Bob Hudson Posted April 3, 2020 Share #1 Posted April 3, 2020 Found this in a box of tools from a career Marine. It almost went on the scrap pile until my buddy noticed some writing on the handle. Turns out it was captured by on a dike by CAG (a Community Action Group) Alpha 7, Feb 12, 1968 near Thuy Duong, in Thien-Hue Province in Central Vietnam. There is writing on both sides of the handle and the pick has what looks like a large letter "A" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Camouflage Pattern I Posted April 3, 2020 Share #2 Posted April 3, 2020 Very nice! More utilitarian objects are not as common souvenirs as "sexier" items like flags and guns. Love it when items have the history written directly on it so it cannot be lost or forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted April 3, 2020 Share #3 Posted April 3, 2020 What a neat piece. Glad it didnt get tossed! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted April 3, 2020 Found an online mention of the village of Thuy Doung: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted April 4, 2020 I've been wondering about the use of this pickaxe: seems a little too business-like for working a rice paddy - looks like something for tunneling. I did a quick google search for anything on the VC and pickaxes: this is from Fallen Angels, a novel by Walter Dean Myers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted April 4, 2020 And this from a government report: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted April 4, 2020 Share #7 Posted April 4, 2020 Tthe design reminds me of the US WW2 issue pick-mattock where the handle is removeable. Curious if this may have been a US piece then used by the French or French piece that found its was into the area NLF unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted April 4, 2020 Share #8 Posted April 4, 2020 Very interesting reading Bob. Great detective work finding not just one but several accounts mentioning the pick axes in VC equipment lists. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share #9 Posted April 4, 2020 Tthe design reminds me of the US WW2 issue pick-mattock where the handle is removeable. Curious if this may have been a US piece then used by the French or French piece that found its was into the area NLF unit I also thought it was like the US issue - the only mark on the head is the large letter "A" The handle has some marks besides the info written in English: it looks like someone scratched in their name but it's hard to read because of the other writing: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerradtgrant Posted April 4, 2020 Share #10 Posted April 4, 2020 I also thought it was like the US issue - the only mark on the head is the large letter "A" The handle has some marks besides the info written in English: it looks like someone scratched in their name but it's hard to read because of the other writing: {style_image_url}/attachicon.gif name.jpg {style_image_url}/attachicon.gif name2.jpg Maybe you could out a piece of white paper over the inscription and take a pencil and lightly go over it and see if it is any more legible and make out the name. Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badash5946 Posted April 4, 2020 Share #11 Posted April 4, 2020 Really neat souvenir and I'm so glad that it was rescued! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collector Posted April 5, 2020 Share #12 Posted April 5, 2020 Great find, especially like your background research on that tool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now