Original 173rd Airborne Brigade Patch w/ Tab | Cut Edge | 1960s
Description
The winged sword that led the way in Vietnam.
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Unit History: The 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") spearheaded the American ground war in Vietnam, deploying in May 1965. They engaged in some of the most brutal combat of the war, most notably the Battle of Dak To in 1967.
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Design: The patch features a white wing attached to a red sword/bayonet on a blue cylinder background. The red, white, and blue represent the national colors, while the wing and sword symbolize airborne strike capability.
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1960s Construction: Unlike later merrowed edge patches, both the main shield and the AIRBORNE tab feature traditional flat, un-merrowed "Cut Edges." The reverse displays the textbook white return thread ("snowy back") indicative of mid-century manufacturing.
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Condition: Lightly used. The edges show minor fraying, a clear and authentic sign that this set was genuinely sewn onto a combat uniform and later removed.
Technical Specs:
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Item: Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) + Tab
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Unit: 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers")
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Era: 1960s (Vietnam War Era)
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Construction: Fully Embroidered, Cut Edge, Snowy Back
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Condition: Lightly used (Authentic uniform-removed wear)
