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Very Rare - Saigon makers Label - New Old Stock - Pristine, Un-used.
Special Forces Airborne - US ARMY SPECIAL FORCES - MACV-SOG
BLACK BERET - United States Army Ranger - 75th Infantry - Medium SIZE 57
PRU - Provincial Reconnaissance Unit - Mike Force
CIA - Provincial Reconn Unit - PRU
US Special Forces Group - Phoenix Assassination Program PRU
LRRP - LURPS - Long Range Recon Patrol - Airborne
Black Beret - US RANGER - Size 57 - Medium - US Size 7 1/8 - Medium
(Size 57 - 57 cms inside band - 22.44 inches - US Size 7 1/8)
Saigon Made - Saigon Label - Vietnam Specific - Black Beret - 1972
- 22.44 inch band (57 cms)
- Extremely Rare - US Special Forces
- MACV-SOG - US RANGER
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EU
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USA
6 3/4
6 7/8
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7 1/8
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7 1/2
7 5/8
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7 7/8
UK
6 5/8
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Asnoted above, Saigon made, 1972,
ICE-X and the Phoenix Program (Phung Hoang)
Operation Phoenix - (The Phoenix Program)
Operation Phoenix became official in 1968however existed for years before that - Operation Phoenix was instigated by theCIA with an aim to, ' destabalize, neutralize, capture and kill ' members of anorganization the CIA called the VCI (Viet Cong Infrastructure ) - The programwas designed to disrupt any civilian activity that supported the VC south ofthe DMZ - this included people that supplied guides, foods, storage dumps,people who helped with conscription to the VC. The Central Intelligence Agencyturned the Operation over to the US Army and the ARVN in 1968 and continued tooperate until 1972 -
Not many of these patches were made - thepatches was assigned to US and RVN soldiers working on Operation Phoenix. Alsocalled the Phoenix Program.
ICEX
ICEX was the CIA Operated PacificiationProgram, forerunner of the Phoenix Program.
The operation ran from as early as 1961. Wasorganized and operated by CIA operatives out of the Saigon station, inconjunction with South Vietnam Intelligence Operatives and IndigenousMercenaries.
Only officially named in 1967, ICEX was inactuality operating from as early as 1961. Run by the CIA the later PhoenixProgram (Operation Phoenix / Phoenix Assassination Program) was to borrow mostof it's ideas from this unit.
In many cases, post 1966, ICEX operated inconjunction with the Phoenix Program although it remained a separate, CIA runentity that sat with MACV-SOG For convenience.
ICEX was considerably more aggressive than thePhoenix Program.
ICEX and The Phoenix Program - Comparison
Phoenix Program
Phoenix Program responsible for theNeutralizing of some 30,000 Suspected Enemy
Phoenix Program responsible for the arrest ofsome 50,000 Suspected enemy.
These figures are conservative, it is unlikelythat the Phoenix Program touched only 80,000 suspects in total (in fact somenumbers put the assassination rate of the Phoenix Program at over 100,000alone).
Of the 80,000 suspects suggested, 37% ofsuspects were neutralized.
ICEX
ICEX responsible for Neutralizing of at least11,000 enemy
ICEX responsible for minimal arrests, certainlyless than 600
Again these numbers are conservative howeverprobably closer to the mark.
ICEX was known for targeting it's prey in amuch clearer way than the Phoenix Program.
Of the 11,600 suspects dealt with under theICEX Program, 95% were neutralized.
US RANGER – United States Ranger – LRRP
On 1 February 1969, aspart of the U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), all U.S. Army LongRange Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) units were reorganized as the 75th InfantryRegiment (Ranger).
Fifteen Ranger companieswere formed from reconnaissance units in Europe and Vietnam with lineage toMerrill's Marauders.
The companies weredesignated C through I and K through P. Further companies were later added (including in 1969, Bravo Company).
There was no "J"Ranger Company. This was due to the newly formed J company arriving from Hawaiinot trained to the level required (trained as an Airmobile, HelicopterInsertion Unit and not even Airborne trained). J company, Juliet companyarrived patched up as Rangers but were soon dispersed to other unit.
Whilst some believe that thenon-existence of J has to do with possible confusion with typed paperwork and I(india) company, this is not correct. (This would apply to any number oflettered companies and is why we use, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Juliett, India etc.
Companies A and B werekept stateside as a strategic reserve in case they were needed overseas inEurope or the Americas. Company O, 82nd Airborne on deployment backto the USA in 1969 deployed to Alaska and became known as the ‘Artic Rangers’.
The Ranger companies werecomposed of small, heavily armed long range reconnaissance teams that patrolleddeep in enemy-held territory.
Each independent companywas attached to a division or separate brigade and acted as the eyes and earsof those units.
Rangers collectedintelligence, discovered enemy troop locations, surveilled trails and enemy hotspots, directed artillery and air strikes, did bombing damage assessment,performed ambushes, and sniper attacks. Additionally, Rangers attemptedrecovering prisoners of war, captured enemy soldiers for interrogation, tappedthe wire communications of the North Vietnam Army and the National LiberationFront for South Vietnam (Vietcong) on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and mined enemytrails and roads.
The Ranger Creed
(Lone Survivor)
Recognizing that Ivolunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, Iwill always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps ofmy Ranger Regiment.
Acknowledging the factthat a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battleby land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects meto move farther, faster and fight harder than any other soldier.
Never shall I fail mycomrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong andmorally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever itmay be. One-hundred-percent and then some.
Gallantly will I show theworld that I am a specially selected and well-trained soldier. My courtesy tosuperior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set theexample for others to follow.
Energetically will I meetthe enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I ambetter trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Rangerword. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemyand under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
Readily will I display theintestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and completethe mission though I be the Lone survivor.
Rangers lead the way!
For your kind Consideration.
