 deadhead  | 29 Mar 2021 10:11 a.m. PST |
Had planned to show these in a paddy field, but the simple long grass worked better and was far easier. The detail on these is simply amazing. see the water bottles for example
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| Choctaw | 29 Mar 2021 10:29 a.m. PST |
Yeah, the detail is fantastic on Gringos' figures but your painting ability is outstanding. |
| deadhead | 29 Mar 2021 10:45 a.m. PST |
I tried to do the red tongue on the eagle but gave up….cheers! Much appreciated These made a nice change from Free French in 1/72 |
| Legionarius | 29 Mar 2021 11:04 a.m. PST |
Excellent. Museum quality. If they fight as well as they look they are invincible. |
| deadhead | 29 Mar 2021 11:45 a.m. PST |
Thanks. I learnt something here. I spent ages taking pics of these five against various backgrounds. I was unhappy with everything that resulted. It looked like five really nice model figures against a photo print. Just as I was about to pack away all the photo kit I suddenly remembered the grass mat. Keep it simple. When will I learn? Please indulge me and let me show how it does not always work
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| Zeelow | 29 Mar 2021 3:06 p.m. PST |
Excellent model painting and scenic shots! |
 Legion 4 | 29 Mar 2021 3:31 p.m. PST |
Excellent !!!! AIRBORNE !!!!!! 🦅 |
| d88mm1940 | 29 Mar 2021 5:08 p.m. PST |
We used to call them the "Screaming Chickens"! Of course, never to their faces…
I was in Northern I Corps, as they were, at Bases Eagle, Evans and Sally.
The only distinguishing mark on their fatigues that they 'had' to wear was the eagle patch. All other insignia was optional: rank, ribbons, name tags. It seemed 50/50 between subdued (green eagle on black patch, (I think) to full colored one.
Sometimes a G.I. who had transferred into the 101st from another unit could wear his previous unit's patch on his other arm. Again, optional, but guys were usually proud of having served in different units.
Fantastic paintjobs! Brings back flashbacks, I mean memories… |
jammy four  | 30 Mar 2021 3:28 p.m. PST |
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| Legion 4 | 31 Mar 2021 9:08 a.m. PST |
Yes, when I went on active duty in '79 then with the 101 in '80. And even in ROTC. '75-'79. The 101 still wore the colored patch on our fatigues, etc. along with the 1ID and IIRC the 5ID. A few years later they all went to the black & green subdued patch. As d88mm pointed out everything else on the fatigues, then later BDUs was subdued also. E.g. rank, branch, etc. Color patches were worn only on Dress uniforms like Class As. The 101 was also called the "Puking Buzzard" and 18th Airborne Corps the "Gag'n Dragon". You have to love GI humor ! The standard was you wore the patch of the current unit you are assigned to on your left shoulder and the last unit you served in combat with on the right shoulder. Many of the older soldiers who served in Vietnam when I was in ROTC and then on active duty. I remember seeing a lot of 1st CAV, 101, 25ID, 1ID, SF, etc. Some real tough hombres in that lot ! |
| deadhead | 31 Mar 2021 9:33 a.m. PST |
Oh wow. So you could have 1st Cav on your right shoulder and 101 on your left say? Now I do love a challenge. I agonised over doing the patch because few in-action photos showed them. I chose the 101 purely because I did find coloured patched even for Hamb Hill |
| Skarper | 31 Mar 2021 9:48 a.m. PST |
Chicken Soldiers as they were known by their enemies. NOT a compliment but they made it something akin to 'Devil Dogs'. So I understand. Really nice paint job and photo. Thanks |
| Skarper | 31 Mar 2021 9:51 a.m. PST |
High Vis patches were common – an Esprit de Corps thing… |
| deadhead | 31 Mar 2021 2:02 p.m. PST |
Skarper. Thanks for your earlier reply elsewhere. I was really unsure, in this order of dress, if patches were worn. I am simply not entirely sure what their upper garment is. Is it a shirt worn out or a jacket for example? Does that make a difference? Why did I ever give away my copy of US Army Uniforms of the VN War to the Charity shop? That was packed with such detail. But we all give in to domestic pressure about shelf space. It is like the Paris Accords. Sometimes it is worth giving in. |
| Skarper | 31 Mar 2021 4:05 p.m. PST |
On the domestic peace front – you could always bomb your significant other into accepting your concessions… I cannot quote you a reference for the upper arm sleeve patches in combat, but you do see photos with high vis, low vis and no patches in combat. I gather sometimes clothing could be changed in the field, from stocks of new gear or 'recycled stuff'. Troops on a long mission might be in the field for 2-3 weeks and their fatigues would 'literally rot off their bodies' is the quote from Chickenhawk, IIRC. |
| Legion 4 | 31 Mar 2021 4:15 p.m. PST |
Oh wow. So you could have 1st Cav on your right shoulder and 101 on your left say? Yep … I've a seen a number soldiers with patches like that and vis versa. Or other combinations based on the unit they are with currently and what unit they served in combat with. NOT a compliment but they made it something akin to 'Devil Dogs'. So I understand. Yes very much like calling Infantrymen, in general – "Grunts" … Of course US Military had many negative names for the VC & NVA. Most of which I can't repeat here.  High Vis patches were common – an Esprit de Corps thing… Especially at the beginning of the war. As time went on more and more of everything on the combat uniform became subdued. As well as painting your face with camo sticks. With the jungle being very closed terrain in many cases actions took place at very close range. And of course recon units, etc., may need to get pretty close to do their job at times and not make contact. So camo, cover & concealment, noise & light discipline, no soap, after shave, etc., etc. When doing jungle patrols, etc. We were taught that as ROTC Cadets from the very start. Of course by mostly Army instructors that had served in combat in SE Asia. We used those lessons in the FMs and taught to us throughout our time in the Army. After Vietnam as I said only the 101, 1ID and 5ID, IIRC, wore full color patches on our fatigues, etc. I still have one of my original Field Jackets I wore when in the 101 as a 2LT. Everything is subdued save for the 101 patch. But again as I said even those became subdued within a year or so of me joining the 101. The full color patches of those 3 Divs., as it was explained to me, were for the units' long serve and gallantry, etc., etc. if patches were worn. I am simply not entirely sure what their upper garment is. Is it a shirt worn out or a jacket for example? Does that make a difference? The unit/Div patch was worn on the regular OD Fatigues, the Jungle Fatigues, and the Field Jacket. On the left shoulder. And again the patch of the unit you served in Combat with on the right. The "upper garment" was called a shirt or a jacket based on what is actually was. I.e. the Field Jacket would be worn over the fatigues. I never saw it worn over the jungle fatigues. IIRC the Jungle Fatigue shirt was called a jacket as well. And pants of any uniform are called "Trousers" … Unless it is a female then they are called "pants". Again that is the way it was explained to me back then. "Men wear trousers … women wear pants." So … ? but you do see photos with high vis, low vis and no patches in combat. Yes as I said as time went on everything went to subdued, patches and all. Of course sometimes uniforms were issued and the soldier did not have the time [or skill] to the get their patches sown on. Especially in a combat zone like SE Asia. Some SF, LRRP, etc., units did not wear any patches of any type on their uniforms, when on operations, etc. They called the uniform as being "sterile". Nothing to ID the unit, etc. |
| Skarper | 31 Mar 2021 11:13 p.m. PST |
'Sterile' uniform items for when they might be straying into another country…for plausible deniability… I was mainly interested in the fighting post Tet and before 'Vietnamisation' really got under way, which I think was the transition period for the hi/lo vis patches. Before Tet '68 I see photos of NCOs with yellow on black stripes etc….I'm guessing the jungle fatigues which were not all that common early on would more often have low vis patches and less rank insignia… Will have to do more research. |
| Legion 4 | 01 Apr 2021 11:55 a.m. PST |
'Sterile' uniform items for when they might be straying into another country…for plausible deniability… Yes that is why they did it generally. Using the phrase "going sterile" … Before Tet '68 I see photos of NCOs with yellow on black stripes etc…. Yes but it became rarer around that time … .I'm guessing the jungle fatigues which were not all that common early on would more often have low vis patches and less rank insignia… Yes the standard OD fatigues were used early in the war. Before the jungle fatigues were issued which became the norm as the war continued. The Jungle fatigues were a much superior uniform. Much more useful with all the cargo pockets for field ops, etc. They were based on the US Army WWII Paratrooper uniform used in the earlier drops. With the 4 cargo pocket jacket and 2 cargo pockets on the thighs. Something else to remember is when a new uniform becomes issued and is the standard. It didn't happen overnight. In some cases you may see either one depending on where and when, etc. |
| deadhead | 01 Apr 2021 12:06 p.m. PST |
This has been a great series of responses. I have learnt much! Really appreciated that you have all taken the time to share this knowledge. I always thought that my trousers became "pants" when I crossed the Pond. I tend to call them "overalls" in posts, as I was never sure. Bit like our "braces" are your "suspenders". Over here suspenders were different and once worn by girls to keep up their stockings. Always a goal, a hope, or target, but that was decades ago. |
