February 10Feb 10 Author #2 This was probably gifted when he visited a unit on the East German Border
February 10Feb 10 Author #4 BDU cap, I have his BDU jacket and couple gor tex jackets of his. One looks pre-production or experimental?
February 10Feb 10 Author #5 Two GO overseas caps came with the group, note the solid gold pipe. As a 2 LT, I almost bought a GO cap in the PX by mistake funny! One cap is his size 7. The other has the 3 stars with a 4th applied individually and is 7 1/8. I wonder what the story is on that? Back in the 80s, getting needed uniform items overseas was not easy. White out was used on many 2LT Dress Blue Shoulder Boards upon promotion to 1LT awaiting arrival of new boards. This was quickly discovered at a dining out requiring a trip to the grog bowl!
February 10Feb 10 Author #7 Dress Green, probably the same cap that he got when promoted to Major, no difference in the cap for a GO, interesting, he just put his name on a peace of paper,
February 10Feb 10 Author #8 Now this is really cool! He had his Dress White, Dress Mess Cap made when he was in Vietnam, maybe when he was a Battalion Commander before he was wounded and evacuated?
February 10Feb 10 Author #9 Last Cap, the Dress Blues or Dress Mess GO cap is definitely different, I guess there is no need put your name in it anymore?
February 10Feb 10 Author #11 General Otis was my neighbor and the father in-law of a friend, a Colonel that I worked with. My friend said that picking up his future wife for a date as a young officer was an experience. But, the General was first class. i used to see him in the morning when I was doing PT. When he passed his daughter called me and I got all the head gear in this post and much more. Biography Glenn Kay Otis General, U.S. Army Glenn Kay Otis was born on 15 March 1929 in Plattsburgh, NY. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 and served on occupation duty in post-World War II Korea. He was later selected from the ranks to attend the U.S. Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1953 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He holds a Master's degree in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and, in 1965, was one of the first student officers to receive a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the Command and General Staff College. During the Vietnam War, Otis distinguished himself in the Tet Offensive as Commander of the 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. While defending Tan Son Nhut Air Base, his unit was faced with an enemy battalion of 600 men; his squadron killed 300 and took 24 prisoners. As a Brigadier General, he was assigned as Director of the XM-1 Tank Task Force in 1974, two years after its commencement. Under his command the Task Force oversaw an engine change; made provisions for a future upgrade of the main gun from 105mm to M256 120mm weapon; the turret was stabilized to permit firing on the move; advanced night vision technology was integrated; and suspension, armor and mobility were upgraded. Key assignments during his career included Deputy Chief of Staff, Combined Arms Combat Development Agency, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 1976-78; Commander, 1st Armored Division, 1978-79; Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans, Department of the Army, 1979-81; Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, 1981-83; and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Europe/Commander, Central Army Group (CINCUSAREUR/COMCENTAG) from 1983 to 1988. General Otis retired from active duty in 1988. In Retirement Otis has remained active as a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Land Warfare; member of the Association of the U.S. Army; and as a member of the Army Science Board. He also served as a member of the House Armed Services Committee's Commission to Assess U.S. National Security Space Management and Organization in 2000 that was chaired by Donald Rumsfeld. Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Medal Legion of Merit with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Air Medal with Award Numeral 8 World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star Vietnam Campaign Medal Presidential Unit Citation Expert Infantryman Badge Parachutist Badge Ranger Tab The 3d Squadron he commanded received the Presidential Unit Citation. Distinguished Service Cross Citation The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Glenn K. Otis, Lieutenant Colonel (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters Troop, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Otis distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as commanding officer of a cavalry squadron defending against the communist Lunar New Year offensive at Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army forces launched a massive attack on the base and penetrated the defensive wire. Colonel Otis responded to a call for assistance and immediately led his squadron to reinforce the beleaguered friendly elements. Braving devastating rocket, machine gun and mortar fire, he repeatedly ordered low passes over the enemy positions to assess the rapidly changing situation and skillfully coordinate his unit's defenses. His aircraft was forced down on three occasions by the intense enemy fusillade, but he refused to leave the battle area and quickly secured another helicopter each time. The battle grew in intensity, as he fearlessly landed amid a curtain of fire to coordinate with his ground commanders and encourage his men to continue their staunch defenses. His skillful and aggressive leadership inspired his men to repel the attack and force the determined insurgents to withdraw. Informed that an estimated Viet Cong battalion, poised outside the perimeter, was threatening the air base, he quickly directed his unit in a search and clear operation. Repeatedly exposing himself to savage enemy fire, he led his men in a fierce attack that totally destroyed the enemy forces. His fearless leadership in the heat of battle was instrumental in preventing the vital military installation from falling into enemy hands. Lieutenant Colonel Otis' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Death General Glenn Kay Otis died on 21 February 2013.
February 11Feb 11 Author #13 15 hours ago, Waffentag said: When he passed his daughter called me and I got all the When he passed, his daughter called me.., sorry forgot a comma
February 11Feb 11 #14 16 hours ago, Waffentag said: General Otis was my neighbor and the father in-law of a friend, a Colonel that I worked with. My friend said that picking up his future wife for a date as a young officer was an experience. But, the General was first class. i used to see him in the morning when I was doing PT. When he passed his daughter called me and I got all the head gear in this post and much more. Biography Glenn Kay Otis General, U.S. Army Glenn Kay Otis was born on 15 March 1929 in Plattsburgh, NY. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 and served on occupation duty in post-World War II Korea. He was later selected from the ranks to attend the U.S. Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1953 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He holds a Master's degree in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and, in 1965, was one of the first student officers to receive a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the Command and General Staff College. During the Vietnam War, Otis distinguished himself in the Tet Offensive as Commander of the 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. While defending Tan Son Nhut Air Base, his unit was faced with an enemy battalion of 600 men; his squadron killed 300 and took 24 prisoners. As a Brigadier General, he was assigned as Director of the XM-1 Tank Task Force in 1974, two years after its commencement. Under his command the Task Force oversaw an engine change; made provisions for a future upgrade of the main gun from 105mm to M256 120mm weapon; the turret was stabilized to permit firing on the move; advanced night vision technology was integrated; and suspension, armor and mobility were upgraded. Key assignments during his career included Deputy Chief of Staff, Combined Arms Combat Development Agency, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 1976-78; Commander, 1st Armored Division, 1978-79; Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans, Department of the Army, 1979-81; Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, 1981-83; and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Europe/Commander, Central Army Group (CINCUSAREUR/COMCENTAG) from 1983 to 1988. General Otis retired from active duty in 1988. In Retirement Otis has remained active as a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Land Warfare; member of the Association of the U.S. Army; and as a member of the Army Science Board. He also served as a member of the House Armed Services Committee's Commission to Assess U.S. National Security Space Management and Organization in 2000 that was chaired by Donald Rumsfeld. Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Medal Legion of Merit with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Air Medal with Award Numeral 8 World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star Vietnam Campaign Medal Presidential Unit Citation Expert Infantryman Badge Parachutist Badge Ranger Tab The 3d Squadron he commanded received the Presidential Unit Citation. Distinguished Service Cross Citation The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Glenn K. Otis, Lieutenant Colonel (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters Troop, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Otis distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as commanding officer of a cavalry squadron defending against the communist Lunar New Year offensive at Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army forces launched a massive attack on the base and penetrated the defensive wire. Colonel Otis responded to a call for assistance and immediately led his squadron to reinforce the beleaguered friendly elements. Braving devastating rocket, machine gun and mortar fire, he repeatedly ordered low passes over the enemy positions to assess the rapidly changing situation and skillfully coordinate his unit's defenses. His aircraft was forced down on three occasions by the intense enemy fusillade, but he refused to leave the battle area and quickly secured another helicopter each time. The battle grew in intensity, as he fearlessly landed amid a curtain of fire to coordinate with his ground commanders and encourage his men to continue their staunch defenses. His skillful and aggressive leadership inspired his men to repel the attack and force the determined insurgents to withdraw. Informed that an estimated Viet Cong battalion, poised outside the perimeter, was threatening the air base, he quickly directed his unit in a search and clear operation. Repeatedly exposing himself to savage enemy fire, he led his men in a fierce attack that totally destroyed the enemy forces. His fearless leadership in the heat of battle was instrumental in preventing the vital military installation from falling into enemy hands. Lieutenant Colonel Otis' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Death General Glenn Kay Otis died on 21 February 2013. amazing collection man! truly awesome
February 11Feb 11 Author #15 Thanks, This was my favorite until I noticed that the dress white cap was made in Saigon
February 12Feb 12 #16 On 2/10/2026 at 8:14 AM, Waffentag said: Last Cap, the Dress Blues or Dress Mess GO cap is definitely different, I guess there is no need put your name in it anymore? This is interesting. He had the gold bullion for the oak leaves on the visor, and a gold bullion strap on the front, but he did not have gold bullion on the oak leaves on the base of the cap itself. The 'rule of thumb' used to be that it was ALL nylon or ALL bullion, but you should not mix them. Originally, that meant that if you went with the gold bullion for the hat, you also needed gold bullion on the dress blue shoulder boards and on the dress blue sleeve band. Even earlier, it also meant gold bullion on the trouser stripe of the dress blue trousers (those are not even made any more, though you might find a pair in the thrift shop at someplace like Ft. Myer, VA, where so many generals and senior officers took their old uniforms when they retired. When I was preparing to be a Defense Attaché at an Embassy in Europe, I bought an 'extra' set of all the necessary formal uniforms (dress blue, mess blue, dress white, and mess white) -- in case it was needed. When I was a captain in Germany, at a summer dining out (with spouses) for all the field-grade officers and company/battery/troop commanders in the independent brigade (and their wives), where everyone was wearing dress whites or mess whites, a waitress spilled chocolate pudding on the white mess jacket of a one-star. He excused himself, stepped next door from the O'Club to his quarters, changed into 'another' white mess jacket, and was back in a few minutes. I was impressed, and figured I would try to be able to do something similar if I was ever in a similar position. On one occasion years later when I was a colonel, at an attaché ball, the wife of the French attaché turned suddenly and bumped into me, spilling a glass of red wine down the front of my uniform. I always kept the appropriate 'extra' uniform in the trunk of my car, and was able to simply change clothes without causing any embarrassment to her or her husband. Because of all the events (there were 100+ embassies, plus the things put on by the host nation military), all the attaché wore their formal uniforms quite frequently. Having an 'extra' set allowed one to be in the cleaners (on the economy, as there was no PX), while the officer could wear their backup uniform. The price of a 'used' dress uniform at the thrift shop was a tiny fraction of what a new one cost, and most of them had seldom been worn -- so they were in like-new condition.
February 13Feb 13 Author #17 That is a great story, I got my first Dress Mess when I was a CPT (P) at the thrift shop on Fort Leavenworth as I was going through CGSC they lasted well, got a new set made when I was a student at the War College in Carlisle and made the 06 list. Got the Bullion Birds on the sleeves. In 30 years, never wore the dress mess or dress blues much. Turning the Blues into the Class A uniform is one of the dumbest things that the Army ever did. Fortunately, I retired before the greens wear out date. PS, I got all if the Generals Unforms, he had a lot of spare trousers but only jacket for each? He was a minimalist. For example, many uniforms had printed and not embroidered name tapes. On many, the U.S. Army and name tape did not match. He just did not care about such things. His daughter mentioned that.
February 13Feb 13 Author #19 On 2/10/2026 at 9:14 AM, Waffentag said: Last Cap, the Dress Blues or Dress Mess GO cap is definitely different, I guess there is no need put your name in it anymore? I wonder if the General had his field grade cap upgraded instead of buying a new cap?
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