Found this boonie which I assume to be a put together from a family member.

[VietnamCollectors2823]

Hello I got this boonie hat a while back and have all the reason to believe this was his and the same for believing it was a put together. I bought it for around $90 at an antique store (Overpayed but thought it might have a story as there was much to research) and decided to actually research it today after around a year waiting. The hat features many notable pieces: On the front, an upside down 173rd Airborne Brigade oval with Jump Wings, on the side an LRRP patch with a Beercan crest that reads “1st Recon BN” with a skull in the shape of a spade, and on the Back writing that reads “Sky Soldier”, “Bong Son”, “IE”, “69-70”, as well as a nametag on the inside of the hat, on older white one that reads “Levine”

After doing some research, a specific name comes across “Robert Phillip Levin”, noted that the inside of the hat says “Levine”. I do a little research on him and Robert was a black beret KIA in ‘69, the same date on the hat, and born in california where the hat was manufactured. Somebody on his obituary stated that he was killed specifically in a “Long Range Patrol” which would match the LRRP patch on the side of the hat. He was also AB Qualified from what I found under one of his documents. 

I slimmed down Levin’s divisions and found out that he was apart of the USARV, US Army Vietnam, the 1st Infantry Division, and the 75th infantry regiment disregarding what was on the hat. I find a little more on a Wikipedia page stating that the “Army redesignated the LRP companies and detachments as lettered Ranger companies of the 75th Infantry Regiment” I found some of the other companies that this had fallen under were the 1st infantry division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Well, like I said, I have my doubts. Firstly, would the black berets ever let you put your own Airborne oval upside down and let it go unnoticed? If Robert died in ‘69 why does the hat say ‘69-‘70? Roberts last name is spelt “Levin”, not “Levine”. From his wall of faces profile it looks like Robert had lots of buddies who even left some of his things at the wall for him, but I am still curious as to what some of the things on the back could mean or maybe there is a different story? Also curious as to why someone knew literally his entire background put together this hat and forgot when he died.

If I left something out, let me know, as I spent all night researching this and it was a lot of information.

https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/30492/ROBERT-P-LEVIN/
 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

There are several anomalies it appears. For example, I really don’t know of any GI’s that would put a misspelled name tag on an item such as a boonie hat. Name tags were way cheap back then and also name tags with a white background and black letters were not used in the time frame of 1968-1969, not stateside and not in Vietnam. 
 

As for Bong Son it is located near Quy Nhon, way up the coast from the First Infantry Division’s Area of Operations; we’re talking ~400 miles or more. So, I don’t think that the Levin you’ve found information on is the correct GI. 
 

I mean, overall, this looks like something someone put together to, unfortunately, deceive a buyer.

[VietnamCollectors2823]

@Cobra 6 ActualThanks, that’s unfortunate. I did find another guy named Robert Levine as well ironically. He was KIA in ‘67 near Binh Dinh which I read was located near Bong Son. He was also AB certified but looks like he was part of the 1CAV.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Yeah, it would be rare for infantry or LRRP’s to be fighting outside of their Division’s Area of Operations (Major exception: Tet).

[VietnamCollectors2823]

@Cobra 6 ActualThanks for the help, much appreciated. 

[DiGilio]

I don't think there is anything to research with this hat. 

 

I agree that it looks put together to deceive buyers. 

 

By the way, the pin is meant to represent 1st Recon Battalion of the USMC.

 

[VietnamCollectors2823]

@DiGilioThanks for the help, would it be worth tearing it apart? I’d rather have individual patches than something meant to scam others lol.

[BigJohn#3RD]

You might try other sources; Ancestry, Vietnam War, Awards and Decorations lists a Stephen R Livinein II Corps was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for Service, which was downgraded from a recommendation for a ARCOM for Valor.

 

As far as paying too much, you need to spend more time learning about the area you collect, one cannot have too many reference books.  Besides you must have thought it was a good deal, when you purchased the hat. So spend more time researching so you are happy with what you collect.

 

Good luck

John