Very cool stuff, and rarely seen by most of us.  Thanks for the posts.   Charlie

Correct.  And no, the OPFOR Star SSI was only worn in DCUs', during a rotation. In garrison, during reconstitution week, the BDU was worn with subdued Black Horse & in Class A uni, the full color Blackhorse SSI.    You are welcome, happy to pass along this piece of history.    In 1999 or 2000, the NTC OPFOR  switched to the desert version of the OPFOR Nametape & Star SSI, phasing out the OG version. Both insignia worn when until 2002, when this uniform was phased out. From then on, NTC OPFOR wore a mix of civilian, military & Middle East-style clothing. To appears as guerilla/insurgent forces, which were faced in Afghanistan & Iraq at that time.    Now since 2014/2015, when the DCU began reissue to NTC OPFOR. The SSI worn on the coat is a desert Blackhorse SSI patch. Along with the desert OPFOR Nametape. From recent DoD website & social media photos, soldiers wear rank insignia on the right collar & branch insignia on the left. *The OPFOR Star SSI & OD collar tabs are no longer worn.    Note: Soldiers could wear either pin on or embroidered rank and branch insignia on the coat. Your coat (SSG Lucero) has sewn on branch insignia on the collar & rank insignia on right breast pocket. SFC Ashford wears the pin on for both. 

SR-71, RAF Mildenhall (dawn operational or training mission - I have no idea). My crew and I were holding short of the active runway in our trusty C-130 while the SR lined up on the active perpendicular to us and stopped. Then it slowly brought up the throttles into afterburner -flames nearly twice as long as the jet itself. We thought our C-130 was going to shake apart on the spot until the SR finally let off the brakes and blasted down the runway and went airborne. My crew and I were still numb from the noise and vibration as we were eventually cleared to taxi onto the runway for our takeoff.   I'll never forget it.

Your CBI guy was in an Aviation Engineer Bn, which would account for the engineer brass.

I’ve had one for a while and recently picked up the other two. Slight variations in the three.  All have the same casting number.  However, the font is different and one has the ordnance bomb. Any info about authenticity and production timeline would be greatly appreciated.   Jay

Not my grandfather. Bought it from grandson of the vet.his grandfather was in the navy.he is from philadelphia Pennsylvania. Also got the pee coat to.togother unit.the vet is from philadelphia which is close by to me bucks county 

Those are very minor issues - the type that often existed when these were issued. You could use a dry soft toothbrush very lightly on the steel bits but frankly, with 50 years of collecting and archival training, you are best to just leave it alone. in 99% of cases attempts to hide or 'fix' normal wear, age, stains, and use wind up turning into the dreaded "I-see-you-tried-to-repair-it" look.  Most collectors/historians etc. would rather see an issue normal for its age than a blatantly modern intrusion left by an amateurs recent fix-it attempt. 

Yes the blueing is in great shape for a used G46-8 Western. Most of the large Western's were private purchase knives made by the G.I.'s before leaving Stateside.  Do you know if your Grandfather was on the West Coast before shipping out?

Very cool dvs, did you happen to see the one on eBay right now? Another JCRC! Very cool to see. Any records or anyone track the the different styles of engravings done? Thoughts on when and where they were done for the Vets? Cause some I've seen similar "font" if you will and others not. 👍

A fair price for such an uncommon wing!  A nice addition to someone’s collection. Congratulations to the winner.    Chris