North Vietnam Helmet Badges

[smwinter207]

These are apparent bring back items from a vets estate. Looks like he had quite the assortment. I like the two red ones as they look like items I've seen on good websites. Any ideas on the others?

Thanks
S

[smwinter207]

Backs

[GatorDoc]

You have some NLF/Vietminh, NVA, and NVA Navy sun helmet badges. They all look post 1959 and pre 1975 with a star with sun bursts behind it, a cog wheel at the bottom and rice stalks surrounding the star. Likely cast or stamped brass. Post 1975 badges typically were made from aluminum

Pre 1975 badges here in US are fairly scarce.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Just to add to what GatorDoc wrote: the badge on the left is for the Peoples Republic of Vietnam (PAVN) Navy, The next two - - with the red painted enamel - - are for the PAVN Army, the next two (middle and bottom right) are for the PAVN Security forces, the An Ninh. You can just make out the AN inside the cog wheel at the bottom of each badge. The An Ninh, which translates to Security, functioned as an internal security force, a border patrol, and as security guards at prisons, including those that held captured Americans. This units current name is Cong An, which translates as Police.

 

The last badge on the right is the more modern version of the two with the red painted enamel of the PAVN Army. In better condition or non-combat use it would also have red enamel. The two An Ninh badges would have green painted enamel on the outer portions and red painted enamel around the inner portion, with the star in the center remaining a gold/gilt color.