Army Airborne, Ranger, Marksmanship, Aviator, Aircrew, Combat Infantry & Medical Badges in Vietnam.

[@bluetoad2001]

two of my friends earned CIB’s. i’m definitely proud of their service.

[@Marka2401]

The Bronze Star is awarded for two different actions. If a soldier displays valor during a battle that doesn’t meet the criteria for the Silver Star the Bronze Star with a V attached denoting the medal was awarded for heroism. The second type of Bronze Star can be awarded for doing a good job usually in the rear away from and safe from contact with the enemy, in such a case it’ll be awarded for Meritorious Service and is awarded for a soldiers work during their deployment. This allows mostly officers and high ranking NCO to receive a nice ribbon. But, those of us in the Special Forces and infantry refer to such an award as a Participation Trophy.

[@ThePimpedOutPlatypus]

Excellent presentation, thank you. I am currently serving with an Airborne unit, and yes we still call Master Parachutist wings 'The Master Blaster.' We also call Combat Jump stars on Jump Wings 'Mustard Stains.' Finally, the EOD Badge is nicknamed 'The Crab' nowadays.

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

Thanks for the info!

[@stephenmills76]

Love your pointer, Col.

[@jimjoyce1638]

I received 2 of the badges. Parachute and Rigger badges. PROUD of both!!!

[@morgan97475]

OIF & OEF vet here with a CIB. I hope we make you older combat vets proud.

[@Marka2401]

Yes, but there was a time when the CIB was watered down after the Nam and I hope it went back to the original qualifications. Thirty days in country (unless WIA within the 30 days, must engage in actual combat and receive individual orders. Between you simply had to show up and it was a blanket award, no direct contact required and I met one guy from the 82nd that simply unloaded supplies from a landing craft, because he touched the sand he received a CIB. When I was submitted for the CIB and a Bronze Star with a ‘V’ the S-1 Captain told me that it might not be approved because we were in a night defensive posture. BS, both were awarded.

[@herkload]

Respect

[@ThePimpedOutPlatypus]

​@Marka2401 It varied during the War On Terror. Almost all of the combat awards required an actual engagement, however there was some controversy about Soldiers being awarded them for mortar strikes on the other side of the base. Most of the time it was overly stringent. For example, my Med Platoon did not put me in for a Combat Medical Badge for treating a blast injury during a mortar attack simply because it was on Base instead of outside the wire. Human Resources Command reviewed the action and determined it met intent of the CMB.

[@morgan97475]

@@ThePimpedOutPlatypus As a former medic (91A), I'd be quite proud to earn a CMB.

[@T.McGarry]

I got a great Christmas gift as a kid in the '60s, a "Gung Ho" Commando Outfit. It was loaded with cool toy guns, and accessories. When I dumped it out on the floor, there were several pieces of insignia, including a CIB. My Dad took that one, said no one should wear that unless they earned it.

[@rhett1029]

Cool video. Received the Marine awards and insignia book for Christmas and I’ve finished this but I find myself reading some of it every day

[@Marka2401]

One more correction about combat jumps in the Nam. The one jump by the 173 (Third Heard) the DZ had been secured the day before so it was really a simple equipment jump. There were several combat jumps made by the 5th Special Forces Group; most notably the combat jump made by the Mike Force on the summit of Nui (mountain) Cotto. It was a three day battle to secure the mountain where SSG Morris was awarded the MOH. All of the indigenous troops in the Mike Force were Airborne qualified and wore the US Army Jump Wings.

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

Thank you for the detailed on the special forces jumps.I had heard about them but didn’t know the details.

[@Marka2401]

You can Google jumps in the Nam and there is a complete list.

[@zeuscoburn2506]

And we got our first mustard stains in Kosovo and our second ,in iraq haggi land Kirkukiraq,, who wear you with.1 3 3, or other RECON CDC or HHC RECON PLT. LRSD.

[@zeuscoburn2506]

Sorry brother I'm fucked up.

[@zeuscoburn2506]

I'm fucked up brother!!!

[@pauldeegan6652]

Regarding the Parachute ‘Rigger’ badge: Wikipedia states the badge was first conceived and sketched in 1948 by individuals serving with the 11th Airborne Division stationed in Japan. It was only authorized to be worn locally, at that time. Although unofficial, the wear of the badge persisted for decades afterwards. Eventually, the badge was officially adopted by the US Army in 1986. This means that the badge continued, in an unofficial capacity, for some 38 years! That surely must be a record for the elapsed time between the design of a badge and it finally being officially adopted.

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

great info. I did not know that! I always hoped my chute was not packed Friday close to happy hour.

[@dw7094]

There were so many tabs and pocket patches that were worn on jungle fatigues. Seems like every command had their own patch or tab. It was a morale thing.

[@ronmills2036]

Trying to locate the badge or divice for the Harbor craft Bos'n. MOS 61B40. Helping my sister in law building a shadow box for her father who was a MSG and Vietnam vet. Passed recently.

[@hugbug4408]

My uncle kia near Pleiku central highlands South Vietnam around tail end of tet mid-3/68 w 1st cav.10 days b4 my 11bday.Also,new neighbors sons and bros. That fought there from 1964-72.

[@Gunslinger1875]

Great video!

[@longbui4038]

CONGRATULATION AND RESPECTFUL TO ALL G.I . IN SERVICE AT SOUTH OF VIET NAM (FORMER OFFICER TANK ARMY OF SOUTH REPUBLIC ARMY OF VN AT PLEIKU PROVINCE )🙏💕☕☕

[@timothyotis1274]

Instablaster...

[@alexeubanks467]

You don’t have the real original air assault badge pictured . The one given to the 11th AA that formed 1st cav air mobile

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

I know the one you are talking about and should have shown a copy of it... really good point!

[@speterj]

@17:32 the good conduct and army commendation metals are in the wrong spot.

[@mrjmorovis]

A number of HALO combat jumps in Vietnam have come to light.

[@indogrizz]

I was proud of my CIB from the Viet Nam conflict. A friend of mine who had an attillery MOS wears a CIB on a boony hat with other decorations. When I asked him about it, he said that he was a forward observer with an infantry company and the CO awarded it to him because he was in the field with them. I told him that I thought you had to have an infantry MOS to receive it. I don't know if I felt that I was downgraded or he was upgraded. I really know the answer. I guess it's sort of like the combat action badge vs CIB. Just a side note to decorations of the RVN war.

[@terryv]

If he said it was "awarded" to him, more likely he was handed a spare - if that. A CIB was awarded via typed & signed Division orders. No orders, no CIB. (No legitimate CIB, anyway.)

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

I was awarded Air Assault wings even though I never went through Air Assault School. This was done with the help of the 101 Airborne and 1st Cav. Div. I served in the 1st Cav in Viet Nam and made one hot LZ and also went through training which included rappeling when I was assigned to the Cav. after arriving in Nam.This award is only honorary and can't be worn on one's uniform and is not recorded on the DD214.We were awarded our wings during a Cav. reunion.

[@hugbug4408]

Shelby Stanton put out an excellent compilation titled "Order of Battle Vietnam" and "Order of Battle Ww2".I obtained thru the military book club 25yrs ago approximately.Everything u want to no bout Armies,div.s,regiments,bigades,battalions,companies,special ops,chemical and communication companies,engineering companies and etc. Excellent reference 4 research and 4 shooting the breeze conversations.

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

Yes, that is the best book out there. I wanted to show it during the introduction as the ultimate reference.

[@johnhibbard7886]

I have a question about skill badges. After AIT at Fort Devens in 1966 it was required that everyone take the Tactical Training Course (Jungle Combat). During this course we were taught how to use the 3.5 rocket launcher, the M-79 grenade launcher, the 50 cal, M-60 and the new M-16. How does a person qualify for the various skill badges?

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

in order to receive a qualification bar you have to fire a qualification course and pass it. Sounds like you all got a very thorough orientation but did not go through any qualification courses.

[@johnhibbard7886]

@@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376 thanks for the reply. At least I got a pretty certificate for completing the course.

[@terryv]

You would receive orders specifying the qualification badge & weapon. No orders, no badge; it’s just a familiarization exercise. (Too many qual-bars & badges become gaudy, anyway. Believe me - after a while, you stop bothering with them.)

[@stingginner1012]

Another unauthorized patch/award was "SAT CONG", passed out by the Vietnamese to individuals who had a confirmed kill. I never saw two that looked the same. Not everyone received one even if they had a confirmed kill. Many were thrown away and in country Customs Inspectors were known to confiscate them.

[@patdalager2598]

I went through RECONDO school.

[@river_furnish7795]

Great video

[@terryv]

The CIB is called the "Combat Infantryman Badge" - not "Infantrymen’s", "Infantryman’s", nor "Infantry".

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

good point..got it!

[@cespinosa53]

Awesome video🇺🇸🇺🇸👍

[@erasmocovarrubias6389]

AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY! Vietnam veteran here 1965-66. Co. B 2nd BN(AIRBORNE) 8th Cavalry - First Cavalry Division. CIB, Airborne wings, Valorous Unit Ward, Vietnan Gallantry Cross/Unit citation.

[@Marka2401]

Correction, the SPECIAL FORCES TAB was not used during the Nam, it came later in the 1980’s when Special Forces became a branch with the MOS designation 18, the infantry branch is 11. The Mike Force patch shown is also incorrect, I was in the 5th Special Forces Group on A-401 IV Corps Mobile Strike Force or simply Mike Force. Your patch is close but in this format I can’t upload the correct Mike Force patch. The patch with a white skull and crossed bones designated the IV Corps, each of the four corps had a different patch for their Mike Force units. Every conventional unit was assigned an area to operate within; the 5th Special Forces operated in all four corps and included Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. Contact me and I’ll upload the correct patches.

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

you cannot argue with a guy who was on the ground. The Mike force patch came from a group of original Vietnamese batches. But, as you say, it’s close to the real thing. There were so many variations and if you do not have a real one from that time you’re not exactly sure. how do I contact you?

[@Marka2401]

I have a sample but I can’t p[ost them in this mode. Use [e-mail]. I’ll also include the other Mike Force patches; there was a Mike Force in each of the IV Corps.

[@tonyruiz2390]

My severed in Vietnam GREEN BERET MEDIC

[@dondidykes5306]

What about navy vets

[@veteransmedalsworkshop-moa4376]

coming this week..Navy Surface and Aviation Warfare Badges!

[@zeuscoburn2506]

Leg

[@stevenpierce4359]

I failed my time in

[@grafenr.3405]

Great video