Vietnam officer insignia…?

[digi-shots]

Did officers wear metal subdued or shinny rank insignia on their bdu’s (ie. erdl utilities) during the 1969/1970 time frame?

 

Somewhere I read that the subdued rank insignia only applied to nco’s.

 

Thanks!

[pmanton]

This was 1968. If my memory is correct I wore subdued sew on rank insignia. I think the baseball cap had a regular pin on bar. 

Again IF my memory is correct. 

 

Paul

Salome, AZ.

[KurtA]

Paul - were you Army or USMC? Your reference to a Baseball Cap makes me think Army.

I believe USMC officers wore the shiny bright rank insignia. 

[pmanton]

Army

[BEAT_NAVY]

Here is a Picture of my uncle, note the ball cap

[KurtA]

The original question related to USMC officers. 

[BEAT_NAVY]

Oh my bad I thought that y'all had a question about the hat. Guess I read it wrong

[CUBUSMC]

I was a Marine officer in the 80's and 90's and we never wore subdued insignia.  Now unless things have changed recently, I do not believe Marine officers have ever worn subdued insignia on their field uniforms including Vietnam.  If a situation called for no shine, then the insignia was removed or taped over.  Now, Marine NCOs have worn subdued chevrons on their field uniforms since the wide metal chevrons were invented at the end of the Korean War.  When I was in, US Navy officers were authorized to wear subdued metal chevrons on their field uniforms.  In fact, I would see them for sale next to the full color insignia in the PX.  Semper Fi - Jeff      

[digi-shots]

Thanks Jeff.  That answers my question.  Most or even all the period photos I’ve seen show no rank or ranks with a shine.

[patches]

Hill 861, April 1967 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines 3rd Marine Division, at least one of the Company Commanders wears his metal ranks, Wouldn't think it was too common right among the front line officers, Inf Eng etc, maybe more with Arty officers .