USMC Drill Instructor Belt - M1956

Unused original green beret for US. Special Forces. Size 7 1/8. Contract DSA100-68-C-0965. The beret comes from the estate of a Special Forces member named Norton who served in the US. Army from Vietnam to the 1990s.

Original Unused (NOS) Blood Chit South East Asia - West Central Pacific. Each copy has its serial number. Year of production 1967.

Like-new M-65 parka. Manufactured in 1969. Manufacturer: Alpha Industries. There is a small hole (approx. 3 mm) on one sleeve, see photo. Overall perfect, almost unused condition. Size: Medium Long.

M1 helmet liner manufactured by Firestone with commemorative 1st Cavalry painting and An Khe 1965 inscription.

Unused Parka M-65 (Field Jacket). Size Medium Regular. Year of manufacture 1969. Manufacturer Alpha Industries, Inc. Contract DSA 100-69-C-0762.

Parka M51 (Field Jacket) in unused condition. Contract QM (CTM) 10442 - C - 61 from 1961. Size Small Short.

Unused Body Armor, Ground Troops, Variable Type vest with plates. Size Medium Long. Contract DSA 100-69-C-0548. Perfect unused condition. There is a small tear in the cotton fabric on the inside back see photo.

The vest was tested by the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam from January to May 1967, and although it was too heavy for foot mobile operations, it was recommended for personnel involved in escorting convoys and motorized patrols.

Used OG 107 (Utility Shirt) with 82nd Airborne Division lieutenant patches. Above the 82nd Airborne patch is a Ranger arch. Shirt is used but in nice condition. Personal number stamps are visible on the inside. The name tag is blackened in marker. The shirt is starched and ironed. Chest circumference 102cm. Sleeve length from shoulder is 60,5cm. Sleeve length from underarm is 50cm.

This T61-5 body armor, officially designated MIL-A-43197, represents a fascinating chapter in military equipment history. Developed in the mid-1960s, the T61-5 was designed to be a more ergonomic and flexible successor to the older M1952A model. Its innovative construction featured over 100 individual titanium plates, intended to provide superior protection and comfort.

Although it officially became the U.S. Army's standard-issue vest "on paper" in 1965, it never saw widespread adoption in reality. With the escalation of the Vietnam War, the T61-5 proved too expensive and complex to manufacture for mass deployment. The Army instead opted for a simpler, cheaper, updated version of the M1952A (the "3/4 collar" model).

Despite being an Army design, the T61-5 found its primary use elsewhere. It became characteristic equipment for the U.S. Navy's "Brown Water Navy" units operating in the rivers and coastal areas of Vietnam from 1966 onwards. It was also used by some U.S. Army mechanized infantry, armor, and armored cavalry units between 1969-1971.

Key Features:

• Official Designation: MIL-A-43197

• Common Name: T61-5 Composite Armor

• Standard Publication Date: Feb. 10, 1964

• Construction: Composite material with over 100 titanium plates

• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement

• Primary Users: US Navy ("Brown Water Navy"), US Army mechanized units in Vietnam

This vest is an exceptional and rare collector's item, documenting the push for innovation in personal protection during one of the most significant conflicts of the 20th century.

Very nice beret with flash 3rd Special Forces Group and badge. Flash has a thin edge. The beret is size 6 1/4. Production 1973.

Used blouse COAT, MAN'S COMBAT, TROPICAL. Rip-Stop material. Size Medium Regular. Contract DSA 69-C-1161. See photo for condition.