I like the look too. I also read that if a person fell over board wearing them, they would be hard to spot. Can you please tell me Sigseye... what is that patch on the pocket with ship Anchor and eagle?

Buckle with belt, SH-3 Sea King, named to :  R. Herpolsheimer          

I love it all Matt. Especially that lighter! The ashtrays too! People used to smoke back then.. a lot ! Great collection  Sir!

Recently sold buckle, today, Aviation Electronic Warfare/Technician, Named to: Randall , HU-1   Interesting back. Was this a waist size?? "28", Looks like it was made from some part of a measuring device.         Along with some sort of a repair.     

The link that was pulled in part talked about what is covered in this link.The difference between them is the detail.   https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=5bcf35ed6ba32f467b9db3cd9d90d15b55a9941563817887a43bd3c409bbeea1JmltdHM9MTc3MzcwNTYwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=090314c8-1a7e-6b3a-0591-02761bec6a11&psq=US+Navy+laser+armed+ship&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly9kZWZlbnNlZmVlZHMuY29tL21pbGl0YXJ5LXRlY2gvbmF2eS9sYXNlci13ZWFwb24tc3lzdGVtcy9oZWxpb3MtbGFzZXIv   The other part of the post covered this, but in more detail.   https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=700055357af615ff009aa268e5aad110e72324a63f1c4a7806c860ac775bfd7dJmltdHM9MTc3MzcwNTYwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=090314c8-1a7e-6b3a-0591-02761bec6a11&psq=US+Navy+oden+armed+ship&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJteXJlY29nbml0aW9uLmNvbS9uZXdzL25hdnktbmV3cy8yMDI2L3Utcy1uYXZ5LWRlc3Ryb3llci1kZXBsb3lzLW9kaW4tbGFzZXItZGlyZWN0ZWQtZW5lcmd5LXdlYXBvbi1zeXN0ZW0tZHVyaW5nLW9wZXJhdGlvbi1lcGljLWZ1cnk

Fantastic

Breath taking material.....don't have words to describe this group!!   Kurt

The majority are genuine and were manufactured during the war in South Vietnam.  There are two that I'm not sure about and might be reproductions (Photo 1 & 2).   Two look like the ones that were made in the US (Photo 3 & 4).  You have one that is an Iranian paratrooper wing but very collectible as it has the crown meaning pre 1979 during the era of the Shah (Photo 5).  Nice collection.    

You're right about the Silver Star. There is no Silver Star on the jacket and also no silver or five campaign star(s).. maybe we're enjoying the war stories of a different Colonel Ela?

Same needle and thread process that was used to put them on originally. It won't hurt or damage a coat if done normally.