Maxim Molodtsov Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) And so I have this Service A Green Dress Uniform. And I try to understand where the officer belonged. I see a West Point Academy patch clearly, but what is the red patch with the sword (remind me of some engineer corps)? Please help me to recognize! And this coat doesn't have shoulderboard insignia. In what rank he could be? And what type of collar insignia (except the U.S. letters) should I get to put on this coat to complete the suit? Edited October 31, 2014 by Maxim Molodtsov
Chris Boonzaier Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 I think it is MACV Military assistence command Vietnam?
IrishGunner Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) Chris is correct; The red patch is U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). Google will tell you a lot. The jacket is an officer's jacket and could be any rank 2LT to COL. The jacket is also generic; he could be any branch. (Unless the buttons have "castles" instead of "eagles" - Engineer branch have special buttons.) Edited October 31, 2014 by IrishGunner
Maxim Molodtsov Posted October 31, 2014 Author Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) Very thanx, folks! I'm still learning 'bout US Army & USMC uniforms etc, so I might ask some questions if I wouldn't find info via Google and official regulations. Does this patch means that it's a coat of a Vietnam vet? 'Cause I see two gold stripes, I know it means that owner has been fighting in a foreign land for a 1 year. The button looks like this Edited October 31, 2014 by Maxim Molodtsov
IrishGunner Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) Yes, a patch on the right shoulder is a "combat patch" - the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the unit served. The West Point patch on the left shoulder would have been his unit of assignment at the time; this changes as the soldier changes units. He probably was an instructor at West Point. Officers only wear the "Overseas Service Bar" for service in a theater of war; each bar represents 6 months. So, this officer served a one year - normal tour - in Vietnam. The button is the standard eagle; so, no way to tell what branch. As an instructor and with a tour in Vietnam, he was probably a Captain, Major or Lieutenant Colonel. Edited October 31, 2014 by IrishGunner
Maxim Molodtsov Posted October 31, 2014 Author Posted October 31, 2014 Yes, I thought exactly the same. So I'll put something ordinary (like Infantry) collar insignia.
IrishGunner Posted October 31, 2014 Posted October 31, 2014 Yes, I thought exactly the same. So I'll put something ordinary (like Infantry) collar insignia. That's a logical choice. And I'd probably go with Captain rank considering only one combat tour in Vietnam.
speagle Posted November 2, 2014 Posted November 2, 2014 His West Point patch signifies a staff position (probably instructor). References indicate that to be accepted an applicant must be at least an O-3 (Captain) and not eligible for O-4 (Major) at the time of selection.
Maxim Molodtsov Posted November 3, 2014 Author Posted November 3, 2014 Than Captain rank is the right choice.
Ulsterman Posted November 10, 2014 Posted November 10, 2014 Not eligible for Major? I know majors who teach at West Point. How's that work? Is instructor a dead end assignment?
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