December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2022
A French paratrooper jacket with a very interesting history, that was worn by opposing sides during the Vietnam war. The jacket descended from Sergeant James D. Taylor, who was a member of the 10th Special Forces Group during the Vietnam War. In a letter written by Taylor, he states that he does not know the history of the jacket, other than that it somehow got into the hands of a Vietnamese soldier. "The VC who owned the jacket did not look to be very old and he was not a local VC so there is a chance he brought it down the Ho Chi Mein trail all the way to the Kien Tuong Province in South Vietnam." Taylor notes that once he captured the jacket he had it cleaned and wore it regularly for the rest of his tour in Vietnam. He then brought it home as a souvenir and it sat in his closet until giving it away in 2011. Taylor was a decorated soldier who is listed as a SP4 in May of 1965, was sent to Vietnam in 1966, and returned as a staff sergeant in April 1967. The decorations portion of his discharge is filled with awards and commendations and nearly pours over into the next section. he earned various paratrooper wings, and the Bronze Star in October 1967 "For heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam" when he was an advisor for a platoon of Vietnamese soldiers during a search and destroy operation in the Kien Tuong Province. The jacket is accompanied by the original Bronze Star citation, as well as 3 original photos if Taylor during his time advising Vietnamese troops. There are also 2 photos of an older Taylor wearing the jacket and compiles of his discharge, a s well as a letter that details the jacket's history. There is also a challenge coin for the 5th SFG. Captured items from the Vietnam War are rare, let alone captured and identified to a Special Forces veteran. CONDITION: The jacket's colors remain vibrant with fading and blemishes in heavy wear areas. Complete with its buttons, some of which are replaced. Tag is present and the jacket appears to be dated "1958". Fraying around the cuffs and edges. Photos exhibits slight wear but are clear. Bronze Star citation is worn but legible. A very nice piece of history from the Vietnam War.
CORRECTION: Title updated. The description should read A Belgian M1958 jacket with a very interesting history, that was worn by opposing sides during the Vietnam war. The jacket descended from Sergeant James D. Taylor, who was a member of the 10th Special Forces Group during the Vietnam War. In a letter written by Taylor, he misidentifies it as a "French paratrooper jacket", and states that he does not know the history of the jacket, other than that it somehow got into the hands of a Vietnamese soldier. "The VC who owned the jacket did not look to be very old and he was not a local VC so there is a chance he brought it down the Ho Chi Mein trail all the way to the Kien Tuong Province in South Vietnam." Taylor notes that once he captured the jacket he had it cleaned and wore it regularly for the rest of his tour in Vietnam. He then brought it home as a souvenir and it sat in his closet until giving it away in 2011. Taylor was a decorated soldier who is listed as a SP4 in May of 1965, was sent to Vietnam in 1966, and returned as a staff sergeant in April 1967. The decorations portion of his discharge is filled with awards and commendations and nearly pours over into the next section. he earned various paratrooper wings, and the Bronze Star in October 1967 "For heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam" when he was an advisor for a platoon of Vietnamese soldiers during a search and destroy operation in the Kien Tuong Province. The jacket is accompanied by the original Bronze Star citation, as well as 3 original photos if Taylor during his time advising Vietnamese troops. There are also 2 photos of an older Taylor wearing the jacket and compiles of his discharge, a s well as a letter that details the jacket's history. There is also a challenge coin for the 5th SFG. Captured items from the Vietnam War are rare, let alone captured and identified to a Special Forces veteran. CONDITION: The jacket's colors remain vibrant with fading and blemishes in heavy wear areas. Complete with its buttons, some of which are replaced. Tag is present and the jacket appears to be dated "1958". Fraying around the cuffs and edges. Photos exhibits slight wear but are clear. Bronze Star citation is worn but legible. A very nice piece of history from the Vietnam War." Photos updated.
Item Dimensions: 12" X 12"