Opinions on this ERDL boonie

[kpaintner]

I recently picked this up from a VN vet.  It was not his, just something he said he brought back.  He was Air Force.  I know very little about VN era cloth.  I would appreciate your thoughts on originality and any history that could be provided.  There are no stamps or markings anywhere or evidence of a tag that was cut or torn out.  Heavy cotton material.  Let me know if additional pictures are need.  Thanks in advance for your comments.

[kpaintner]

I did research on the unit and found info on the 3rd Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment Rakkasans, but the Ikkasans name on the hat is strange?  Is this the same unit?  I found some similar style patches and believe the QUYET TU means “Ready to Die”?

[Longhorn92]

It’s ARVN Ranger camo. That’s a legit unit. The Rakkasans was probably just lost in translation.
 

Some guys here can chime in and tell you where the embroidery was done and if it’s real. I think it’s real but I’d ask about the patch. May have been added much later and be a modern repro. 

[vintageproductions]

The ARVN recon patch on the crown is a fake.

[Spike]

It'd be a cool hat without all the stuff on it.

[kammo-man]

Uuuuum 

[kpaintner]

I take it your response means you do not like it at all?  Can you elaborate?

[Spike]

For me, I like the hat. The fake patch on the crown needs to go. Who knows if the lettering is wartime done. Most hats like this are machine embroidered though I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions. The saying "as long as you like it that's all that matters" applies here.