SonofNamVet, one more thing: the 25th Infantry Division wasn’t based in or assigned to Okinawa during the Vietnam War. As you probably know, instead, it was originally based in Hawaii, then deployed to VIetnam in 1966, setting up its basecamp in Cu Chi. So this lighter doesn’t have the strongest connection to Vietnam. However, believe it or not, it was occasionally selected as an R&R destination instead of Tokyo.   I can personally vouch for the fact that troops in Vietnam went to Okinawa since I took a 7-day leave there in 1968. Unfortunately for me, having done zero research, I arrived in winter! My first thing after I got off the airfield was to find a shop and buy gloves, a wool hat, and a heavy sweater.   The interesting thing about Okinawa was that from the end of WWII until 1972 it was a US Protectorate. So when I went there in 1968 it wasn’t even considered Japan.   Summary: Again, this lighter doesn’t have the strongest connection to Vietnam, but there’s a possibility that a GI took R&R or leave there and purchased it. Equally probable is that one of the thousands of GI’s actually stationed in Okinawa purchased it after his Vietnam service with the 25th Infantry Division and his during his new deployment to Okinawa.There is also the possibility that, as yokota57 noted, the Sangwoo Company was clearly selling these through the Military Exchange system (heck, it even says it on the lighter!), so another possibility is that these lighters were not only stocked in Exchanges in Okinawa, but also in Vietnam.      

I was fortunate to obtain the scrap book for the squadron commander at the time. As you can in the attached photo, he cites the aviator as Ens. Ruben Jones, VF4B, USS Randolph, 22 February 1947.    

And another, note sheen on jacket. It seems brand new.

Another cool pic, note flag and bell.

Thanks Johan, no rush at all. I'm mostly amazed so many of those stakes are still in place. As I said, they started clearing the dunes here right after the Liberation but since this area is heavily populated that is no surprise.         I'm aware the ones with the ground plate would be buried up to 1/3 to 1/2 of their length, I also know the shorter ones so I guess they were made this way? Maybe intended to be poured into a concrete foot, who knows?      

I haven't, but I have been watching their videos. They seem very friendly and reliable. They offer discounts, too, when you participate in their give-aways on YouTube (given, that you win haha) They sell on eBay, too. If they weren't based in the US, I would buy from them, but shipping is too expensive :/

Thank you for this additional information.

I've been metal detecting for aver 40 years and finds like this are why I keep doing it. The farm "land" dates to the 1700's but there are only two dwellings listed. One in the 1800's that evidently burned down and this one built  in 1900. The farm was in real need of some serious renovation when we bought it and that was my priority for many years so with a full time construction job and the farm too, metal detecting just wasn't possible.

If I was to regret letting anything go during my first adventure into collecting, it would be some of my flight helmets. I know the pain, doing an awesome job rebuilding so far. I'm not looking forward to starting the hunt for an H1 bottle or the H2....

Thanks Dave.  I appreciate the comments.