wartimecollectables.com Posted October 7, 2021 Share #1 Posted October 7, 2021 Al Drapeau passed away in 2009 and his widow sold most of his militaria and I was able to acquire it. I in turn sold his group around 2017 when I moved out my beret collection. More recently his widow found this rare Nung EBW beret and I was pleased to pick it up! Thanks for letting me share it! Delta Project veteran, Alfred Drapaeu. Delta worked with an attached company of Nungs represented by the EBW. The E pul Bar Wang Nungs served as an elite indigenous quick reaction force. The EBW force numbered only 200 men and were led by a US Special Forces Team. Sgt. Drapeau's service is well documented in the book The Ether Zone about Delta Force Vietnam and online. From his obituary Alfred William 'Slugger' Drapeau, 65, of Ellis River Road, Rumford, Maine passed away Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. Born in Rumford on Nov. 5, 1943. Drapeau served in the U.S. Army's Elite Special Forces in the Vietnam War with Delta Project, and eventually served 24 years with the Special Forces. He received four Bronze Stars for Valor, two Meritorious Service Medals, an Air Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, two Purple Hearts, a Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (10 Campaigns), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnamese Parachutist Badge, Senior Army Parachute Wings, Civic Action Honor Medal (1st Class), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (two awards), Good Conduct Medal (six awards), and a Vietnam Campaign Medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted October 7, 2021 Share #2 Posted October 7, 2021 Fabulous, thanks for sharing this 'BTDT' Beret Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted October 7, 2021 Share #3 Posted October 7, 2021 Really nice! And these days, getting it straight from the family is the way to go! You know it’s real Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted October 7, 2021 Share #4 Posted October 7, 2021 Wow. Wish I could have seen the rest of his grouping. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted October 7, 2021 Share #5 Posted October 7, 2021 I was shown this flash elsewhere, and I have doubts about it. The thread looks way too thick compared to wartime embroidery. Plus I've only seen this patch as a silk woven pocket patch. I am not saying it did not come from the veteran's collection, and if he owned it there is some kind of value in that alone. But the patch looks like one of the reproductions coming out of Vietnam 15 to 20 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wartimecollectables.com Posted October 7, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted October 7, 2021 Definitively wartime. I have seen that embroidery before. I assume elsewhere is our friend in Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airbornemedals Posted October 9, 2021 Share #7 Posted October 9, 2021 Fantastic. Love the hand sewn Vietnamese made flash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted October 15, 2021 Share #8 Posted October 15, 2021 Not for me. owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Copran Posted October 17, 2021 Share #9 Posted October 17, 2021 The beret doesn't look Vietnam made one because of the leather headband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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