ryksem Posted July 14, 2014 Share #1 Posted July 14, 2014 We are in the process of taking care of stuff at my grandpas house and my mom opened her parents Cedar chest and found this for the first time. My mom was surprised because she knows he destroyed one of his other uniforms and his medals because he wasn't proud of what he had to do over there. Anyways it looks to me like a dress uniform, if you know anything about these uniforms could you share what you know please? Thank you have a good day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryksem Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share #2 Posted July 14, 2014 Shirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryksem Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted July 14, 2014 Sleeve (had these patches on both sleeves) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryksem Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted July 14, 2014 I know the blue cord is infantry, but what is this one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAZGY Posted July 14, 2014 Share #5 Posted July 14, 2014 GREAT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capa Posted July 14, 2014 Share #6 Posted July 14, 2014 I see you just lost your grandfather-my condolences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 14, 2014 Share #7 Posted July 14, 2014 That's the shirt from the "suntan" uniform. Specialist rank, Ist Infantry Division (BRO). The patch would not usually be worn on the breast pocket like that....maybe due to lack of space on the short sleeves? The Lion Rampat patch is probably a cloth DUI . Infantry collar insignia (blue backing) with a blue infantry cord at the shoulder. Vietnam service ribbons, Combat Infantry Badge and Presidential Unit Citation ribbons etc on the right breast. The fourragere is possibly a slighty faded -to-pink French award (green/ red) reflecting the division's WW1 service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted July 14, 2014 Share #8 Posted July 14, 2014 Your grandfather was a member of the 1st Battalion of the 28th Infantry Regiment, "The Lions of Cantigny," 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. The cord that you are showing appears to be a badly faded example of the fourragere to the French Croix de Guerre which the regiment earned in World War I. Soldiers of the regiment were required to wear the fourragere while serving with the regiment, but they were not authorized for permanent wear. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted July 14, 2014 Share #9 Posted July 14, 2014 Agree its a nice 1st infantry division 1st bn 28th infantry regiment.The 28th patch is Vietnamese made as well as the ribbon bar.Possibly the shoulder cord is as well and not faded.Was common during this period to see men wear patches on the pocket or in a hanger especially on the tans.Usually on the right pocket but here with both.A great uniform and even better it was your grandfathers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted July 14, 2014 Share #10 Posted July 14, 2014 Want to add this would have been the typical uniform often seen worn by veterans when leaving Vietnam after their tour ended and returning state side.Your other ribbons are unit citations on the opposite side.The red and yellow is a Vietnamese award with palm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B229 Posted July 14, 2014 Share #11 Posted July 14, 2014 To add to what others have posted: that's the Army's "class B" uniform, consisting of the short-sleeve cotton khaki Shirt and Trouers, and the Army Green Garrison Cap. The "class A" uniform would have been the service uniform of Army Green Coat and Trousers. The khaki's were typically worn for travelling to/from Southeast Asia, so you have what he most likely wore coming home from Vietnam. The patches on the sleeves with the eagles are rank insignia: Specialist 4th Class. The pocket patches are unusual in that they are sewn down. Since you weren't allowed to wear shoulder insignia on the short-sleeve shirt, many soldiers took to wearing thier unit's insignia hanging from the button of the breast pocket. The red one of an olive drab shield is the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 1st Infantry Division. The other patch is a pocket patch for the 1st Bn of the 28th Infantry. It's based on the 28th Infantry's Distinctive Insignia, which is small enamelled metal badge normally worn on the shoulder loops. FYI: "1/28" is shorthand for 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, so his unit would be A Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted July 14, 2014 Share #12 Posted July 14, 2014 He may have only kept one uniform, but it could be argued it was the best one. The 28th was known for pocket patches and you can read more about that at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/176766-pocket-patches-of-the-1st-infantry-division-in-vietnam/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted July 14, 2014 Share #13 Posted July 14, 2014 To get more detailed- the ribbons on the left side as you look at it are as follows- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, US Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), and the US Meritorious Unit Commendation (also called Citation and abbreviated MUC). The proper order would have been from left to right as you look at them- PUC, MUC, VN Gallantry Cross. The green garrison cap should have an enameled pin (DI) that looks like the black lion patch on the left side of the shirt except for no "1" in the center of the pin. The rank is for Specialist 4th GRADE (Sp4 or Spec 4), not 4th class. The next higher grade was Specialist 5th grade, etc. The rank was slightly lower than Corporal. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B229 Posted July 14, 2014 Share #14 Posted July 14, 2014 The rank is for Specialist 4th GRADE (Sp4 or Spec 4), not 4th class. The next higher grade was Specialist 5th grade, etc. The rank was slightly lower than Corporal. Allan Every official source I've seen labels it as Specialist 4th Class, or just Specialist Four. Here, for example, is the history of Army EM rank posted by IOH: http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=9168&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services Spec 4, or Speedy 4, is the same pay grade as Corporal (E4), but a Corporal is a Non-Commissioned Officer and the Spec 4 is not. Apparently the Defense Finance and Accounting Service isn't aware of that, because all my Leave and Earnings statements said I was a Corporal when I was actually a Specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted July 14, 2014 Share #15 Posted July 14, 2014 Is that last ribbon a faded version of the Vietnam Campaign Medal without the device? It looks more blue than green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted July 14, 2014 Share #16 Posted July 14, 2014 Not faded.As stated this is a Vietnamese made ribbon and ribbon bar.The color and material is different than U.S. produced.Look at the NDSM RIBBON.It is mire pink than red and also a common trait to a vietnamese made ribbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B229 Posted July 14, 2014 Share #17 Posted July 14, 2014 Is that last ribbon a faded version of the Vietnam Campaign Medal without the device? It looks more blue than green. Yes, it must be. All the colors on the ribbon bar look paler than normal, so it's probably a theater made bar, which is pretty typical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted July 14, 2014 Share #18 Posted July 14, 2014 To get more detailed- the ribbons on the left side as you look at it are as follows- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, US Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), and the US Meritorious Unit Commendation (also called Citation and abbreviated MUC). The proper order would have been from left to right as you look at them- PUC, MUC, VN Gallantry Cross. The green garrison cap should have an enameled pin (DI) that looks like the black lion patch on the left side of the shirt except for no "1" in the center of the pin. The rank is for Specialist 4th GRADE (Sp4 or Spec 4), not 4th class. The next higher grade was Specialist 5th grade, etc. The rank was slightly lower than Corporal. Allan It is "Class," not "GRADE." I was a Specialist 4th Class, a Specialist 5th Class and a Specialist 6th Class during my time in the Army. That's what my paperwork says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGrayGhost Posted July 14, 2014 Share #19 Posted July 14, 2014 Great looking uniform and nice to hear you found a piece of family history you thought was lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryksem Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share #20 Posted July 14, 2014 Hey thanks for the help guys! I love being able to learn more about this stuff. I didn't even know my mom found it until the other day she says she had to show me something! She found an entire picture book to made by some of the wives of the other guys he served with and it's filled with pictures of him I've never seen before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryksem Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share #21 Posted July 14, 2014 When you guys talk about the patch and say DUI what does that mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squad leader Posted July 14, 2014 Share #22 Posted July 14, 2014 I know the blue cord is infantry, but what is this one? Looks like the Croix de Guerre TOE (Theatre Operation Exterieur) fourragere. Colors are light blue and red. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryksem Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share #23 Posted July 14, 2014 Looks like the Croix de Guerre TOE (Theatre Operation Exterieur) fourragere. Colors are light blue and red. Yes sir that's a match! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 14, 2014 Share #24 Posted July 14, 2014 When you guys talk about the patch and say DUI what does that mean? DUI = Distinctive Unit Insignia. Usually an enamelled pin bearing the unit's particular motto and crest / heraldic device, latterly worn on the cap and shoulder loops, but on the lower lapels in WW2 / KW. These were often also made in the form of an embroidered patch too, as on your grandfather's shirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 14, 2014 Share #25 Posted July 14, 2014 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/9986-distinctive-unit-insignia-reference/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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