th or 10th Grp. He served in L Co as a SP4, and the Greens with the SGT/E5 stripes has the SF SSI on the left sleeve, and L Co combat patch on the other. That would indicate that he returned to SF after serving in the RVN with L Co.

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Agree with E19

 

Here is a jacket I have posted before.He ended with JCRC.He was listed as a comm specialist and he has a CIB.He wore a SF combat patch as well.

 

post-342-0-71903900-1368479344.jpg

 

post-342-0-16283500-1368479376.jpg

 

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He could have been awarded a CIB as an 05B while in SF. What I 'ge't from the pics is that he was an SF "Baby" before he served in L Co. He's pictured as PFC in SFTG, Then as a SP4 in fatigues, wearing a beret with flash. If the beret is green then he was SF Qualified. The flash appears to be either 7th or 10th Grp. He served in L Co as a SP4, and the Greens with the SGT/E5 stripes has the SF SSI on the left sleeve, and L Co combat patch on the other. That would indicate that he returned to SF after serving in the RVN with L Co.

I here you e19, however the owner of this coat feels that no CIB or CMB for that matter was ever pinned on the coat, he claims there are two sets of pin holes on the left pocket flap for two seperate badge but oddly none above the ribbons.

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riflegreen297

I have to say this is one of the best uniform "evolution" threads I have seen on the board. Great discussion and discovery.

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A few things come to mind.

 

1. The 1968 discharge would fit because he was a draftee (US service number) who had to re-enlist as an to get an SF contract.

 

2. The pic of him as a PFC in SFC had to be in 1968 or later because that was the year they added a rocker to E3 chevrons.

 

3. He was ABN qualified (see pics), so the uniform should have holes from either a CIB, or Jumpwings above the medals.

 

4. The uniform (SGT) has the SF SSI on the left shoulder, and most SF Groups wore the PUC back then.

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There are holes in the pocket and above the ribbons. Only one set in the pocket flap

 

Makes sense based off his photo, wings and a marksmanship badge.

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There's a Larry G. Fout listed on "MyLife.com", which fits your guy's profile and locale:

 

 

Larry G Fout was born in 1947. Larry currently lives in San Angelo, Texas. Before that, Larry lived in Irving, TX in 2008. Before that, Larry lived in Irving, TX from 2008 to 2009.

 

 

Mark sends

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seanmc1114
3–16. Air Medal
f. Award of the Air Medal is primarily intended to recognize those personnel who are on current crewmember or noncrewmember flying status which requires them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties. However, it may also be awarded to certain other individuals whose combat duties require regular and frequent flying in other than a passenger status, or individuals who perform a particularly noteworthy act while performing the function of a crewmember, but who are not on flying status as prescribed in AR 600–106. These individuals must make a discernible contribution to the operational land combat mission or to the mission of the aircraft in flight. Examples of personnel whose combat duties require them to fly include those in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy and those directly involved in airborne command and control of combat operations. Involvement in such activities, normally at the brigade/group level and below, serves only to establish eligibility for award of the Air Medal; the degree of heroism, meritorious achievement or exemplary service determines who should receive the award. Awards will not be made to individuals who use air transportation solely for the purpose of moving from point to point in a combat zone.

After the NDSM and Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Medal was probably the single most awarded medal by all branches of the military during the Vietnam War. As the above regulations demonstrate, the medal could be awarded to crewmembers and non-crewmembers whose duties required them to participate in flight on a frequent basis. That was definitely interpreted to include combat infantrymen and medics who utilized helicopter flights to be flown into battle via combat assaults.

 

U. S. Army Vietnam Regulations 672-1 even had a formula for determining the basic eligibility for the AM based on the number and type of missions flown. Following is an extract from the regulations indicating the minimum requirements and how they were to be calculated.

post-1761-0-74466300-1368540011.jpg

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seanmc1114

Here is an example of a citation for the Air Medal to an infantry captain indicating the award was based on participation in 25 combat assaults.

post-1761-0-23979000-1368540126.jpg

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seanmc1114

Because of the paperwork involved in keeping track of missions, most infantrymen probably weren't too concerned with establishing their eligibility for the Air Medal so it was more likely the responsibility of company clerks based who were guided by hard their own superiors pushed them. As you can imagine, it was much more likely that a battalion commander or sergeant major who flew a lot and lived somewhat safely in the rear or at a firebase had more of an opportunity to keep track of his missions than the average grunt.

 

On the other hand, I think Air Medals based on this criteria were more frequently awarded to the Grunts in airmobile units such as the 1st Cavalry and 101st Airborne Divisions. However, I believe I have seen them awarded by all commands.

 

Here is a set of orders from the 3rd brigade 82nd Airborne Division awarding the Air Medal to several infantrymen. It's interesting to note that the battalion sergeant major was receiving his 1st through 6th oak leaf clusters. He probably spent quite a lot of time in the air.

post-1761-0-87175600-1368540464.jpg

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You've done a lot of "deep background" research there. Thanks...and well done! I've got a VN vet's Class As (given to me by the vet himself...a gunship pilot) which has 54 Air Medals on his rack! The "54" comprises of two enamelled digits added to the ribbon.

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seanmc1114

You've done a lot of "deep background" research there. Thanks...and well done! I've got a VN vet's Class As (given to me by the vet himself...a gunship pilot) which has 54 Air Medals on his rack! The "54" comprises of two enamelled digits added to the ribbon.

The number of Air Medals earned by some pilots and crewmembers in Vietnam necessitated devising a new way to recognize the multiple awards on one ribbon since even with silver oak leaf clusters they would eventually require a second and perhaps third ribbon to show all of the devices, especially if a "V" device was also earned. I saw a reference once to a Cobra pilot who had earned over 100 Air Medals during his two or three tours in Vietnam. I'm not sure exactly when the numerals were first authorized for the Army. However, even after the numerals were authorized, you would still see many non-crewmmbers wearing oak leaf clusters to signify multiple awards.

 

It was not uncommon for certain officers and senior NCO's on non-flight status to earn multiple awards of the Air Medal during a one-year tour in Vietnam simply because of how frequently they flew around in helicopters as part of their duties. Examples of orders I have include brigade and infantry and artillery battalion commanders, infantry battalion sergeants major and, believe it or not, chaplains to infantry battalions.

 

On the other hand, even though I am sure some grunts, particularly in the 1st Cav and 101st Airborne, earned multiple Air Medals under the criteria I listed above, I don't believe I have ever seen orders for those.

 

On a personal note, my father served in the 82ns in Vietnam and said he participated in way more combat assaults than the 25 required for the Air Medal but he never received one because they just didn't bother keeping records while he was there. But I have spoken to guiys he served with that were still in Vietnam after he came home who did receive the Air Medal. Apparently, not long after my father came home, his company got a new commander who really stressed the record keeping and awarding of Air Medals. Oh well. Watchagonnado?

 

By the way, if you really want to have you mind blown, read up on the Navy regulations about the devices authorized for the Air Medal and how they are calculated for different types of flights and worn on the ribbons.

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