Posted 15 years ago
stepback_a…
(363 items)
This type of banner was known as a "hooch" banner, and was made in country by the locals for U.S. troops in Vietnam. It is from Company C, 1st Battalion of the 501st Infantry Division who were stationed in Phu Bai in 1969. These troops were airborne, also known as paratroopers.
I see several things that would raise a red flag for me:
1. Lima Company was the 101st Ranger Company during Viet Nam, so it would be odd to incorporate a Ranger Scroll into a line unit (NON Ranger) banner.
2. There is a mixture of Regiments on the banner: 501st on the ranger scroll and 506th on the 101st tab.
3. Anything with 506th on it is suspect since the Band of Brothers series.
4. In the past 10-15 years these have been HEAVILY reproduced in VN and imported to the US.