Souvenirs - Clothing

Souvenir "Bush" jacket fasioned by a Vietnamese tailor from a G.I. issue Poncho liner. These were often adorned with assorted patches & embroidered designs and sent home to friends and family	Back view of tailor made "Bush" jacket	Asian made "Tour" jacket
Early souvenir jacket with personalized, hand embroidered insignia, designs & name on left chest	Back of jacket features oversize unit insignia for the 120th AHC "The Deans" and "Crew Chief" title for the owner	Neck Scarf made up for Ranger unit member
Yellow scarf with the universal motto for Air Cav units in S.E.A.	The yellow silk flying scarf was�approved for wear by several Air Cavalry units in Vietnam. This example was made for Steve Shepard and personalized with the addition of unit insignia, nickname & call sign Image courtesy of Steve Shepard
Yellow silk "Flying scarf" for an Aero Rifle Platoon member in A troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry regiment.
1st Cav Souvenir jacket crafted from G.I. Poncho liner and modeled, in country, by a member of H Co., 75th Rangers. H Companies motto - "If you Kill for Pleasure, You're a Sadist...If you Kill for Money, you're a Mercenary....If you Kill for Both, You're a Ranger. The man in these pictures is Michael Dean Banta, KIA, 02-Oct-1970 on a mission with Hotel Co Rangers of the First Cavalry Division. Mike and I were good friends. He was with me on my first LRRP mission in Vietnam. He was killed right next to me on our last LRRP mission as we were fending off an assault by the bad guys. A genuine hero to his last breath. I was his Team Leader at the time. Mike went along as a favor to me. Michael, you were a courageous soldier, a great and loyal friend, a selfless hero, and very good in the field-good eyes, good ears and very fast reflexes. We saved each other's lives a number of times. I'm sorry that I couldn't be the last one to return the favor, man. Family or friends pls contact me. Darrel Smith dlsmithjr@msn.com; dlldsmith@hotmail.com Friend, fellow H Co Ranger, Team Leader 7225 184th Dr SE Snohomish, WA 98290 Click here for more information about Michael Banta Image courtesy of Bill Brooks		Marines are not widely known for a generous attitude regarding other services, but here's the exception: A Marine 'snake driver' (AH-1W's) from HMLA 267-Marine Base Camp Pendleton, near where I live in SoCal, had one of his unit T-shirts presented to me when his wife had occasion to review my photo album in '96. Separated by almost a generation, it was given in a spirit of 'respect to those who had gone before', I believe. I am honored and humbled by my status as an 'honorary Marine aviator' (Hell, I'm not even a pilot, just an ex-cavalry doggie!) posting it here in a spirit of tribute, and consider that I have accepted it on behalf of all those with related backgrounds, for their enjoyment. Semper Fi, Guys! Image courtesy of Doug Kibbey
VN made scarf for this G Trooper, 2/11th ACR Image courtesy of Doug Kibbey, G Troop, 2/11th ACR.	Distinctive red & white neck scarf was designed to mimec the colors and design of the Cavalry Guidon Image courtesy of Gunnar Schalin A 3/17	316th "Pink Panthers" Party Suit and Hat Image courtesy of Joe Stone
Joe White's Party shirt. Joe White writes: "Upon Joining the 114th A.H.C. in mid-1967, I, as with all other new unit members, was introduced to the Catholic Nuns, who ran the girls orphange at the end of the airfield runway. The nuns set great stall at teaching 'houseskills', to include sewing classes. I was measured for and later presented with, the party shirt as shown. The superb renditions of the unit insignia, are less than 1 inch high, and indicate the level of skill that produced handmade insignia all over Vietnam, for the US forces. You will note that the Cobra insignia, has been overlayed with the crossed lances of the Lancer Plt. The 114th was unique in having a 2 guns platoons at that time, this platoon was later disbanded, in October of 1967 Image courtesy of Joe White via John Jones		Souvenir jacket fabricated from a quilted Poncho liner for Tom Gurchinoff while flying as a crew chief with the Smiling Tigers of D/229. Image courtesy of Tom Gurchinoff
Image courtesy of Earl Williams 121st AHC C/O Milton Lowden

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