MattS Posted March 1, 2016 Share #1 Posted March 1, 2016 I believe that Somalia was the last major operation where 'chocolate chips' were issued. I have here some photos of a friend who was attached to B Company, 2-25th Aviation, or as he says, "attached to 2-25th AV BN under 10th Aviation BDE, 10th MT DIV serving in Mogadishu, Somalia. Quick Reactionary Force (QRF)". Notice the 'black on green' qualification badges, but with 'spice on tan' tapes. A full color flag was worn on the right shoulder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinjmpr Posted March 2, 2016 Share #2 Posted March 2, 2016 I think the DBDU "Chocolate chips" were still in the supply inventory for a while and some were issued out when the 3 color 'coffee stains' weren't available. Some units got higher priority and got the 3 colors and units with lower priority had to make do with the 6 colors. I was issued a set of 6 colors in 1992 from the CIF at Bragg for a couple of JTF-6 operations in the SW US. Our mission was so low priority that we didn't rate the newer 3 colors so we got the "leftover" 6 color. What's funny is they were so anxious to get rid of the 6 color DBDUs that we were issued 2 complete sets to include the night DBDU, and we didn't have to turn them in. They're actually still in my foot locker in the garage. When I was in Afghanistan in 2003 there was a Navy SEAL warrant officer who worked in the CJSOTF-A who wore a set of 6 colors too. His were all tailored up with sewn on badges, pressed, etc. The funny thing is, I think at least up where I was at Bagram AF, near Kabul, the 6 color pattern actually worked better as camouflage than the lighter 3 color pattern the rest of us were wearing. Funny how the Army always seems to have exactly the wrong camouflage for the terrain they're in! You'd think they'd wise up and just go back to OD green for everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted March 2, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted March 2, 2016 Thanks for the insight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted March 6, 2016 Share #4 Posted March 6, 2016 Bravo Company 3rd battalion 75th Ranger Regiment Task Force Ranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted March 6, 2016 Share #5 Posted March 6, 2016 Bravo Company 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment Task Force Ranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted March 6, 2016 Share #6 Posted March 6, 2016 Bravo Company 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment Task Force Ranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted March 6, 2016 Share #7 Posted March 6, 2016 Alpha Company 1st Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment SFOD-D are also in this picture, with 3 color desert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted March 6, 2016 Share #8 Posted March 6, 2016 Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion 75th ranger regiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted March 6, 2016 Share #9 Posted March 6, 2016 Here's shot of a flag on the left sleeve, not sure what unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted March 6, 2016 Great photos of B 3/75th Ranger, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BagmanL6 Posted March 6, 2016 Share #11 Posted March 6, 2016 Not the highest quality photos to start with but ... training in Israel as part of USMC MEU(SOC) LF6F deployment 1988. I still have the boonie cover. Not sure about the trousers and blouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BagmanL6 Posted March 6, 2016 Share #12 Posted March 6, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted March 7, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted March 7, 2016 Thanks for those! Another friend of mine in Somalia, 1993. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turko Posted March 8, 2016 Share #14 Posted March 8, 2016 truestoryofblackhawkdown1.PNG Here's shot of a flag on the left sleeve, not sure what unit. Could it be the picture is just reversed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinjmpr Posted March 8, 2016 Share #15 Posted March 8, 2016 Could it be the picture is just reversed? No, look at the M-16 he's holding. That's clearly the left side of the rifle, that's the back side of the magazine release you can see. The whole flag-on-the-right sleeve wasn't a standardized thing until the mid- to late-90's. Before that patches could be on either sleeve. It wasn't an AR-670-1 modification, it was a (for example the members of the 4/325 and SETAF in Italy often wore a small US flag on the left sleeve under their SETAF patch) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted March 8, 2016 Share #16 Posted March 8, 2016 truestoryofblackhawkdown1.PNG Here's shot of a flag on the left sleeve, not sure what unit. To clarify, this soldier or marine is not a Ranger like the rest of the photos I posted, he is part of operation restore hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BagmanL6 Posted March 8, 2016 Share #17 Posted March 8, 2016 We wore the American flag on our left sleeve (BDUs) in Liberia (Aug 90). I have some pics somewhere I'll try to dig out. I agree that I don't think there was a reg at that time it just made sense since no one wanted to wear the flag "backwards". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted March 9, 2016 Share #18 Posted March 9, 2016 2.jpg Bravo Company 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment Task Force Ranger The Soldier looking at the camera is Private Marc Good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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