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Special Forces SSI: 1960s vs 1980s


Amateur Vietnam Collector
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Amateur Vietnam Collector
45 minutes ago, 63 RECON said:

not a forum member is it?

I’m not sure.  The eBay seller’s name is gear4you-21. 

53F29654-AC92-4013-9A2F-23DA24509671.jpeg

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16 hours ago, Amateur Vietnam Collector said:

So, I bought this on eBay for $30, since it’s dated 1963 with a special forces insignia.  It’s not perfect, but it’s what I’ve been looking for.  Why are the name tapes always missing?  I can’t figure that out.

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Great find for 30 dollars but too bad about this missing name tape.  My guess is that the veteran who got rid of this shirt didn't want any reenactor type folks running around wearing his uniform with his name on it.  This is an early OG-107 with the squared up corner pocket flaps and flat buttons.  Usually you will find a paratrooper wing above the US ARMY tape but maybe it was removed as well.  I do know that with some thrift stores on Army bases there was some sort of requirement that all insignia had to be removed before you could either try and sell or donate uniforms to these outlets which were run by all volunteer military dependents.  

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Amateur Vietnam Collector
1 hour ago, Tonomachi said:

Great find for 30 dollars but too bad about this missing name tape.  My guess is that the veteran who got rid of this shirt didn't want any reenactor type folks running around wearing his uniform with his name on it.  This is an early OG-107 with the squared up corner pocket flaps and flat buttons.  Usually you will find a paratrooper wing above the US ARMY tape but maybe it was removed as well.  I do know that with some thrift stores on Army bases there was some sort of requirement that all insignia had to be removed before you could either try and sell or donate uniforms to these outlets which were run by all volunteer military dependents.  

That’s an interesting fact you provided there.  I’ve been wondering why so many uniforms are missing insignia and such. I am happy with my find. I’ve been searching for an early special forces uniform for about two years now.  I do not think one with full insignia and name tape in place exists. I think they are all in museums. I know early special force advisors used the tiger print and similar camo as well, but I have no way of telling if they are authentic or not. They have no dates or anything on them.

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On 4/4/2021 at 4:51 AM, patches said:

That's It Baby!

listed in Whos Who CIB as well

 

LUND, PEDER C 1LT HC/68/1189B 01/27/68 Y VNJW C-2

 

also looks like a larger group was sold on ebay 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313528746180?nma=true&si=K7t7O9PdtCsJLSfuYl03O%2B74QWM%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

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On 4/4/2021 at 4:51 AM, patches said:

That's It Baby!

listed in Whos Who CIB as well

 

LUND, PEDER C 1LT HC/68/1189B 01/27/68 Y VNJW C-2

 

also looks like a larger group was sold on ebay 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313528746180?nma=true&si=K7t7O9PdtCsJLSfuYl03O%2B74QWM%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

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On 4/4/2021 at 4:51 AM, patches said:

That's It Baby!

listed in Whos Who CIB as well

 

LUND, PEDER C 1LT HC/68/1189B 01/27/68 Y VNJW C-2

 

also looks like a larger group was sold on ebay 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313528746180?nma=true&si=K7t7O9PdtCsJLSfuYl03O%2B74QWM%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

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On 4/4/2021 at 4:51 AM, patches said:

That's It Baby!

listed in Whos Who CIB as well

 

LUND, PEDER C 1LT HC/68/1189B 01/27/68 Y VNJW C-2

 

also looks like a larger group was sold on ebay 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313528746180?nma=true&si=K7t7O9PdtCsJLSfuYl03O%2B74QWM%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

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Amateur Vietnam Collector
23 minutes ago, 63 RECON said:

listed in Whos Who CIB as well

 

LUND, PEDER C 1LT HC/68/1189B 01/27/68 Y VNJW C-2

 

also looks like a larger group was sold on ebay 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313528746180?nma=true&si=K7t7O9PdtCsJLSfuYl03O%2B74QWM%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Yeah, that’s one I wish I could get back, but what can I say?  I’m an amateur.  From now on I’m not going to sell anything I buy—at least not for a long while.

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On 7/26/2021 at 9:17 AM, Amateur Vietnam Collector said:

Hi All, 

 

Before I spend $450 on a uniform on eBay, I’d like your help.  I realize I might be advertising it, such that one of you will buy it 🙂, but I’m afraid to buy it otherwise.  I have two questions about the uniform.

1.  Does the special forces badge look to be cut edged, which would be consistent with the early 1960s?

2.  The DSA number is DSA-1-2397-63- C.  This would seem to indicate it was manufactured in 1963, which is consistent with a Type 1 tropical jacket.  However, according to the DSA dating chart I have, it should end in E-6Y with Y indicating the year? Does anyone know why this would be?  Thanks! 

 

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Seems very odd to have subdued Viet Wings when everything else is on the jacket is full-color.  White name tapes, and black and gold Army tapes were gone before subdued badges were worn.

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On 7/26/2021 at 9:17 AM, Amateur Vietnam Collector said:

Hi All, 

 

Before I spend $450 on a uniform on eBay, I’d like your help.  I realize I might be advertising it, such that one of you will buy it 🙂, but I’m afraid to buy it otherwise.  I have two questions about the uniform.

1.  Does the special forces badge look to be cut edged, which would be consistent with the early 1960s?

2.  The DSA number is DSA-1-2397-63- C.  This would seem to indicate it was manufactured in 1963, which is consistent with a Type 1 tropical jacket.  However, according to the DSA dating chart I have, it should end in E-6Y with Y indicating the year? Does anyone know why this would be?  Thanks! 

 

C92EE3CA-C05B-4314-83F0-AACCA750E49F.jpeg

11F5C838-CCE0-445F-8CB0-B40E667E42E9.jpeg

A5DB23A0-E1F2-4CF4-948F-1389DFF65650.jpeg

A5D1FD67-C6C0-4BB5-AB3C-94F7CBBBAA4B.jpeg

How about these two Jungle Jacket labels.  .The first is on a Type II, and the second is on a Type III.

 

FCCDC108-5AB3-4465-8840-5B766923D22A.jpeg

953CC104-6FF2-4E17-997A-E0FF7D9D6527.jpeg

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Amateur Vietnam Collector
On 8/10/2021 at 3:54 PM, e19 said:

Seems very odd to have subdued Viet Wings when everything else is on the jacket is full-color.  White name tapes, and black and gold Army tapes were gone before subdued badges were worn.

Yes, it does seem odd.  Thankfully, after everyone’s feedback, I did not purchase the shirt. 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 7/27/2021 at 8:59 PM, Amateur Vietnam Collector said:

It’s sad there are dishonest people out there, especially when it involves a piece of history that honors veterans.

Yes, it is; however a patch having been replaced doesn’t make it a fake.   I was in SF during the time when the Army transitioned from color insignia to subdue, beginning with the name tapes.  Most, if not all of my uniforms had all of the patches replaced ,at different times. Some were not worn after the SSI were changed.  Are they fakes, and would I be being dishonest if I put them up for sale on eBay?

 

The OD/Black SSI in my profile replaced a full color patch and was subsequently replace by a Black/OD one

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  • 4 months later...
On 3/29/2021 at 7:23 PM, Amateur Vietnam Collector said:

Hi All, thank you for all your responses to my thread.  So, I’m confused about something.  The attached chart (insignia #23) shows that the “three lightning bolt” patch associated with the 5th special forces group, yet the 5th special forces group has their own insignia (picture attached).  What insignia did the 5th special group wear during Vietnam?

Here are examples of the full color cloth insignia worn by 5th Groupers during service in Vietnam.

The Arrowhead/Abn Tab was the SSI of the 1st Special Forces, which was worn by all SF Groups.  
The Yellow on Blue Jump Wing Oval was worn by all SFG’s except the 10th.

Before the yellow & red bends were added (late 64) 5th Group teams wore the black/white border Flash.

11834D20-A544-40C9-BC06-526B203A669D.jpeg

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