Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 #1 Posted June 16, 2009 Was ale to pick this grouping up from a good friend of mine. This is one of the largest uniform groupings I have ever found in my years of collecting. Seems that the Colonel retired and was just wanting to unload all his stuff (except for the medals) before he moved from this area. All I can say is this grouping spans the man's whole entire career and, in my estimation, this man is a responsible for many injured soldiers being able to survive to fight another day or at least make it home to their loved ones. I am not 100% sure the career path the Colonel took. I have several Vietnam era pieces in the grouping. First is the US-M tigerstripe shirt I posted earlier. Next is a paint stained 1969 dated jungle jacket with US Army tape and his name tape. The sleeves appear to have had a Specialist rank and a 4th Infantry Division patch attached at one time.
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #2 Posted June 16, 2009 Up next is his US Special Forces jungle fatigue set. Notice the Captain rank and the Dental Corps insignia on the collars. Above the left pocket is a US Basic Jump Wing and an Expert Medics Badge. There doesn'r appear to have ever been another patch on the right sleeve. Jacket is dated 1969 and pants are dated 1970. I am not sure if this set was used in Vietnam or if this set was used in the later 1970's or 1980's. His career is hard to follow because he changed insignia on all his uniforms when he got promoted. He even has a 1983 BDU set that he had the Colonel rank placed on. It is in teresting because you can see where another rank has been removed and the Colonel rank applied. If anyone can see if he ever served in Veitnam, I'd be greatly appreciative. PM me for the full name. Thanks!!!!
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #4 Posted June 16, 2009 I was even able to pick up his 1966 dated boots. He penned his name on the inside of the boot tops.
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #5 Posted June 16, 2009 Here is one of his BDU's with the 30th Medical Brigade. I believe this uniform was from the earlier portion of his career. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but this is one of the BDU's that has been repatched with rank. The other BDU pictured has the 30th Medical Brigade patch on the left sleeve and the 44th MEDCOM on the right sleeve. Also has Colonel rank, Dental Corps insignia, US Basic Jumpwings, and Expert Medics Badge.
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #6 Posted June 16, 2009 I also was able to pick up 4 of his green t-shirts and a neat little field dentist tool kit. No date on the case, but it is made by Nathan Products Corp. New York, N.Y., USA.
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #7 Posted June 16, 2009 Here is a picture of the inside of the case.
cutiger83 Posted June 16, 2009 #8 Posted June 16, 2009 Arch, This is truly a wonderful find! It is great that you got all of his uniforms. It would be extremely interesting to know his military history. I love anything medical related. I know you will preserve this well!.....Kat
Cobrahistorian Posted June 16, 2009 #11 Posted June 16, 2009 Arch, He was in Vietnam. The combat patch on his BDU top is for the 44th Medical Brigade.
Andrei Posted June 16, 2009 #12 Posted June 16, 2009 Maj. John Heil, Col Ronald Lepianka, Col. Eugene Riehle and Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Burris, VA employees serving in Iraq, are all smiles when it comes to taking pictures at Task Force 3d MEDCOM Headquarters in Camp Victory, Iraq on July 3. (Photo by Sgt. Thawng Lian, Task Force 3d MEDCOM Public Affairs)
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #13 Posted June 16, 2009 Now...Colonel R. served a tour in Afgahnistan (served in a cobat support hospital) and two tours of duty in Iraq (373rd Dental Company). However, Colonel R. was also the Officer-In-Charge of the Jameson Combat Medic Training Center and director of the EMT classes. Thia guy ws in charge of the training of the Army medics who were in the field saving lives. This Colonel may not have been on the front line fighting insurgents, but he was in the rear making sure soldiers got the medical training they needed to help the wounded. This soldier is one of the quiet heroes that so many times people overlook. Colonel R. was also the main dentist at the Huntington, W.Va. VA hospital. In my estimation, this whole soldier's career has been about serving others! :thumbsup:
Andrei Posted June 16, 2009 #14 Posted June 16, 2009 Arch, He was in Vietnam. The combat patch on his BDU top is for the 44th Medical Brigade. The 44Th Medical Brigade with Airborne tab is for OIF/OEF combat tour. Vietnam era brigade has no Airborne tab.
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #15 Posted June 16, 2009 Last but not least is his Jameson Comabt Medic Training Center cap with his name embroidered on the back. Notice name is misspelled! I have several more uniforms, but they are all similar and didn't think I needed to post duplicates.
Andrei Posted June 16, 2009 #16 Posted June 16, 2009 Col. Mark McGuire, Maj. John Heil, Col. Eugene Riehle, and Col. Ronald Lepianka of Task Force 3rd Medical Command stand together as VA employees who serve veterans both at home and in Iraq on July 3 at Camp Victory, Iraq (Photo by Sgt. Thawng Lian, Task Force 3d MEDCOM Public Affairs)
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #18 Posted June 16, 2009 Here are some links to articles about Colonel R. He was awarded the Legion of Merit on May 27th. He was cited for his excellent organizational skills as well as his personal training skills as applied in the field. He was also recognized for his calm performance under hazardous circumstances in Baghdad. Here are the links: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x1103456020/No-Headline http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:VW53lz...=clnk&gl=us http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:Mhxio8...=clnk&gl=us Thanks for the information so far guys!!!! Arch
Cobrahistorian Posted June 16, 2009 #20 Posted June 16, 2009 The 44Th Medical Brigade with Airborne tab is for OIF/OEF combat tour. Vietnam era brigade has no Airborne tab. Ah, thanks Andrei! Saw the 44th on a BDU blouse and forgot that we were still wearing BDUs during the time we've been in Iraq. Automatically assumed that a BDU combat patch was Vietnam. My bad! Jon
jim2 Posted June 16, 2009 #21 Posted June 16, 2009 Awesome grouping. :thumbsup: It should provide some interesting research. Keep us posted.
Nkomo Posted June 16, 2009 Author #22 Posted June 16, 2009 Up next is his US Special Forces jungle fatigue set. Notice the Captain rank and the Dental Corps insignia on the collars. Above the left pocket is a US Basic Jump Wing and an Expert Medics Badge. There doesn'r appear to have ever been another patch on the right sleeve. Jacket is dated 1969 and pants are dated 1970. I am not sure if this set was used in Vietnam or if this set was used in the later 1970's or 1980's. His career is hard to follow because he changed insignia on all his uniforms when he got promoted. He even has a 1983 BDU set that he had the Colonel rank placed on. It is in teresting because you can see where another rank has been removed and the Colonel rank applied. If anyone can see if he ever served in Veitnam, I'd be greatly appreciative. PM me for the full name. Thanks!!!! Since this grouping came out of the Huntington, WV area...it is possible Col. R. could have been with the 19th SF Group out of Kenova, WV. Just a thought. Arch
Nkomo Posted June 17, 2009 Author #23 Posted June 17, 2009 Someone corrected me on one of the SSI. I had said it was the 30th Medical Brigade. It is not....it is the 330th Medical Brigade. Arch
Mr-X Posted June 17, 2009 #24 Posted June 17, 2009 Awesome stuff Arch. :thumbsup: What a fantastic grouping :w00t:
Nkomo Posted June 17, 2009 Author #25 Posted June 17, 2009 Thanks for the compliments everyone. This one will eventually get displayed when I get another mannequin. Arch
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