VNAF Crewman Personal Effects 1975 - KQVNCH

Vietnam Air Force crewman's personal effects: civilian and military identification cards, dog tags, and locket, circa 1960s-70s, RVNHS Archive.

 

          This grouping of personal effects belonged to a member of the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF). He was born in Hanoi in 1950, and was likely one of the many who made the migration south after partitioning. Included in the grouping are civilian and military identification cards as well as a pair of dog tags on a chain with a locked attached. The cards showing his military identification date to a period that would make them still valid in April of 1975.

 

Vietnam Air Force crewman's personal effects: details of photos as they appear on the identification cards and locket, 1960s-70s, RVNHS Archive.

 

          The identification cards show him last serving with the 4th Air Division, which was based at Binh Thuy Airbase near the city of Can Tho. The division oversaw the 74th and 84th Tactical Wings. The airman was a sergeant, and he wears a pair of flight wings, signifying him as likely the member of an air crew - although it is not certain to which unit he belonged specifically. Along with his two dog tags on the chain is a personal locket. On one side it features his photo. On the reverese, the image of an unknown woman. It is not known what relationship existed between the two, but it is certain they were close.

 

Vietnam Air Force crewman's personal effects: details of opposite sides of locket, 1970s,

RVNHS Archive.

 

          This small grouping of items offer a glimpse into the personal identity of one member of the republic's armed forces in its final months. These items were kept together as a reflection of that identity for posterity into the present. This post is hoped to highlight such individual memories, and encourage others to ensure their preservation for future generations.

 

 

Republic of Vietnam Military Flag Finial - QLVNCH

Republic of Vietnam Military Flag Finial, 1960s-70s, RVNHS Archive.

 

              The flag finial shown in this post is an original pre-1975 piece for a Republic of Vietnam military flag. Typically, a color guard would carry two flags - the national colors and the flag of the particular unit. The finial for the national colors consisted of a spike-design. The finial for unit and other military flags was of the pattern shown here, featuring an eagle atop a wreath with a star held overhead between the wings.

 

General Thuan Quac Pham as 5th Division commander saluting the colors during the playing of the Republic of Vietnam national anthem.

Note the design of the finial atop the army branch flag.

 

          The practice of having separate designs of finial for military versus the national colors was for the most adhered to, but exemptions to the practice occured. First, period photographs seem to show the military design finial did not become widespread until the mid-1960s. Many early photos simply show the spike design on both types of flags, which would later be regulated for the national colors only. Addtionally, in the early years of the republic, many military unit flags featured the national colors with the unit designation embroidered onto it. Photographic evidence shows both the eagle and spike-design in use with these flags, even in later years. Nevertheless, most use of flags by military units, especially after the mid-1960s, followed the policy of using separate finial designs for each type of flag.

 

A Republic of Vietnam military color guard stands at attention during a speech. Note the different finials for the national versus military flag, 1960s.

 

 

Medical cadets ceremony. Note the same military pattern finial on both flags.

 

A photo showing detail of an early 7th Infantry Division flag. Note the flag is of national colors base with the unit designation embroidered onto it as was the common pattern for most early military unit flags. Also, note the use of a spike finial.

 

 

 

Hùng Cường 1936-1996

An early promotional portrait of Hùng Cường.

 

                 May 1st, 2016, marked twenty years since the death of one of the most popular singers associated with the Republic of Vietnam, Hùng Cường. Born on December 21st, 1936, Hùng Cường first achieved fame in Vietnam in the 1950s, and would continue to perform until his death on May 1st, 1996. Many of his songs covered the subject of soldiers in the military, and he often performed in military uniforms, most frequently dressed as a ranger.

 

Records and promotional material featuring the music of Hùng Cường,

1960s-70s, RVNHS Archive.

 

                 Many of his most well-known songs were performed as a duet with Mai Lệ Huyền. Some of his music hits where he contributed vocals include "100 phần trăm," "Cưới Em," and "Hờn anh giận em." Hùng Cường also appeared as an actor in films and television in the Republic of Vietnam, and traveled the country performing for the entertainment of soldiers and civilians alike. After April of 1975, Hùng Cường was eventually arrested and held in prison by the Communist authorities. He immigrated to the United States in 1980, settling in Garden Grove, California, where remained until his death in 1996. Thousands of his fans attended his funeral, and his music continues to remain popular. In this post, we would like to honor his memory on the twentieth anniversary of his passing.

 

A record cover of Hùng Cường and Mai Lệ Huyền, featuring the song "Hờn anh giận em,"

1960s, RVNHS Archive.

 

Please view our Facebook page to listen to some samples of Hùng Cường's music.

 

 

Forty-One Years Ago....

"We all have lived two lives. That before April 30th, 1975, and the one after."
                       - Ha Van Chuyen, Republic of Vietnam veteran, interviewed by RVNHS.

          As the forty-first anniversary of the final day of Black April approaches, RVNHS would like to encourage everyone to remember the tragic events of this month, and take a moment to pay respect to the men and women whose lives were forever changed on this day.

Early Army of the Republic of Vietnam Officer's Visor Cap - QLVNCH Việt Nam Cộng Hòa

Early Army of the Republic of Vietnam Officer's Visor Cap,

circa 1950s-60s, RVNHS Archive.

      This style of cap was worn by junior officers (2nd lieutenant to captain) of the army in the early years of the Republic of Vietnam. The cap is nearly identical to the later versions with the exception of the badge and the chinstrap buttons. Caps like this first appeared in the late 1950s. The badge was similar to the earlier State of Vietnam badge, with the only alteration being the text "Quốc gia Việt Nam" (State of Vietnam) on the scroll was replaced with "Việt Nam Cộng Hòa" (Republic of Vietnam). The badge was briefly replaced in 1963 with a new version, but after the removal of Ngo Dinh Diem, caps with this style of badge were again standard. The badge was later replaced around 1967 with the large eagle version, which remained in use to 1975.

An army 2nd Lieutenant with early officer cap badge,

 Saigon, 1964, RVNHS Archive.

 

            Features of the cap denoted level of rank. Enlisted personnel would have silver badges with a black chinstrap. Junior officers (2nd lieutenant to captain) would have a gold badge with gold chinstrap. Field officers (major to colonel) would have bullion gold laurels added to the visor brim, while officers of general rank would have further bullion gold laurels added to the band of the cap. Khaki was the most standard version of the cap, although caps of darker brown wool and also white canvas were also used. In later years, the early version of the laurels would be augmented with blossoms and curved branches.

 

Figures in the 1963 coup against Ngo Dinh Diem, left to right: Dương Văn Minh, Lê Văn Kim, Nguyễn Hữu Có , and Trần Văn Đôn. Minh, Kim, and Đôn were generals at the time of this photo, and thus have laurels on both the brim and bands of their caps, while Có  - who was a colonel at the time, does not. Saigon, January 29, 1964.

 

General Lê Văn Tỵ with white canvas version of the early pattern army visor cap,

LIFE Magazine Photo, Saigon, 1961.

 

Republic of Vietnam Sailor's Cap - Hải quân Việt Nam Cộng hòa

Republic of Vietnam Sailor's Cap with variations of cap badges,

circa 1960s-70s, RVNHS Archive.

                   At its height, the Republic of Vietnam Navy ( Hải quân Việt Nam Cộng hòa ) consisted of over 42,000 personnel, 14,000 vessels, and dozens of operating bases along the coasts and waterways of Vietnam. It was not only the largest navy in Southeast Asia at the time, but also one of the largest in the world. The cap shown here was the standard sailor's cap worn by enlisted personnel. This style of cap, sometimes referred to as a "Dixie cup" - in reference to the disposable drinking cups, has been utilized by the navies of multiple nations. These caps worn by Republic of Vietnam sailors did not always feature insignia. It is generally believed caps from the earlier years were more likely to have insignia, with the use of insignia decreasing in frequency in later years. This cap from the RVNHS Archive is shown alongside two variations of the cap insignia. The insignia on the cap is believed to be an earlier version, while the other two are later. However, photographic evidence exists showing the earlier version still in use by some into the 1970s.

Republic of Vietnam Navy sailor with cap, 1967, RVNHS Archive.

Republic of Vietnam Navy sailor with cap, note the style of curved rim, 1960s, RVNHS Archive.

Two sailors of the Republic of Vietnam Navy with the earlier style cap insignia still in use,

1973, RVNHS Archive.

Vietnamese Made Holsters

Shoulder holster with straps, and waist holster with belt, made in Vietnam,

ca. 1960s-70s, RVNHS Archive.

           Republic of Vietnam military personnel often preferred to acquire their own equipment for use in the field when possible. Privately purchased holsters, such as these two from the RVNHS Archive, can be found in period photographs showing them in use by members of all branches of the armed forces, including the police. Occasionally, these holsters and ammunition belts were issued, but more often than not they were purchased on an individual basis. The two holsters shown here, like many made in Vietnam, are of water buffalo hide. They could be found for sale by street vendors and tailors throughout the republic, and like any item produced in an open market, ranged in quality from average strength pieces to works of great craftmanship.

A Time-Life magazine photo showing a street vendor offering a selection of locally made

holsters and ammunition belts, Saigon, 1967.

Two members of the National Police with locally made holsters and belts, 1960s.