Veteran help

[jwgn777]

Good evening gentleman and Lady's. Are their any Vietnam vets that can tell me what the missing metals on my brother service display are? I think to the far right where the glue mark is might have been a Vietnamese flag.And between the flags and the country there looks like something else might have been glued there?

[stomachmonkey]

Top right looks like jump wings.

[jwgn777]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Top right looks like jump wings.

Thanks for the suggestion I hope someone has one of these in front of him or her.

[stomachmonkey]

I have one. It's packed away. Don't think I can get to it today.

[jwgn777]

Thanks I am curios to see it if you have the time to find it. Some one else posted one on another tread and I see it is different because of the many units individuals could of been in. Did every vet get this or did you actually have to be in the country of Vietnam to receive this? I also have some of his army issued money that was used if you were there. Or was it used everywhere?

[jwgn777]

[Rot 911]

Each unit in Vietnam had there own "Going Home to the Land of the Big PX" plaque and they were all different. I doubt that the missing emblem was a set of jump wings. But I only base that on my observation that he wasn't in an airborne unit like the 101st or 173rd Airborne.

[Drdogface]

If you want to find out what medals and specialties he had you would find it all on his DD214 which is a document that summarizes his military service. If you have his service number...usually the same as his SSAN..you can get it from the National Personnel Records Cntr which, I think, is in St Louis. I was in a tiny unit in Nam so we did not make or get such plaques but many guys make their own on a framed velvet covered board with medals, rank insignia, qualification badges, etc pinned on. You don't need to get these reissued...you can just buy them at any number of online sites which Google will find for you.

Personally I see no way to tell what was on that plaque just from a glue mark.

The money was referred to as 'script' and was changed every so often to keep the Vietnamese from using our money for illegal stuff. You could not possess US currency in Nam.

[flyenby]

I was there in 69-70 I noticed the it says radar on it, try to google the unit

[Drdogface]

Good catch.... I can't see all the unit name cuz of reflection, but it's there. Google that for sure...should give you all the info you need.

[jwgn777]

Yes he was in a radar unit. When he was alive and we were talking I think he mentioned that they they had mobile units from time to time and had to keep moving or else. I googled his unit and came up with others but not his. I am cleaning every thing in my house and decided to put my dads WW2 and my brothers Vietnam stuff and a case. i know I can purchase the metals on line. That's why i was trying to find the correct ones. I appreciate all the help i am getting.

[jwgn777]

Originally Posted by Drdogface

If you want to find out what medals and specialties he had you would find it all on his DD214 which is a document that summarizes his military service. If you have his service number...usually the same as his SSAN..you can get it from the National Personnel Records Cntr which, I think, is in St Louis. I was in a tiny unit in Nam so we did not make or get such plaques but many guys make their own on a framed velvet covered board with medals, rank insignia, qualification badges, etc pinned on. You don't need to get these reissued...you can just buy them at any number of online sites which Google will find for you.

Personally I see no way to tell what was on that plaque just from a glue mark.

The money was referred to as 'script' and was changed every so often to keep the Vietnamese from using our money for illegal stuff. You could not possess US currency in Nam.

That #would be on his discharge papers?

[Drdogface]

Well, that info puts a bit of a different light on it. If he was mobile and always moving...or else..then he may well have had jump wings. Interesting and damn dangerous. I urge you to get with the Records center or another idea is to go to a local Veterans Service Office (VSO) and they can find it pretty easily for you... That worked for me for a friend who died of Agent Orange several years ago.. There will be a VSO near you no matter where you live.. The should be eager to help out.

When did he pass, and was it service connected...not my business..just curious... Vietnam Vets are dying more rapidly than their peers for a variety of reasons. Lots of suicides too...lots. I hope that was not the case with your Bro

[Drdogface]

Originally Posted by jwgn777

That #would be on his discharge papers?

The discharge papers are the DD214. Yes, it would be. The DD214 should tell you what he was awarded and certifications he had.

[jwgn777]

We lost him in the early 2000 s. He did have a head injury it might have caught up with him. Can't prove that. I will take everybodys and your advice and get the correct info. I have been meaning to put all this stuff together for years now be fore it gets lost.

[flyenby]

BienHoa was the biggest air base in So Vietnam..most chartered flights carrying troops home or new replacements landed there. I arrived 10-31-69. I was mostly in the South..I am not an expert but I have not seen a radar unit in the field. I know there was a lot of radar stuff near the DMZ , some of it assisted in the B-52 strikes. They may have been headquartered in BienHoa. You should do as others have advised...contact the veterans group..or get his DD 214, it will answer a lot of questions. If I can help PM me. Scott

[flyenby]

Does it say SP5...that is the rank. Usually technical in nature

[jwgn777]

Yes It says SP-5. As we had conversations many years ago,I recalled him saying he was on a base over there but was not there all the time if my memory serves me right. If any one was there or know something different feel free to correct me. I will locate a local veteran group here and get every thing in order.

[jwgn777]

Originally Posted by flyenby

BienHoa was the biggest air base in So Vietnam..most chartered flights carrying troops home or new replacements landed there. I arrived 10-31-69. I was mostly in the South..I am not an expert but I have not seen a radar unit in the field. I know there was a lot of radar stuff near the DMZ , some of it assisted in the B-52 strikes. They may have been headquartered in BienHoa. You should do as others have advised...contact the veterans group..or get his DD 214, it will answer a lot of questions. If I can help PM me. Scott

What did you do over there? Did you have on of those plaques with the medal on it?

[flyenby]

Hi I was in the Infantry, patrols, ambushes search/destroy . I was also a scout with McKenzies Raiders.no plaques. The rank is Specialist 5 equals a E -5, if you we're in the infantry would be a sergeant..Spec 5 is more a rank dealing with technical