U.S. Army Airborne, in Vietnam:

Colonel, 82nd Abn. Div., Flight Jacket:

During the “Tet Offensive” in January and February of 1968, a Battle on a scale that swept entirely across South Vietnam, the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division, was on call and sent to Chu Lai Providence (within 24 hours of receiving its orders). They went on to fight in the Hue-Phu Bai area I Corps. After Tet, the brigade went to Saigon, where they fought in the Mekong Dela area, the Iron Triangle, and they went to search for the NVA sanctuaries along the Cambodian border, The Brigade served in Vietnam, for nearly 22 months.

When the 3rd Brigade deployed to Vietnam, the division had created a provisional 4th Brigade, it was made up by combining the 4th Battalion, 325th Infantry; 3d Battalion, 504th Infantry; and 3d Battalion, 505th Infantry. There was also an additional unit added, the 3rd Battalion, 320th Artillery, they were activated under “Division Artillery” to support the 4th Brigade.

82 ABN. Staff Sergeant Fatigue:

1st and 2d Battalions, 505th Infantry, 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry, with a combination of other units deployed to help to break the Tet Offensive, They came together quickly, and began planning, arriving in the Republic of Vietnam 18th of February 1968. Upon arrival, they got organized, and quickly moved towards the DMZ, taking on the VC and NVA forces that had seized many hamlets and towns, and controlled many areas at night.

By September of 1968, the brigade moved south, engaging the enemy forces around Saigon. they were attached to the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam, tasked to secure the western approaches to the capitol, to prevent ground and rocket attacks against the Tan Son Nhut airport complex (The Hub of Vietnam).

82 Abn. Spec.5, RVN:

The “Golden Brigade,” as they became known, from an announcement to the troops, by Lieutenant General John Throckmorton, the Commander of XVIII Airborne Corps, remarked that “everything the brigade touches turns to gold, doesn’t it!

The brigade had suffered 227 killed in action in Vietnam, with many more wounded. I imagine that all of them were somehow affected, dealing with an undeclared war, American Veterans would try not to talk about any of it get it behind them, not make sense of it, but try to move on with their lives, but this is easier said than done. Anyways, the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the 82nd Airborne Division had taken part in seven campaigns, and both brigades had earned multiple unit awards for their tour in the Republic of Vietnam.

Staff Sergeant, 82nd ABN. DIV. :

Probably a stateside uniform used after serving a tour with MACV.

2Lt., 82nd Airborne Division:

This, I think, would be a stateside uniform as well, having already had a tour with the 101st.

Colonel, 82 ABN, Artillery Regiment:

The Colonel has had a prior tour with the 173rd Airborne division in Vietnam, now trains new Paratroopers, and prepares them to go to war. He knows their likelihood of jumping into battle in a parachute is actually pretty slim, and troops have shown they will stick it out, they like being part of the team, and the likelihood is, they will be jumping into war from a helicopter is a very real possibility, and that training may be short, so they will depend on each other and thus the training is intense.

The depiction here is in a typical fatigue shirt worn through the 1960s, in the fully subdued format, implying a time from later 1957 on til changes came in late 1969 and into the 70s. He has a typical ball cap and a re-issued jump helmet.

Sergeant, 82nd ABN. DIV. Class A Uniform:

The Seargent knows it is not the number of medals that makes you a hero because he has served with many of them, he knows it’s not the number of stripes that makes you a leader either, he knows that servicing his first tour he was lucky, and by the end of his second tour he had saved some others too, and the last time was went a Brigade was in Vietnam, the whole Division never went. So the prior tour would have been with yet a different outfit, 101st, 173rd ABN don’t know, may have been pre-Airborne training, and as a grunt learned quite a bit, he had seen the changes in the war, with the attitude, and its operations. Probably happier with soldiering in Vietnam rather than working on base in the States, he might be contemplating going back for a third tour, he has a respectable enough rank to get to where he wants, but does he want to roll the dice and try another try at fate on the front lines, and he knows how very different things were now. He doesn’t know or think of himself as the hero, this was a very trying time for soldiers and their families, things did not always get better when they came home, they had changed too.

Fitting into society as a civilian was a bit frightening I suppose, some completely tried to forget this period with their lives, never talking about it like it was a void, the High School to War period deleted) most of them have done a great deal for society too, working and teaching, but they have every right to be proud and happy, it was not up to them where they would go after High School, the ones that didn’t join up straight away were eventually drafted, they were answering their supreme commander’s orders, and went when the country called them up, there were more and more different, school, marriage, but eventually they came, and they did their duty, to the best they could with what they had to work with, with their political hands tied. The price was heavy. They did their best and it was a job well done, and many appreciated it there, and when we left, they crumbled. But today works well with the USA.

Major 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Abn. “Ranger”, Cam Rahn Bay, Republic of Vietnam 1972:

In 1972 the 101st Airborne Division stood down from its mission in Vietnam after four years of combat.   While waiting for assignment soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division.   During this temporary assignment, they wore the 1st Cavalry patch on their jacket pocket.   The photograph was taken at Cam Rahn Bay.

The 1st cavalry Division was AIRMOBILE before it was deployed to Vietnam in 1965. It passed its state-side tests, but the concept needed to be rung out in Vietnam under combat conditions. The lessons learned from 1965-1967 caused the Table of Organization & Equipment {TO&E} to be modified to some extent. In 1968, the new TO&E was approved, and the 101st Abn Division and the 1st Cavalry Division AIRMOBILE converted over to that new TO&E. In 1968, the new 101st Abn Div AIRMOBILE established its Base Camp in the Northern I -Corp Area and continued to operate until fully redeploying to Ft. Campbell in 1972. 

The major wear’s the final pattern of the jungle fatigue uniform.  He has had a prior assignment with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, ashe wears the “Big Red One” patch on his right shoulder, but on his Right pocket, proudly as well, the 101st Airborne AIRMOBILE patch, and now, back again with the “Screaming Eagles” Division, that’s 3 tours at least, and may have even been in Korea, or another deployment like Germany.  He wears the Combat Infantry as well as an Airborne Qualification Badge.

With this uniform, he wears the matching third-pattern jungle trouser, jungle combat boots, and a combat helmet with a camouflage cover.  He has attached a metal rank device to his helmet just above the elastic camouflage band. He can wear this with or without standard load-bearing equipment or LBE. 

First Sergeant, 101Abn.Btln. 502 INF. RGT, (RVN):

As bits came together for this uniform, information came to light, and this final pattern jungle fatigue uniform, something similar to what Master Sergeant Walter James Sabalauski, may have worn, but his rank would have had the small star with a breath around that in the center of the stripes. There is a story that should be told though.

Sabalauski was born in Lithuania in 1910. His family moved to the United States when he was a small child. From 1929 to 1937, he boxed professionally while growing up in the Chicago area. An auto accident ended his boxing career with an astounding 0 losses out of 33 bouts. Command Sergeant Sabalauski entered the Army in June 1941. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater, fighting on the beachheads of the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, and the Philipines, all legendary battles themselves. But he later served in the Korean War as well, with the 187th Regimental Combat Team, as well as the 25th Infantry Regiment (Clearly he saw plenty of action there too). In 1963 CMS Sabalauski went to his third war, in Vietnam, for the first time, where he served as an advisor for the first time as an Advisor to the 32nd Vietnamese Ranger Battalion. Then after being sent to the Dominion Republic in 1965, he returned to Vietnam in 1966 It was during this tour he fought his most memorable battle.

Early in June, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment was conducting a mission to locate the 24th North Vietnamese Army Regiment. Charlie Company found them, locating the enemy, but what was estimated to be a Battalion size element. coming under heavy fire, and unable to maneuver, the company Commander CPT William Carpenter, called in airstrikes, in his position trying to force the enemy to withdraw. The enemy ceased fire long enough to allow Charlie Company to consolidate, reorganize, and establish a position from which to defend and began evacuation, of the wounded personnel. 1SG Sabalauski, in utter disregard for his safety, repeatedly placed himself at risk for the sake of his soldiers during the conduct of this mission. For his extraordinary heroism in destroying the enemy and the evacuation of mass casualties, he received both the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star.

After his second tour in Vietnam, he returned to the United States to serve as Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major at West Point. In 1968, he again returned to Vietnam and the 2-502nd Infantry Regiment. Command Sergeant Major Sabalauski continued service until 1971 when he retired at the age of 61.

The fatigue jacket makes use of non-subdued insignia. He wears an issue fatigue cap, with rank and Distinct Unit Insignia, when he isn’t wearing his combat helmet. Third-pattern jungle trousers and combat boots complete this uniform. When not in combat, web gear would not have worn. The metal badges were removed in the field, and he didn’t feel he needed to flaunt his age and time in the Army, one could generally guess, and not seen when wearing a rucksack anyway.

S.SGT., 101st Recondo, Fatigue Jacket:

**Captain, 101st ABN. DIV. Artillery:

The 101st Airborne Division deployed to Vietnam in 1965. The division was committed to offensive operations in Vietnam until 1972 when returned to the United States.

In 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson raised the number of US troops in Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000, and so, together with supply troops, the 1st Brigade was deployed to Vietnam to replace the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

The rest of the division followed in late 1967.

On July 9, 1965, the USS General Leroy Eltinge departed for Vietnam with 3,600 soldiers of the 101st on board. The passage probably was not very comfortable, as the 510-foot long ship was built for 2,200 men rather than 3,600 that were actually on it. On the Pacific, the engines broke down for a day. Finally, the 101st reached Cam Ranh Bay on July 29, where they were welcomed by General William Westmoreland personally.

Just three weeks after their arrival the 101st was deployed to the Binh Dinh Province to commence combat operations in Operation Highland.

In November 1967, the 2nd and 3rd Brigades were also deployed to Vietnam.

The first unit to be deployed to Vietnam was the 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment on October 2, 1967, to replace the 3rd Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade. After nineteen days aboard the USS. General William Weigel reached Vietnam on October 26. They first saw action on November 11.

The remaining elements of the 2nd and 3rd Brigades were transported in Operation Eagle Lift by plane and reached Vietnam in December.

During seven years in Vietnam, the 101st Airborne Division participated in more than fifteen campaigns. For troop transport, much more mobile helicopters were used, which were the better alternative in the dense jungle and with no runways.

In 1972 the 101st left Vietnam as the last combat unit, having suffered more than twice the number of casualties than it did in World War II.

The Division was involved in over 25 Major operations over their stay in Vietnam

On June 28, 1968, the Army agreed to the creation of a second air assault division. The 101st Airborne Division was to become an air assault division.

While the 1st Air Cavalry Division had been trained and equipped in the United States, the 101st Airborne was already deployed to Vietnam, which caused several problems.

During step 2 the whole division was transformed into an air assault division. (June 1969). During step 3 a combat helicopter regiment was created.

So, for the restructuring from an airborne division into an air assault division, a plan with steps was devised. During step 1 the 160th Combat Aviation Group (Provisional) was created as the "Screaming Eagles" transport unit. (July until September 1968).

During step 3 a combat helicopter regiment was created.

**Note: Artillery insignia is upside down! Damn!

*101st ‘Recondo’ Fatigue Shirt (missing metal rank):

Having served with the 82nd while they had their short trip to Vietnam, this would mean he’s on his second tour but assigned the 101st now, likely grabbed right off the tarmac. An NCO or officer, the collar insignia may have been removed for use in the field.

His Panama/Jungle “Training Patch” was for training there, but there were real and constant ongoing operations there for some time as I understand it.

*Jungle Expert, Recondo school, 2nd tour of Vietnam….this fellow needs some metal rank on his collar (RESHOOT).

First Sergeant, 101st ABN.”Drill Instructor” :

Major, XVIII Airborne Corps:

Sergeant First Class, 101 ABN. DIV. ‘Khakis’, Artillery:

Note once again the CIB under the Jump Wings this is quite wrong! I’ll fix this somehow at some point in the future and re-shoot it!

COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR, 101st ABN. DIV. Khakis, 508 PIR.

Captain, 1st, BN, 503rd Airborne Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Ranger) “Sky Soldiers” (RVN) :

The lead element of the 173rd Airborne Brigade (The Sky Soldiers), stationed in Okinawa, departed for South Vietnam on the 3rd of May 1965. It was the first US. Army ground combat unit committed to the Conflict. Combat elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade included the 1st,2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions 503rd Infantry; the 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Artillery; Company D, 16th Armor; Troop E, 17th Cavalry; and the 335th Aviation Company.

Headquartered at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon, the Brigade conducted operations to keep communist forces away from the Saigon / Bien Hoa complex. In February 1967, the Brigade conducted a combat parachute jump into a major communist base area to the north of Saigon near the Cambodian border. In November 1967, the Brigade was ordered to the Central Highlands, where they fought a major battle at Dak To against an entrenched North Vietnamese Army Regiment on Hill 875. In some of the most brutal fighting of the Vietnam War, the paratroopers captured the hill on Thanksgiving Day, winning the Presidential Citation for Bravery in action.

After more than six years, the Brigade was withdrawn from Vietnam in August of 1971. During combat service, they had suffered 1,606 killed in action, and8,435 soldiers wounded in action. Twelve of the Sky Troopers received the Medal of Honor for conspicuous bravery in battle. Brigade members received over 7,700 various decorations, including 6000 Purple Hearts.

This Captain, a company commander with the 1st Battalion 503rd Airborne Infantry, has served in the Korean conflict with the 2nd Infantry Division and has been awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge for the second time. He is Ranger and Parachute qualified, perhaps while part of a college ROTC program, after serving as an enlisted soldier. Like the majority of Army personnel, he wears the standard fatigue uniform in combat along with M1956 webbed load-bearing equipment. It is quite unusual to mix metal and cloth insignia on the uniform it’s one or the other.

The Brigade deployed to Vietnam with the M-14 Rifle and the Captain may carry one of these or carry a .45 Automatic in a black holster on his cartridge belt. He had an M1C Airborne helmet, The one in the picture was modified to have a webbing chinstrap for airborne operations.

In garrison he wore the standard Army Base-Ball Fatigue Cap with bright Captain rank pinned to the front and Parachute Wings, There is a picture with the 173rd ABN unit insignia in the center of the wings, this is how it was originally, now I think it might be a bit of a reach, as Captains have to be by the book, maybe his back up cap. He wore black leather jump boots with his fatigue pants bloused into them.

Specialist, 173ed AIRBORNE BRIGADE. 39th Dog Platoon:

Sorry, there are a lot of stories to add to many of my American Army Sections, I’ll have to get on it!