1. First of all, we would like to know about overall Vietnam patches! Our basic question is where do you attach your patches on your uniform? When you see the pictures of the past, unit patches are on left shoulder, name tags are on the right chest, as seen with US troops, but the unit patches seem to be on rather down position compared to the US army (approx. 5 – 7 mm downward). Is that true? Any other differences from the US troop?
Answer question number 1
The Loi-Ho and Hac-Long patches would be attached on the left shoulder 4 or 6cm down (2 or 3 fingers) and the right shoulder Tổng Tham Mưu (Joint Chief Staff) for the US. There are no difference form the U.S. troop and no regulation for the location of the patches.
2. Were the commando patches of Loi-Ho and Hac-Long designed by the military forces? Can you tell us about any non-official patches that we in use in Vietnam, then?
Answer question number 2
The patches Loi-Ho and Hac-Long designed by the military forces, most of the non-official patches are for the Loi-Ho recon teams each team they designed their own patch
3. With the South Vietnam forces, there were also tabs and scrolls that were worn on the left shoulder just above the unit patches, for example, like BIET DONG QUAN (=rangers) and VIET-NAM, but how many kinds of tabs and scrolls were there? Please tell us the kinds, and any regulations about them.
4. South Vietnam Army soldiers wear patches on the chest pockets and shoulder loops, and seem to care more about them than the American soldiers do, did you find any differences between the American soldiers and Vietnam soldiers in their tastes and liking of patches?
5. Many of the South Vietnam soldiers patches, especially the special operations ones, have tigers and dragons as their motif, were there any taboos for the patches, or were there any particular symbols that were popular among Vietnam soldiers.
6. Some elete units of the American Forces are given some nicknames like the “First Team “ of the First Cavalry division and the “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne division. Can you please tell us the nicknames and any slang way of calling them, if there are any.
7. Did the South Vientam soldiers wear non-official patches as seen with the US military?
8. With the US troops, they sometimes wear unit patches of the previous unit on their right shoulders. Did the Vietnam soldiers do the same?
9. The commandos were conspicuous, as you say. What about the commando’s patches? Were the patches also covert?
10. The South Vietnam Army’s patches, especially the commando patches and the special operations patches are very much sought after, and lots of research has been made about them. Could you tell us anything that are believed to be true, but in fact not true, and vise versa.
11. During the Vietnam War, many military patches were sold in flee markets of South Vietnam. Could normal citizens buy those patches in the market? If so, any chances of hostile parties purchasing such patches and using them to disguise as friendly parties?
12. Any interesting and fun stories about patches, please share it with us!
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