My Inland goes nicely with my Retro AR

[imarangemaster]

Here are some retro resources:

AR-15 / M-16 Retro Forum - AR15.COM

Retro Black Rifle www.retroblackrifle.com

Here's mine: a reproduction of a 1961-62 vintage Model 601

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I turned 18 in '63 and had no idea what was going on in the 'Nam. I sure found out on Dec. 22, 1965: Greetings from the president of the United States.... Amazingly, even though I was drafted, I wound up in a stateside outfit and never went anywhere. And at that time, I was very much okay with that.

You are 4 years older then I am. Drafted back then could have sent you anywhere. Stateside or Germany was the place to be then. I turned 18 in 1967, and enlisted. As luck would have it, I made it to "the Nam" just in time for Tet. Quite the learning experience.

I have this as a reminder

[imarangemaster]

Nice SP1 Jim!

I was lucky. When I enlisted in 1974 at age 22, I ended up at Oakland Army base where they were offloading material and caskets from back there. In 1975 I was at the MP station there when Saigon fell... At the MP school in 1974, they were looking for MP volunteers to go over for duty in Saigon and Ton Son Nhut Air Base. Both my wife and my older brother (an O-3 who did two tours there) told me if the Viet Cong didn't shoot me, they would. I stayed stateside.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Smart choice

[DaveHH]

when the big Ia Drang fight happened. I was drafted in 8/65. Nobody knew squat about Vietnam. Our Captain had just returned from a tour there but it was vacation time unless you were in SF. Captain told us about eating monkey brains and drinking himself out every night. When he found out I was going he said "You'll love it there". Well by May 66 the cat was out of the bag about how bad the 2/7th was shot to pieces at X Ray/Albany. Everyone got interested in Vietnam by that time, interested in how to not go there. By the time I got there in May 66 it was full throttle war not some adventure. By the way, in May 66 you only had an M16 if you were in a mobile Infantry Battalion and even some of those outfits didn't have them yet. They were not seen at all. M14s, carbines M1s.

[USGI]

I realize that my "duck hunter" pattern advisers camo I have coming would look just as correct with the M1 Carbine with upgrades, as a 601 Model Ar15!

I've got some "woodland green" Camo pattern Army clothing that I got from my brother. I think he retired in the late 70's. Question is whether it's the same as the "duck hunter?" In the pictures, the "duck hunter" pattern looks more brown than what I have. Thanks! - Bob

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Those are some tough looking guys. Very early 60's I would think.....Frank

Frank,

I just received my VFW magazine. The second picture of the guy sitting on the boat is on page 30. Caption says " A U.S. adviser accompanies South Vietnamese soilders on a river patrol near the Cambodia border in June 1964." So you have a date.

And they told us to say we never went into Cambodia. I know we ran up river there a few times. They copped out saying "near". Funny.

Jim

[frankderrico]

Jim, those early guys were realy tough men. I had a first sargent that was there then, as an adviser to SVN rangers. He could be in those photos.
With your three tours I can't imagine that you were not in "Cambode" more than once.
I have a good friend that went there by trail and made it back. Now when we get together and crack a few it is remembered as as hell of a good time. "GEEEZE" how time softens the exprienece.....Frank

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

You are correct, more then a few.

Good time my a**. I can't consume enough beer to feel that way. Don't talk particulars about it with many people either. Kind of a personal experience thing. I get together with two guys from my boat. One a couple times a year, he lives 500 miles away. The other lives 3,000 miles away. We get together every other year or so. Occasionally we might bring it up.

All these guys going back to visit. Not me, I never want to go back there.

[imarangemaster]

Duck hunter camo was not standard government issue It was either commercial duck hunter camo made by Kamo or Ranger and bought from stores like Western Auto or Sears. Some was also manufactured in theater by tailors. They called it "Beo Gam" (leopard spot) camo. It was issued late 50s to early advisers to about 1964 or 1965

Here's some originals I bought. Kamo brand