U.S. Marine Corps Unit Insignia in Vietnam 1961-1975

177 Pages·2004·106.142 MB·English

by  E. Richard Wilson, III

u.s.
Marine Corps Unit Ingnia in Vietnam
u.s.
MARINE CORPS
UNIT INSIGNIA
IN VIETNAM
1961-1975
A PHOTOGRAPHIC REFERENCE
E. Richard Wilson III
SchifferMilitary History
Atglen, PA
Dedication
Tomy wifeandfriend Julia; my daughterKatelyn, my grandson
Terrence, and granddaughterHeather
and inloving memoryof
LeoWillardPovickandNicholas MichaelPovick
They will besorelymissedand liveonin my heart
CopyEditorJuliaAnnWilson
BookDesign byIan Robertson.
Copyright© 2004 byE. RichardWilson III.
LibraryofCongressControlNumber: 2003114190
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any forms or by
any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or information
storageandretrieval systems- withoutwrittenpermissionfrom thecopyrightholder.
PrintedinChina.
ISBN: 0-7643-1919-1
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CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Chapter 13 Chapter2~
CommandElements 10 1stAir-NavalGun LiaisonCo 52 MAG-13 92
AerialObservationSection 52
Chapter2 Chapter29
151 MarineRegiment 15 Chapter 14 MAG-16 96
5th Marine Regiment 17 ForceLogisticCommand 54
7th MarineRegiment 19 ForceLogisticSupportGroup 54 Chapter30
1stForceServiceRegiment 54 MAG-36 102
Chapter3 3rdForce ServiceRegiment 54
3'dMarineRegiment 21 Chapter31
4th MarineRegiment 23 Chapter15 MAG-39(Provisional) 108
9thMarineRegiment 25 1stShoreParty Battalion : 56
3dShorePartyBattalion 56 Chapter32
Chapter4 Observation Squadrons-VMO ........ 112
26tliMarineRegiment 27 Chapter 16
27th MarineRegiment 29 1stMedicalBattalion 58 Chapter33
1stHospitalCompany 58 TacticalAirController (Abn) 114
Chapter5 1stDentalCompany 59
CombinedActionForce 31 3dMedicalBattalion 59 Chapter34
3dDentalCompany 59 Anti-AircraftMissileBn 116
Chapter 6 11thDentalCompany 59
Reconnaissance 33 Chapter35
Chapter 17 MAG-15 (MCAS RoseGarden)....... 118
Chapter7 1stMilitaryPoliceBattalion 60
11tliMarineRegiment 35 3rdMilitaryPoliceBattalion 60 Chapter36
12thMarineRegiment 36 OperationEndSweepTF-78 126
13thMarineRegiment 37 Chapter 18
1st& 2nd SentryDogPlatoon 62 Chapter37
Chapter8 1st& 2nd ScoutDogPlatoon 62 U.S.ArmyDivisions 130
th
1stRadioBattalion 39 Mine& BoobyTrapDetectionPlt.. 62 U.S.AirForce366 TFW 132
5thCommunicationBn 39 U.S. Navy 132, 134
7thCommunicationBn 39 Chapter19
MarineSecurityGuardDetachment.... 64 Chapter38
Chapter9 Rep. ofKoreaMarine
1stEngineerBn 41 Chapter20 Corpsinsignia 135
3dEngineerBn 41 1stMAWCommandElements 66
7thEngineerBn :..41 Chapter39
9thEngineerBn 41 Chapter21 Vintage MarineCorpsinsignia......... 137
11thEngineerBn 42 MASS 70,71
1stBridgeCompany 42 Chapter40
3rd BridgeCompany 42 Chapter22 AdditionalUSMCinsignia 140
MACS 72
Chapter 10 Chapter41
1stMotorTransportBn 44 Chapter23 ShoulderScrolls & "Beercan"
3dMotorTransportBn 45 MATCU 74,75 PocketEmblems 157
7dMotorTransportBn 45
9hMotorTransportBn 45 Chapter24 AirWingAbbreviated
11hMotorTransportBn 45 VMGR 76 Designations 159
VMCJ , 77
Chapter11 MapSoutheastAsia 160
IstTankBn 47 Chapter25
3rdTankBn 47 MWSG-17 78 GlossaryofAbbreviations 161
1stAnti-TankBn 47
3rdAnti-TankBn 47 Chapter26 UnitCrossReference 163
MAG-11 80
ChapterTwelve HowtoUsethis BookIVa1ueGuide... 166
IstAmphibiousTractorBn 50 Chapter27
30dAmphibiousTractorBn 50 MAG-12 87 Acknowledgments 170
AbouttheAuthor 174
FOREWORD
Thiswork, U. S. Marine Corps UnitInsignia intheRepublicofVietnam1961-1975,is
a significantcontribution to the record ofthe Marine Corps' participation in the Vietnam
Warbychroniclingthedistinctiveunitinsignia,downtothebattalionandsquadronlevel,in
support of our nation's commitment to a democratic way oflife for the people ofSouth
Vietnam.
Unitinsigniahavelongbeenofinterestto military historian, Collectors,Veteransand
families ofthosewho haveservedwithpridein ourNation's armedforces. Unfortunately,
inthecaseoftheUnitedStatesMarineCorps,thereisverylittleinprintthatidentifiesthese
insigniafor the units that served so proudly in the Republic ofVietnamfrom 1961-1975.
Fortunately,theauthor,ProfessorEugene(Gene)Wilson,hasrectifiedthisvoidinourproud
history.
AveteranofthewarinVietnam,Genehasbeenputtingtogetherhiscollectionofover
350MarineCorpsunitinsigniaformorethan30years. Thiscollectionofbothofficialand
unofficialunitinsigniaisclearly"oneofakind."Colorscansoftheseinsigniaareinconstant
demandbyhistorians,collectors,formerMarines,andMarineveteransorganizations.Now,
with the publication ofthis authoritative, artfully illustrated book, this prize collection is
availableforalltoview.Suchabookislongoverdue.Forme,thebookprovidesareminder
of my proud service. It also provides me with an opportunity to share with my family,
friends, and fellow veterans the official and sometimes unofficial insignia of the units in
which Iproudlyserved.
ThisMarineistobecommendedforhisdauntlesseffortstobringtogetherthiscollection
and to shareitwith us.
GeorgeR. (Ron) Christmas,USMC (Retired)
LieutenantGeneral, U.S. MarineCorps (Ret.)
PresidentMarineCorps HeritageFoundation
6
INTRODUCTION
The use ofdistinctive unit insignia for the United States In Vietnam, Marines from units such as the Combined
MarineCorpsoriginatedinFranceduringWorldWarI(1918). ActionProgram-whowereinvolvedinagrass-rootssecurity
The first units within the Marine Corps to display individual operationandwereassignedtoruralareastoassistlocalmilitia
unitshouldersleeveinsigniaontheiruniformswerethe5thand indefense ofavillage-woreasmallbadgeorpockethanger
6thMarineRegimentsandtheFirstAviationForce,respectively. typeinsignia.TheMarines'DogHandlers,servinginWarDog
Thecrudely made cloth shouldersleeveinsignia (pictured on Platoons, alsoworethinmetalbadges-commonlyreferredto
page 138) were worn by U. S. Marines to exhibittheir esprit as"BeerCans"-ontheirjunglefatigueuniformtoemphasize
de corps while serving along side U.S. Army units as part of theirrespectivespecialtyas aparticulartypeofdog handler.
theAmericanExpeditionaryForcein France. Given the length of the Marine Corps' fifteen year
The practice of Marines wearing individual distinctive involvementinSoutheastAsiamanyotherexamplesofinsignia
cloth unit insignia became official and was adopted Marine canbefound,inadditiontolocallyprocuredembroideredcloth
Corps-wide following World War I. This practice continued patches, such as EndofTourserviceplaques, Zippo cigarette
throughWorldWarII,culminatinginsome45 shouldersleeve lightersbearingametalcrestoftheunit, coffeemugsadorned
insignia. The most notable in design was the Marine Raider with hand painted unit insignia, and even "military payment
Battalion Patch, with a skull within the slats ofthe Southern certificate" money clips. The product of this practice of
Cross constellationon afield ofblue(picturedonpage 139). procuringitemsbearingaunit'sinsigniafromalocalvendoris
In 1947 the practice of Marine ground forces wearing commonlyreferredtoasan"in-country"ortheatermadepiece.
individualunitinsigniawasabolishedonthebasisof"onecorps Thepatchdesigns,especiallyfortheMarinegroundforces
-oneinsignia:theeagle,globe,andanchor."Theonlyexception included in this work, are not intended to be a complete or
to the Commandant of the Marine Corps' instruction was definitive representationofthe respective unit's entire period
Marines assigned to the Marine Aircraft Wing, who were of service in Vietnam. It was the author's goal to display at
authorized to wearunitinsigniaonflight clothing. least one example of every Marine Corps unit's distinctive
The wearing of individual unit insignia on a military insigniawithserviceinVietnamdownto atleasttheBattalion
uniform is a source of pride that builds morale among the andSquadronlevels, respectively.
membersofthatunit,andwhetherauthorizedorunauthorized, It cannot be emphasized enough that this book is a
thepracticeexists.This timehonoredtraditionofmaintaining compilation ofnot only the author's, but also quite a number
adistinctiveunitinsigniacontinuestobepracticedtothisday of other former Marines and collectors that assisted in the
the most notably individual unit insignia being that ofthe 1st chroniclingofthisperiodofMarineCorpshistorythathasbeen
MarineReconnaissanceBattalion(picturedonpage33);similar otherwiseoverlooked.
toitspredecessor,theWorldWarIIeraRandierBattalion,with This workis offered for its historical contributionby the
skullandcrossbonesatoptheSouthernCrossconstellationon authorasaprivatecitizen.Theauthordoesnotattempttotrace
afield ofblue.Whilenotauthorizedonthedressuniform and military lineage or unit heraldry. Neither the United States
very seldomfound on field uniforms for obvious operational Marine Corps nor any othercomponentofthe Departmentof
considerations, the custom and tradition of distinctive unit Defensehas approved, endorsed, orauthorizedthis work.
insigniawas veryprevalentduring theVietnamwar.
7
III MAF CHRONOLOGY
TheuseofDistinctiveUnitInsigniafor theUnitedStates In Vietnam, Marines from units such as the Combined
MarineCorpshaditorigininFranceduringWorldWar1(1918). Action Program involved in a grass-roots security operation
The first units within the Marine Corps to display individual wereassignedtotheruralareastoassistlocalmilitiaindefense
unit shoulder sleeve insignia on their uniforms were the 5th ofavillageworeasmallbadgeor pockethangertypeinsignia.
and 6th Marine Regiments and the First Aviation Force, TheMarines DogHandlersservinginWarDogPlatoonsalso
respectively. Thecrudelymadeclothshouldersleeveinsignia, wore thin metal badges, which is commonly referred to as a
pictured on page 112, were worn by U. S. Marines to exhibit "BeerCan" on theirjunglefatigue uniform to emphasis their
theirespritde corpswhileservingalongsideU.S.Armyunits respectivespecialtyas aparticulartypeofDog handler.
as partoftheAmericanExpeditionaryForceinFrance. Given the length of the Marine Corps' fifteen year
The practice of Marines wearing individual distinctive involvementinSoutheastAsiamanyotherexamplesofinsignia
clothunitinsigniabecameofficialandadoptedMarineCorps canbefoundinadditiontolocallyprocuredembroideredcloth
widefollowingWorldWarI. Thispracticecontinuedthrough patches such as, EndofTourserviceplaques, Zippocigarette
WorldWarIIculminating insomeforty-five shouldersleeve lightersbearingametalcrestoftheunit, coffeemugsadorned
insignia. The most notable in design was the Marine Raider withhandpaintedunitinsigniaandevenmoney (MPC)clips.
Battalion Patch with a skull within the stars of the Southern Theproductofthispracticeofprocuringitemsbearingaunit's
Crossconstellationon afield ofbluepicturedonpage 112. insigniafrom alocalvendoriscommonlyreferred to as a"in
In 1947, the practice of Marine ground forces wearing country" ortheatermadepiece.
individual unit insignia was abolished on the basis of "one Thepatchdesigns,especiallyfortheMarinegroundforces
corps - one insignia: the eagle, globe and anchor". Theonly included in this work are not intended to be a complete or
exceptiontotheCommandantoftheMarineCorps'instruction definitive representation oftherespective unit's entire period
was Marines assigned to the Marine Aircraft Wing were _ofservice in Vietnam. It was the author's goal to display at
authorized to wearun.itinsigniaonflight clothing. least one example of every Marine Corps unit's distinctive
The wearing of individual unit insignia on a military insigniawithserviceinVietnamdowntoatleasttheBattalion
uniform is a source of pride that builds moral among the andSquadronlevels respectively.
membersofthatunit, whetherauthorizedorunauthorized, the It cannot be emphasized enough that this book is a
practice exists. This time honored tradition ofmaintaining a compilationofnotonlytheauthors,butalsoquiteanumberof
distinctiveunitinsigniaiscontinuedtobepracticeto this day. other former Marines and collectors that assisted in the
Themostnotablyindividualunitinsigniabeingthatofthe 1st chronicling this periodofMarineCorps history thathas been
MarineReconnaissanceBattalion,picturedonpage25,likeits otherwiseoverlooked.
predecessortheWorldWarIIeraRandierBattalionwithskull This workis offered for its historical contribution by the
andcrossbonesatoptheSouthernCrossconstellationonafield author as a private citizen. The author does ilot attempt to
ofblue. While not authorized on the dress uniform and very tracemilitarylineageorunitheraldry. NeithertheUnitedStates
seldom found on field uniforms for the oblivious operational MarineCorps nor any othercomponentofthe Departmentof
consideration, the custom and tradition of distinctive unit Defensehas approved, endorsedorauthorizedthis work.
insigniawas veryprevalentduring theVietnamwar.
8
1
u.s.
Marine Corps Command Elements
Defense Dept.photo (MarineCorps) ]Cd MarDiv,Do Nong,Vietnam 12Apr65;"Marinesmarch up
the beach after makingan amphibious landingatDo Nong, RVN", (Photo bySgt.BATCHELOR)
9
u.s.
Marine Corps Unit Inignia in Vietnam 1961-1975
u. S. Marine CorpsAir and Ground Team Vietnam Insignia
10