Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Uniform, Military |
Catalog Number |
1989.021.03 |
Description |
Green US Army wool jacket from Vietnam-era dress uniform. Master Sergeant insignia on each sleeve. Left sleeve has Airborne patch over a Special Forces patch (arrowhead with sword and lightning). Six embroidered service bars on left sleeve (18 years service) and five bars on right sleeve, indicating 2 1/2 years overseas combat service. Brass buttons on front, pockets, and shoulders.Black plastic nametag over right breast pocket: BARKER. Paper tag is stapled to pocket inside:TO263. |
Other Name |
Dress Jacket |
Year Range from |
1966 |
Year Range to |
1970 |
Provenance |
According to textile card catalog, uniform was worn by "Sgt. Gerry Barker, Airborne. Parachuted into Cambodia in late 1960s." |
Used By |
Gerry Barker |
Event |
Vietnam War |
Material |
Cloth/Metal |
People |
Barker, Gerry |
Subjects |
Military Clothing & Accessories |
Search Terms |
Vietnam War Uniform |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
Notes |
Phone conversation with Gerry Barker, 8/30/2016: Served in the US Army from 1962 to 1984. 16 of his 22 years he was in Special Forces (Green Berets). 72 months combat duty. He parachuted into Laos, information that was declassified in 1993. Barker was the Recon team leader for the "Adder" team. Barker described the uniform as a jungle fatigue uniform, modified for in-country conditions. It was always worn tucked in, to reduce noise. Pockets were moved up from the pants to the shoulders, because casualties never land on their shoulder, and morphine stored in a shoulder pocket was easily accessible. Black spray paint was used to create camouflage. The "A+" painted on the fatigue shirt signified his blood type, since Special Forces teams wore no dog tags or anything else to identify them as Americans when they were on classified missions. |