U.S. Army Logistics, Support & MP:
Logistics Command, Specialist, RVN:
The diversity of 1st Log activities was astounding. Under its command were truck units, boat companies, railroad facilities, and airlift and airdrop capabilities. Almost every piece of Army equipment sent to Vietnam was processed, transported, issued, and maintained by the 1st Log. started by providing the Army troops with their tropical clothing, flak vests, and other bits of kit. Then their weapons of war, then they got their food and ammunition, they went to Post Exchanges made possible by the 1st l Log, and they gave them a lift often to the transfer station-and toe where they were sent to start their tour of duty. The 1st Log.
There were more than 700,000 tons of supplies coming in each month, a tough thing to keep control of, and unfortunately, much made its way to the Black Market rather than the troops in the field, always waiting at the end of the line.
A big part of the problem was that much was moved by the local South Vietnamese citizens, who offloaded and moved the supplies around the storage locations, not that some soldiers were on the take too. And the volume getting moved around was a huge task to keep organized.
It is impossible to know just how much made it into enemy hands, some did, and everyone else too, lots of money was made under the table-no doubt, I'm sure it's always been a problem in all wars, but this was likely the peak of it, some were prosecuted, but far too many. But it was a tremendous effort by the 1st Log to keep organized in control of the situation.
I think there was a lot more loss than reported, The line troops were always in short supply of everything, and the base troops had everything, you can see it in photos even, the fact the soldier was paid quite poorly, and the Civilian was starving was not much incentive not to sell stuff to the Black Market Equipment was also lost simply because the extent of the logistical effort precluded careful tracking of all material. This problem was further exacerbated during the Vietnamization process when the South Vietnamese proved less than able to master American managerial techniques.
They were very involved in the on-goings of war, and moved as much equipment as possible, till they were ordered to come home and redeployed to Fort Hood on December 7, 1970. The 1st Log could look back upon more than five years of distinguished service.
Specialist, 1st Logistic Brigade.:
Many of these Road Warriors had earned awards like bronze and silver stars and Purple Hearts. Two Soldiers from the 1st Logistics received the Medal of Honor. The uniforms, of which I have a couple of 3 representations, might help the story of these people's importance, dedication, and disserved recognition for their duty and service in the Vietnam War. Their uniforms followed suit with all the other Army Soldiers at the time, and went through the same modifications and the change from full-color insignia to the subdued format.
Pretty nearly all were issued 56 types of fatigues when we officially went to Vietnam, but people had been there since the time of WWII really, there were un-uniformed American intelligence people all along, watching and reporting to...well, who they reported to in the US. Government. Their kit went through the same changes, too, from WWII web gear to the various changes of gear during the war. The meaning of the F.F. refers to Frank Fiske on his helmet cover. He had been in Germany, or likes to speak it, and has it written on the helmet too.
The soldier has his name on the back of the helmet foliage band for recognition, but the band rarely holds grass or branches, but for everything else in the soldier’s personnel kit. The helmet liner is a re-issue but in great refurbished shape, retaining the original clear coat over the fiber.
The Deuce and a Half Gun Truck:
Some trucks received armor plating around the bed, and some had the cabs surrounded in it too, with a couple of .50 caliber machine guns and/or 2 M-60s, of 7.62 mm. There was such a demand for gun trucks to protect the convoys that they were up-armed, even using M113 hulls in the back.
1st Lieutenant, 1st Logistics Command, RVN:
The fact is, without the 1st Logistical Command. There would have been no way they could have built the building before 1965, as well as after it. The Army's ground forces and vehicle maintenance parts and supplies were moved by the Army's Pacific Command and the U.S. Army Support Group, Vietnam, They served under the 9th Logistical Command in Okinawa. But even more, as needed.
One downside of supporting South Vietnam was that it only had two deepwater ports. There was Da Nang, largely controlled by the Navy; the U.S. Navy used to provide logistical support to the Marines in I Corps, and the other was in Saigon, where most of the imported goods came in for the Vietnamese.
So, the 1st Logistical Command was called up to go to Vietnam. They had been formed and served in the Korean War, and they came together at Fort Hood, Texas, and began their deployment to Saigon on April 1, 1965. The decision to build up a major port at Cam Ranh Bay was made by USARV. They would use the DeLong pier as they had large hydraulic lifting devices. It was the US. Army engineers would be used to put it together. Cam Ranh was finished in record time, and it was magnificent. Soon, Qui Nhon and Saigon were built up, too. It became known as Newport. At one point,t the 1st Division Log. The command was processing some 70,000 tons of incoming material per month, which increased to 700,000 tons a month, from ship to shore to where it was to be used.
The big harbors and the amount of material coming in fueled the war and made the 1st Logistical Command grow. It was made up of smaller Separate Support Commands out of Saigon, Cam Ranh, and Qui-Nhon. Then, in 1968, Army units began working with the Marines in I Corps out of Da Nang. Note: On his collar is the 'Corps of Engineers in its subdued foremast, the Regular engineers, they likely helped and kept roads open, by grading and oiling them down, but mostly dealt with the mines, and boobytraps, I am not sure if they had or used specific mine clearing vehicles as they do today, but were issued vehicles, to travel along with the caravans of fuel food and ammunition along the highways and if necessary through the boonies with tracked vehicles, the Corp of Engineers, maintained and made up fortifications at the Airports, and built up and repaired port facilities as well, using dredges, and barges, pile drivers, etc.
Each support command operated independently and was used to maintain a constant flow of equipment to the various combat zones. The 1st Log's Main Logistical Operations Control Center was in Saigon.
Note: Lieutenant WEBB's insignia is all-similar, except the 'ARMY' tape is slightly different, and the 1st LOG patch is a country-made item. The problem with the HQ Control Center was that it could not be located in one building; it was distributed throughout the city, causing a very big problem for the star. by 1967, the 1st Log headquarters was moving to Long Binh, thirty kilometers northeast of Saigon, and also USARV. would also make a home there.
The 1st Logistics, Support Command was the largest single unit that served in the Republic of Vietnam. some 50,000. Troops were there by the middle of the war. This Lieutenant may have been stationed dockside at the start of the logging, lifting and moving whatever was coming off the ships. Rather than at the end of the line, out in the fields and to the Helicopter bases and forward firebases and the like.
Duce and a half cargo truck: Truck drivers have been a part of every war since World War I, but the folks protecting those trucks, became more and more important, and today there is a huge, amount of people and vehicles used to protect this vital operation of support for the man in the field.
The Deuce and a Half 6 x 6 Truck: The 5 and 1/2-ton trucks of the Vietnam conflict, were nearing the end of their careers, yet they had been a long line of trucks that had changed the outcome of WWII and used in Korea, having been upgraded threw a couple of different styles-they were the toughest trucks ever. Like the Huey Helicopter- the Deuce and a Half Truck- everybody knew what they were, and did-they were the ride in and the ride out much of the time.
1st Lieutenant of Engineers, assigned to the Transportation Corps, might have worked with the Wrecker or Road clearing unit, or kept the roads cleared of mines and the bridges operating. on nearly a Dailey occurrence the highway threw South Vietnam was being watched, and mined, bobby traps put on the sides of the road where ambushes were planned, around hairpin comers and confined areas, the need by the Communist to cut the supply lines was a maximum effort, though I think the mission fell on local VC more often than not-hit and run tactics in general.
So in Vietnam, obviously the weakest link in the doing war business, is to cut the chain of supplies, and at this, the Vietnamese Enemy was well learned in the ways of killing, and the art of warfare, and knew every blind corner, or bridge on the highway system. And they were good at it and effective with their hit-and-run-when-needed tactics; they always sprung the trap on their terms and timing, and they were a respected and feared enemy to deal with. It wasn’t long I imagine before it was clear heavy weapons support was going to be needed to try and protect the convoys of trucks full of precious fuels and supplies, bombs, ammunition, etc. and guns began to make their appearance on the backs of Duce and a Halfs, and 5 Ton trucks, then they tried to armor them up and were specially made for different operations using anything from the 7.62mm M-60, and .50 Caliber M2 Machine Guns, to Quad-50 Cal. Gun Mounts, and Electrically Driven, Belt-Fed Gatling Guns, from Helicopters called “Mini-Guns”
Lieutenant, Transport, 1st Army (Stateside 1960s):
After serving in WWII, the First Army returned to the United States late in 1945. they came home and lodged at Fort Jackson (NC), then were moved to Fort Bragg (NC), then moved again to Fort Jay, on Governors Island (NY) in 1946. They later supplied the US army with soldiers and equipment during the Korean War. Then, in 1966, the First Army was relocated to Fort Meade (MD), where it began training and supplying troops for the Vietnam War as it was building up and took over the responsibilities of the Second Army, which was then inactivated.
When the US pulled out of Vietnam for the most part by 1973, the First Army's mission was changed from training and preparation of active regular Army units to Army Reserve units. In 1993, they had a reorganization, and five divisions carried out training and support missions.
The uniform is not a Vietnam uniform, but it fits in here because it’s the only other Transport uniform I have from the era, and it represents the state-side training, as soldiers, and the supply chain.
Specialist, 18 Engineer Brigade in RVN:
Now, the term Engineer has meant different types of soldiers and Miners, but the WWII and Vietnam, as well as present Army Engineers, are very overlooked. The Marines have the Navy Seabees, and they need to be recognized, too.
Army Bases did not build themselves, nor did the perimeters bunkers, and fields of fire, layers of barbed wire fences, and rolls of it all over, and layers of mines-all this- and the nearby roads are kept in good shape, the local highways, and roughs of transportation need to be kept open. In Vietnam, the soldiers of the 18th Engineer Brigade provided their supportive duties to pretty much all the US forces. Army Units in-country, clearing roads of mines, bunker building, and trenches, including building construction, engineering, laying concrete, and mechanical work with other Army projects.
During World War II, the brigade served in the European Theater. It earned a Distinct Unit Citation on 10 February 1966. The four corners of the crenelated square allude to their four campaigns in World War II: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Note the patch of the 20th Engineer Brigade on his left shoulder, there are two upright swords in the center of the square.
When the 18th Engineer Brigade deployed to Vietnam, they stayed for some six long years of combat service, They supported fourteen campaigns, loads of infrastructure building, and repair for both military and local civilian projects. They worked on innumerable road construction projects over those years and participated in building several airfields, also helping many infantry units clear fields of fire and in road-clearing missions.
After their time in Vietnam, they came back to the States, and the brigade was assigned to the 'Seventh Army'. They continued with their work of fabricating buildings and maintaining the US. Army facilities, same work- no bullets going overhead. They have served with the US. Army Europe participated in Operation Desert Storm, also, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. never faltered in their work; they are professionals and have tremendous pride in their work. The 18th Engineer Brigade (as it were in Theater) is currently a subordinate unit of 21st Sustainment Command, headquartered at Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt, Germany.
The Uniform Shirt is the standard M-56 Fatigue type, Green, much as was seen in the later '60s, when they started getting replaced by the Jungle Fatigues. it does retain the common 'Subdued Insignia' and on the collar, the pin-on metal type.
Find /Reshoot uniform 18th ENGR. #2',
Army Engineers, RVN: In-country, one’s race I think was not a huge issue but I guess for some when they came back to the states, sometimes it made a big deal again for some, that couldn't deal with what happened there I suppose and friends influence and some didn't want to remember. It shows how in times of need, we can bond and work together to keep each other alive, but then, when things get normal again, we’re forced by society to change back, and that's a shame.
Specialist, 18th MP. BG. 716 MP BN., Sentry Dog Ha, RVN:
Police Dogs were also used to detect land mines, explosives, booby traps, enemy weapons caches, Rice, and even the enemy in concealment. They lead patrols and are, in general, liked by the infantrymen. They brought some relief at night when they slept, and most people just like dogs...unless, of course, you're the enemy, then there is complete terror!
These special animals’ fate was quite unfair, as they were either put to sleep when the US pulled out or left to an unknown fate. I would not be surprised if some were eaten. A sad legacy for these war heroes who did an exceptional service, and their masters and trainers, too, all lost a bit of themselves when these dogs were lost.
Not the first dog handler in the collection, perhaps not the last, this is a representation of one of the handlers who worked the parameters of base camps and secured the gates at the US. Military Compounds all over the Vietnam area of operations. One would imagine this is still done today wherever US troops are stationed.
He looks like he is prepared for a long walk during a hot day; the vest did not help in this weather much, but did give some comfort of a safer feeling. This MP is prepped for a perimeter duty with his critter to search and make sure all is as it seems along the outside wire. Often, the vest was used on vehicle seats and sat on for more comfort rather than what they were designed for.
He and his dog will sniff out any tunnels and follow them if they find them. He's got a flashlight to look in any spider holes and pull out and diggers, or sappers that may be preparing an assault or observing the camp. The flash could also let US troops know he was out there and be used as ID for the dog handler, so his jittery troops won’t shoot him. He carries 4 extra frags and 4 M-16 magazines on his web belt, as well as 2 canteens and other gear. The 4 magazines did not have a lot of comforts, and this was like 5 seconds worth of shooting, some men took to taking 2 x 20 round magazines together and doubling their supply of ammunition. The modified magazine led to Colt Arms and side companies, enlarging the magazines to 30 rounds later. The Military Policemen and the dog handlers went through much training for their MOS, all post-infantry school, and the boot camp break-in period. They got loads of shots and training in various weapons as well as jeep and truck driving, and armored vehicle operation for some. Specialist Coleman here has one of the jungle fatigue warm weather jackets, it may have been obtained from an off-base store or the PX, and possibly an issued item; this is not clear, but is laid out in typical subdued fashion. The MP battle-ax patch is made like the jacket’s material - cloth, as is the SENTRY DOG.
The handlers’ Sentry Dog, Rocker, added to the 81st MP Patch, subdued on olive-green plastic, locally made brassards with all subdued form, the brassard is made of plastic material, and pinned at the top of the jacket, it has Velcro on the back, a rare item at the time. This uniform got the works, jacket, shirt, helmet ...and added a bunch of gear in the first few shots, to show some of what they might carry doing the perimeter searches. The uniforms are rarely shot with someone wearing them- I just don't have the time or energy or people that can wear them...but it looks a lot better when I can do those kinds of shoots. As per norm, there is little ID on the jungle-fatigue shirt. name, branch, and unit. And the shirts Brigade patch with Sentry Dog rocker. He has a medium green tee-shirt and regular fatigue trousers, with a beat-up Boonie cap for off duty and when needed to do his job. This would be a common look for an off-duty soldier.
His Boonie carries the 81st MP insignia, in a nonstandard size; it is just a cheap metal pin, bought at a store, as a trinket, like an item, a nonmilitary DI item, but it serves the purpose for recognition, and the short, brimmed hat is identifiable as his. His statement is seen more and more in the latter stages of the war. Folks got away with it in all branches, but MPs in all branches are regulated groups, and they often work with officers to protect them.
“Being Upgraded” Staff Sergeant, 18th BRG. 720th MP BN. MP - River Division:
And now for something completely different, as they say.... a water-cop, an MP, in Vietnam, assigned to work with the Riverine Forces. Activated during the Vietnam War, the Brigade oversaw all Military Police operations in the country for a large portion of the conflict, undertaking a wide variety of missions throughout the country and providing command and control for other military police groups in the region. Members of the Brigade performed a wide variety of missions, including the evacuation of prisoners of war, security of vessels and ports, convoy escort, security of vital installations and VIPs, maintenance of discipline, law, and order, and direct support to combat operations.
There were 18th Brigade units that had performed Police duties and were involved in determining and intense battles in the Mekong Delta during 'Tet of 68' and in Bien Hoa, and the Central Highlands, but there was fighting all over-so MP's ended up all over in response, often having to call in more support one would think. Note that the 81st MP Brigade and the 504th MP Battalion wore the same patch, a shield with two battle axes and a sword in the center. As you can see, there was even a River Boat Detachment! Both Shield Patch and the River Patrol Scroll are Subdued "In-Country" made in Vietnam. In and around 1969, most of the patches were becoming the subdued green-black issue, for obvious reasons.
The 18th served in all the corps tactical zones in the Republic of Vietnam during its stay there, and did so the whole time, ranging from Da Nang in the north to Soc Trang in the southern end. In the highland and coast, all the major cities, and into the jungle at times, and up and down the waterways of the Mekong Delta. The uniform, of course, is unobtainable, and most never left Vietnam, quite likely, but I feel this very well represents one of these Men, and so in doing so, a cap is provided with the uniform as well as his helmet. The blouse would have been seen throughout the deployment there. Eventually, jungle gear replaced all the prior Cold War-designed uniforms for use in Europe, though even in the end, sometimes the M56 Field Jacket was still seen in-country.
He would have carried the typical MP Gear on him, whistle, pistol, and handcuffs, with his jungle boots and trousers as well. The 18th Military Police Brigade is in Grafenwoehr, Germany, as of recent, and it provides law enforcement and force protection duties to support the US Army in Europe. They served in Yugoslavia from 1991 to 92, and in 2003, 04, 07, and 2008, they were deployed to Iraq.
Sergeant, 504 MB. BN. V100 vehicle Commander:
The 504th MP in Vietnam: The 504 earned, the Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1965-1966, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1968-1970, the Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for IRAQ 2003-2004, Army Superior Unit Award for 1994-1995, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1966-1972, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1970. This is a bit overlapping the Battalion DUIs, and I don't know the Reg's there and how the command operates, I guess. This was on my friend’s Green Class A's, a set he had kept at his parents’ house. He gave me some time back.
Vietnam Era MP Badge: Th MP, was issued a badge with a number on it, and I should think they still do, and they looked something like this, not this one is in 'FOB' for of pocket hanger, so could easily be swapped to whatever the uniform of the day would be, and they looked something like this, not this one is in 'FOB' for of pocket hanger, so could easily be swapped to whatever the uniform of the day would be.
“NEW” Specialist, Fatigue Uniform (Before deployment to Vietnam):
This is the first of three in a set in representation of his “Army Life” friends of the family for a very long time, he baby sat me when I was a kid, when my folks were out of town, or at least come and check on us, this represents after assignment to the MPs, and done with the training. This is from before he went overseas.
“Updated” 18th MP BRG. 504th MP BN. Specialist Mullens, RVN: (Being redone/upgraded at this time)
Specialist Mullens 504 MP Bn: I have been working on getting his uniform (Correct) and some of his story in here…I have been going to see him to get this set of 3 correct. I don’t know what all he remembers about it all, but I've got to get this right, still there is a little guess, and by golly, bear with me. Again, this helmet has the 18th MP brigade “Uhit Insignia”, I had bought the decal, and it looked good, but fell apart upon application, as did the red-white band, etc., so all had to be done by hand, and I think the artist did a great job. This was all done over an original helmet, mind you, that was just too hammered to display, so we fixed it up.
B Company was called the highwaymen on the roads of Vietnam, and were called the 'Road-Runners'? The nickname of the U.S. Army's B Company, 504th Military Police Battalion. This is a Statewide uniform, and at this time, attached to the 3rd Army, this is their Patch. He wears the 3rd Army Patch on the MP Band. I want to say these were in the pocket, and the uniform had' this set likely in a box now of DUIs...but believe there were 2 sets of DUIs with the uniform, maybe changed one time. These men patrolled the notorious road known as Route 1 (Highway 1) from Nha Trang to Bong Son, Route 19 from Qui Nhon to Pleiku, and Route 14 from Pleiku to Kontum.
Specialist, Mullins, has his “name tape” here in the subdued format, and the shirt itself is the original cotton style fatigues. This seems to be what the powers that be wanted the MPs to look like- even in the field, their gear was spit-shined, polished, and track! Though some were able to obtain the lighter jungle-type uniforms for use in vehicles and outside the base operations.
This is what I have for Mr. Mullins, as plain as it gets, this is the way it would have appeared out of the box-per say, for his Vietnam issue fatigues, I think the troops received 3 pairs, and one may have been kept in reserve of those for say- Roll Call, and on-base affairs, Parade, and award ceremonies, etc.
I don't know the absolute regulations, Go with what I see and hear from the guys I make uniforms for, but I think it was this 1969 period that you begin to see the soldier’s rank appear on the collars in the metal form and Tom has them here, all has yet to be confirmed from him, but officers still got to wear the cloth ones if needed I think. As I see it, this is how most of the Military Policemen looked while in Vietnam, and this is how I envision Tom looking as well. He is proficient with the M-16, he also was trained in the use of the M-14, M16, M1911 .45 Automatic, and 80mm Mortar, the M-79 Grenade Launcher, and the various Hand Grenades, and Smoke, Tear Gas and I assume the M-60 Machine-gun as well as LAW Rocket, this shows the shape of the MP Band that was generally seen in Vietnam.
This is one I tried to reproduce for the uniform but is a late pattern (Very Wide) 1990's style, and larger type of He had given me his-Vietnam made MP (Military Police) Brassard, it looked much like this, that is in shape-but was the black plastic style-with the subdued patch applied to it. , and doesn't cut it either....someday the real one will show up again (I hope), or I will cut this down and make it correct. Now, I guess Tom preferred an old Thompson submachine gun for personal protection, which he procured somewhere, and the stock was removed from it, and he carried an M-79 with buckshot, or a beehive round in it.
I assume the uniform was pretty much the normal issue for him and his outfit, the 504th for their tour. And the subdued style stateside fatigues was the standard, not jungle fatigues, it would have been completed with matching trousers, with jungle boots, while in the Ford Mutts, and V-100s was the flak vest was generally worn.
Tom had once told me he had a Boonie he had worn in-country and had the grenade pins on it and all that...so I tried to reproduce that as well, I did add the Specialist rank to the front, as this was common practice, hope I got it close, Tom. So, rather than the hat in the uniform picture, this is what I wore: a green Boonie with the loops cut out of it.
I believe he said he had worked mostly with prisoner control, and movement to their containment areas, and/or interrogation facilities. Occasionally, he did convoy running on Highway one and has spoken of riding in the back seat of the V-100 Armored Car Vehicles on those operations. Here is the common subdued, “in-country made” 18 MP Brigade Patch.
Also, in the Flak Vest pocket, I added M-16 Magazines and Medical Aid - Wound Kits, just for examples of what else was sometimes carried by these soldiers on Prisoner Controlling Missions and the Highway - Convoy Runs.
This is my perception of my good friend Bonnie Cap in Vietnam, he liked the Boonie hat, and personalized it by cutting all the loops off it., I believe he still has it. These Soldiers patrolled along many notorious stretches of road as Route 1 from Nha Trang to Bong Son, Route 19 from Qui Nhon to Pleiku, and Route 14 from Pleiku to Kontum, into the Central Highlands; none was routine, all were dangerous.
MP's and Prisoners: Some of the MP's job was to contain North Vietnamese, and VC prisoners', and go bring them, if possible, near where they've been captured, they did little of the interrogation of these people, Intelligence or rather Counter-Intelligence people would do that, or sometime ARVN intel. But then they guarded the US. Prisoners are as well unfortunately, many US. soldiers went AWOL, or refused orders, fragged officers, or raped a Vietnamese girl and the like...not a good place to be in Jain in Vietnam during the war I should think.
The MP Arm Bands vary from photo shoot to photo shoot, but Tom said the subdued-parcher ones on black felt were not there when he was subdued on the artificial leather; locally made types were there. The MP on the camouflage cover is something I had and fit here, but I do not think his helmet had the black felt-tip MP on it. He did use the steel pot at times, and the liner by itself I I understand it. The helmet is one of several I bought and tried to replicate back to how they look. I have several variations, and have sped them out with these MP uniforms, not all are confirmed to be exact copies. The ones with the uniforms here are even different from one description to another.
“Updated Pictures” EM, Uniform, D CO, 504 MP Bn: (Being upgraded and fixed at this time)
This uniform shirt represents one that my good friend Tom Mullens’s Class A uniform. He served in Vietnam from 1969-to-1970, I believe. He was a Sergeant when he left the Army, I believe, but stripes were never applied to this uniform. The War had taken a very unpopular turn in the States in 1969, and the one he flew home in soon ditched it in a garbage can at the airport, donning civilian clothing to escape the hippies and protesters, as I remember the story went, a very disturbing situation indeed.
The uniform he gave me long ago, I think when he was “Watching us” sort of a babysitter / check on the kids role, I was in my early teens, 13-14 maybe, and he was a longtime friend of the family, still, we keep in good communication. He had taken many pictures, I guess, but they were confiscated from him when he was coming home. Heavens, we wouldn’t want any of that getting out, I guess. I’ll ask him to jot down a story here someday.
The class A uniform had been through a lot, but much of much of was still together, having gotten it as a gift, back when I was just in my early teens, and he had watched out for me while my parents were on a trip to Hawaii or somewhere. It was in great shape, but a few bits and pieces were missing, and I filled in the blanks, and a little confused, I guessed, and had it wrong.
So recently, I asked him about that time, and if he would go over the uniform, and make sure it is correct as he remembers it, and tips on the fatigues he wore before deployment, and the jungle fatigues he wore on deployment. And as I fix them up, I’m adding new pictures.
Tom, after his time in the service, married his beautiful wife, Ella, and has two sons. He went on to become a very successful businessman and was able to retire and have a comfortable, good life.
The uniform over the years, well, Ididnt take care of it the way I should have, was in several photo shoot, and we added things that were never there and what not, and after 3-4 moves was barrier in the crawl space, and now adult enough, to say to myself, I have to make this right, for Tom, I love him that, and so, it came out, we talked, and, I think this is how it looked, his Class A after getting home from vietnam and before his raise to seargent, and ended his Army contract. He had been moved around a bit, and there was a lot of protesting in 1969 and 70, and he probably got tired of that, and he felt it was time to move on, I suppose.
I’ll ask him to possibly elaborate a bit on this if he would like, at some point. The helmet is not part of this uniform, but a part of the collection that fits here.
“New” 503rd MP Battalion, 3rd Arm Division, USA, on Riot Duty.
The 3rd Army MPs were controlling Demonstrators. Before their deployment to the Vietnam Conflict, the men of the 504th, then serving under the 3rd Army, were sent to various Draft Card Burning and protesting events. My friend Tom served with the Savannah Riot Squad for a while, trying to keep the peace here in the state of Georgia. The 503rd, as far as I can tell, was part of the same, as this is the 503rd MP Battalion with the Third Army suppressing protestors and rioters.
The Protestors and Peacenicks:
To some, it might have been understandable to protest the war as was not a sound war, but to take it out on those who answered the call, and served did not deserve the treatment they received from their fellow AMERICANS, but after the Tet offensive in 1968 (that the Northern Forces Lost), The media of the time only served to help the North Vietnamese in their propaganda, to create doubt amongst the older, and rage in the young. And the politics to out a president should have nothing to do with the Military people coming home. It would take forty more years to start to clean up the stain on America.
The typical teenage kids at the time were good people, but some were just Draft Dodgers, and frankly, chose to burn their Draft Cards and fled to Canada, losing their citizenship! Disgusted at the war's situation, and his unwillingness to fight the War, there was near zero support for the American Soldier, while getting disgruntled Veterans to vent their rage on the White House, and going so far as to wave the Enemies Flag down the street, and throwing ...human waste at the troops when they came home and were at the airport, a deplorable scene, and quite out of line.
I have gotten to the point where I realize I am not going to be able to get all of these people’s uniforms together, so I’ll show the Cold War Era Helmets, just to show them:
As it became a very unpopular war, and there were riots and mishaps with national guardsmen in the states.... being in the army was the only way for many people though, and many who did not go to Canada or figure out a way to not get drafted-that demanded decent grades in college, and/or get married. No, a lot of fellows join, to get a job, period, the needed to acquire a trade, an occupation, the get in it, because it was inevitable, and you could get a shorter stint in the military, or with a draft, dodge the inevitable... or for some get with the outfit of their picking, with the promise of staying with you friend.
MPs in the Khaki / Summer or Tropical Dress Uniform:
MP in Tropical-khakis, 1960's: There were times when the Hemet liner was not used, in Saigon, like maybe no, but about anywhere else in Vietnam, the liners all the time, unless you were in camp, or your Hooch, or guard duty, then you had your steel pot over it, and on road trips. The MP (right) is wearing the 'Class 2', as it was known then, Khaki uniforms in shirt and trouser form.
As it became a very unpopular war, there were riots and mishaps with National Guard soldiers in the states, and MPs were called in to help with Police work. Being in the army was the only way for many people, though, being in trouble with the law, or draft number coming up, and many who did not go to Canada or figure out a way to not get drafted, like getting decent grades in college, and/or get married? Find someone to sign off on a medical problem, what have you? But, no, a lot of fellows joined, to get a job, period, the needed to acquire a trade, an occupation, the get in it, because it was inevitable, and you could get a shorter stint in the military by joining, there was the buddy system, join with a friend and stay together, but that never worked out (deliberately), but if you ran, you were in trouble. But the renegades were eventually pardoned by the new President! (in a slap to those who went) And many came back home, feeling they had won in the long run, and they had. Many went AWOL when on leave, and even in-country, some American soldiers decided to run rather than serve.
