US Army Vietnam HUEY MACV IN-COUNTRY BADGED 1ST PATTERN JUNGLE JACKET PANTS SET

Description

Vietnam was a new kind of war, the first helicopter war in history, and it demanded a new kind of warrior. US "Huey" helicopters ranged the country, acting as gunships, aerial rocket artillery, troop carriers, air ambulances, and "sky cranes". In addition to Assault Helicopter and Medevac companies, the US Army also fielded several transportation detachments to service and maintain the choppers, ensuring they were operating at peak performance and ready to fly at a moment's notice. This US Army Vietnam HUEY MACV IN-COUNTRY BADGED 1ST PATTERN JUNGLE JACKET PANTS SET is in very good condition, with some hardened whitish and dark soiling at the left chest of the jacket, the side seams, lower front pockets, and hem of the jacket having been period "taken in" by a tailor, some light loose stitching to the top left edge of the size label at the inside neck of the jacket, the number "6" hand applied in black marker at the interior lower right front placket of the jacket, a small nick in the lower left back of the jacket, some small spots of dark soiling at the inner left cuff of the jacket, a few small spots of dark soiling at the back left hem of the jacket, a 9" x 3" "L" shaped stitched repair at the front right knee of the pants, two small frayed tears around the upper portion of that repair on the pants, some brownish soiling at the front thighs and middle seat of the pants, the ankles of the pants having been period "taken in" by a tailor, thereby removing the drawcords, 4 small nicks in the outer right seat of the pants, some overall wrinkling, and with some light overall age wear evident (ALL pictured). Otherwise, the set is in fine shape, with no other damage to the crisp OD 100% cotton poplin construction. Most interestingly, the jacket bears a gorgeous in-country Vietnamese hand embroidered "SOC-TRANG / 80TH TRANS DET / VIET-NAM" patch at the right chest pocket, carries a full color US made cut edge Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) patch at the left shoulder, and is adorned with a full color woven "U.S. ARMY" tab and in-country Vietnamese hand embroidered "AMEZQUITA" name tape at the left and right chest, respectively, along with full color embroidered on twill Spec 4 chevrons at the sleeves. The 80th Transportation Detachment was stationed at Soc Trang Army Airfield in South Vietnam during the late 1960s, providing hangar maintenance and support personnel to the 121st Assault Helicopter Company. The 80th was under the command of MACV, and also flew missions to retrieve vital parts for the choppers. It features the classic 1st pattern dual exposed button flap closure 4 front pockets, the top two slanted inward at a jaunty angle, exhibits button cuffs, shoulder straps, waist adjusters, and an interior gas flap, and sports all of the original "shiny" dimpled OD plastic buttons throughout. The jacket is a Size Small Regular (though likely fits a bit smaller with the tailoring), retains the original "INSTRUCTION LABEL" at the interior lower right front, and is dated 1963 on the original nomenclature tag inside. The pants are a Size X-Small Regular (measuring to a Size 25 Waist x 27 Inseam), show a button fly and interior gas flap, slash entry front waist pockets, dual exposed button flap closure pleated large thigh cargo pockets, button waist adjusters, and single exposed button flap closure seat pockets, and are dated 1964 on the original nomenclature tag inside, with the letters "AM" (the first two letters of the surname Amezquita) hand applied in black marker on that government label. They too boast all of the original "shiny" dimpled OD plastic buttons. A beautiful example of a very rare, original US Army Vietnam HUEY MACV IN-COUNTRY BADGED 1ST PATTERN JUNGLE JACKET PANTS SET. Now celebrating over 20 years on eBay. Bid with confidence and please view our other great military, aviation, and sporting classics, including a German WW2 MWC LUFTWAFFE PILOT B-UHR AUTOMATIC WRIST WATCH in MINT, unworn, new in the box condition, sporting a crisp 60 minute/12 hour (outer/inner) white numbers black dial, and featuring the classic big "onion" crown and sweeping seconds hand with hacking function.
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