safe conduct pass for deflecting enemy (Viet Nam period)

[RCS]

How do you know the Viet Cong could even read it - not much education in the remote parts

[Peter Laidler]

In Malaya during the 60's our 556 ammo was all supplied from US Ordnance in SVn although it came to us through the pooled UK/Aust/NZ Ordnance system and I seem to remember that the ammo came in these (or similar ?) bags. The bags were no use there so they were just used as small bags for keeping stuff in - until they deteriorated or rotted out. Obviously the Australians and NZ-ers that had been to Nui Dat had seen them. Wish I'd have kept a few. Suprised that they last this long as they seemed top go very soft and floppy and just break/tear-up

[Sarge]

These could be had thru the supply system And also came with a loaded M16 mag in them. In the latter case you tore them open, took out the mag and dropped the bag on the ground.
I picked up a bunch from supply and sent them home. Still have some around here somewhere. I also use several in the Viet Nam War displays that I set up.
Sarge

[imarangemaster]

Check my 604 post. You'll see some of my Cheu Hoi bags.

BTW, I always wondered why they didn't issue a 30 round version with Farsi on it in the Gulf. Sounds like something they would have done during the first Gulf War in Kuwait.

[Captain O]

We Vietnam era Veterans have a sad nostalgia. We fought so that the South Vietnamese could determine their own destiny. After signing the Paris Peace Accords, the NVA and VC promptly swooped in and stole it from them. (You have to love those "happy-go-lucky" Communists)!

It's too bad that the South Vietnamese people weren't allowed to retain their freedom.

[Flying10uk]

Somewhere I have a British safe conduct pass from the Malayan Emergency and when I can find it I'll scan and post it. Working from memory it is in part written and part diagram/cartoon format and presumably they were air dropped over enemy held areas.

[matthanne1]

They still show up around here and in great shape. One flea marketer was selling them for a buck apiece so I grabbed a few for my students to see and hold a part of the Chieu Hoi program as they were reading about the Vietnam War. Saw the ones I got were made in 1970.

On a side note, as an Army brat living at Schofield Barracks in 1977, used to see a lot of stuff pitched out, our favorite digging spot was the CIF dumpster.

[Flying10uk]

Were any of the Vietnam safe conduct passes, produced over the the Vietnam war period, designed in partly picture format as per the Malayan example I mentioned in post 16? No disrespect intended, but I would think the idea of the picture format was because many of the opposition couldn't read or write?

[matthanne1]

In short, yes, because you also had other dialects and languages, plus pictures relay the message quickly to all family members who find them.

[RCS]

I believe all the safe conduct plastic envelopes were manufactured in Wheeling, Illinois - which is perhaps an hours travel north of Chicago. The 30 round safe conduct envelope is quite rare and I have
never seen one for sale, do not know if they were also manufactured in Illinois or not !