One more consideration.  Below are photographs of a co - worker, Dannie Rae Hancock (18 August 1949 - 23 October 2002), who was in the

Please excuse the screw-up. Sorry for fouling up the discussion, now and previously.

 

I'd like to thank electronica and the internet, as well as "touch technology" for obliterating my  work, since I seem to "take too long".

 

CORRECTION

 

Dannie Rae Hancock (18 August 1949 - 23 October 2022), was a draftee right out of high school, and sent straight to Vietnam, during the height of the Vietnam War, with the Army's 577th Engineer Battalion, as a heavy equipment operator. He was in areas massively sprayed with Agent Orange and subsequently died of lung cancer.

 

The two portraits of him are before and after his stint in Vietnam.  Notice the branch - specific orange and white shoulder cord. I don't know what the award requirements were, or if it was just "extra" branch - specific insignia.

 

Read about the 577th Engineer Btn here:

https://www.angelfire.com/ok3/cecilH/5.html

 

The last two images are "faves" for all you Vietnam War/Vietnam War Era veterans.  They're anonymous images from the internet (not Dannie's helmet) I thought you'd like to see.  No idea if the artwork is genuine period artwork.

I know that Hal Moore received a Purple Heart for a wound sustained in Vietnam that he considered superficial from a "punji-stake". Apparently he never wore it and attempted to return it in 1968. According to his Wikipedia page a letter he sent on January 16, 1968 attempting to return the award was responded to with this letter.  January 16, 1968, the Adjutant General provided a formal response declining the request. The letter summarized, "General Orders pertaining to this award cannot be revoked. This award is part of your official records. It will be available to you in the future if you desire it." 

Other than the Infantry cord, all the Branch of Service color cords are among regulation items added by soldiers to "jazz" up their uniforms. The unauthorized cords were readily available at off-post shops outside of the big training centers.

Further Army infantry distinctions, and an interesting article about their status.

 

"Shoulder cords

The only shoulder cord authorized for wear on any Army uniform is the blue infantry cord. Unit commanders can authorize other colored cords to be worn during specific events. The Infantryman Shoulder Cord is a military decoration worn by infantry-qualified soldiers over the right shoulder. It is a light blue fourragere with alternating left and right half knots."

 

[From "Google/A.I."]

 

Images courtesy of "vanguardmil.com"

 

Source/Further Reading:

https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Blue_Infantry_Cord

On 8/29/2024 at 1:18 AM, CinamonToastCrunch said:

I know that Hal Moore received a Purple Heart for a wound sustained in Vietnam that he considered superficial from a "punji-stake". Apparently he never wore it and attempted to return it in 1968. According to his Wikipedia page a letter he sent on January 16, 1968 attempting to return the award was responded to with this letter.  January 16, 1968, the Adjutant General provided a formal response declining the request. The letter summarized, "General Orders pertaining to this award cannot be revoked. This award is part of your official records. It will be available to you in the future if you desire it." 

 

My father was awarded a purple heart for wounds he received when he was a Marine and in the Dominican Republic, but the wounds were so superficial (he got them dressed by a corpsman and never received follow-on medical assessment or treatment) he never wore it.  

On 8/29/2024 at 4:21 AM, atb said:

Other than the Infantry cord, all the Branch of Service color cords are among regulation items added by soldiers to "jazz" up their uniforms. The unauthorized cords were readily available at off-post shops outside of the big training centers.

".....are among regulation items added by soldiers....." should read ".....are among non-regulation items added by soldiers.....," but I do recognize that commanders may authorize some non-regulation color cords for specific events or purposes.

My Dad as well got a piece of shrapnel in his leg on Guadalcanal, the medic took it out with a pair of tweezers and bandaged it up, dropped it in his hand and said put in for a Purple Heart.  nothing more said.  Until being discharged, the Sgt said look over your separation papers and awards. If there's anything wrong let me know. Dad said maybe I'll mention the Purple Heart, the Sgt said Well it will delay your paperwork a week to ten days. Before discharge, Dad said never mind. end of story. He went home. May 1940 - May 45 was enough. Second in battalion on the point system. Pvt. Dads war was over.