Recently after looking thru the patches coming out of Vietnam..I noticed one that I also had made in 1970. I served with the 506th and My base camp was at Evans. This was on the outside of the city of Hue. While on stand-downs, we would have things made outside the base , such as Jackets, Patches, lighters etc. We were proud as any other unit who served in Vietnam.

The patch that caught my eye has a brown space in between the rocker. As many of us know, these unit patches we had made for fun and not for wear. This one is a close copy of the real ones we had made in 1970 and 71 during my tour. I have protected my patch over the years under glass and also have another that I had sewn on a set of Class A's after I came home. I went back to Vietnam in 1989. In those days you had a guide with you just about everywhere if there was three of four of you. I have been back three times, the last time being just a year ago. I can say, that another person on here has stated  also what I saw, bags of patches being shown me. Sure enough, there was a 506th Inf patch that had just been made with the gauge backing and even had some old newspaper under it. However, the paper wasn't screened good as it talked about Pres. Bill Clinton. Remember if it's a zippo..check with the company. As to patches, I bought one on here as a test case. Sure enough, a couple of days and they had found one of a very rare patch at a very cheap price.(A Navy patch) My friend who served at Danang also still had his from 1969 and 72. These items need to be listed as Repo's!

Many of the Airborne and Special forces Items are long gone  and in very bad shape if you find them, as in the Saigon Market. They are out there,but I can tell of spending at least a month on each visit that you need to be VERY careful on items from 35 plus years ago. People are getting better to trying to sell you the real deal. I have no problem with a person wanting to replace a lost patch with a Repo as long as the seller tells the buyer. Contact your local Veterans Asss. Membership for help if you have forgotten on a little marking or a Coin etc.. Remember, the same people who sewed these years ago are still doing it. I hope I have helped someone get a real DEAL not a REPO!  Currahee!!!