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NVA Vietcong

NVA Vietcong

ROBERT L. DARMSTATTER /CO. D, 1/502 / 101ST AIRBORNE

Robert contacted me about his items from his time in service and Vietnam , This is a large group of very original items . I will take each item in the group and add pictures and describe the item and or contents.
The picture is of Robert in 1968-1969, in an area he described as defoliated. I think the his picture is descriptive of the war areas our veterans fought in.
The items in the pictures were picked up in all areas that Robert was sent to in Vietnam. The knife was picked up by another vet, taken off a VC and gave to Robert.
I will update this later after I have talked to Robert and get the information correct about each item. NVA and VC items were not taken from one person, but found in all of Viet Nam he was in. I know he was in Quan Tri, and the border area of Viet Nam and Laos.
The group also includes many personal items, uniforms pieces and records, outstanding to be able to keep his items all together for history.

THE GROUP OF ITEMS FROM VETERAN ROBERT DARMSTATTER IS VERY LARGE AND CONSIST OF LOTS OF INTERESTING ITEMS FOR THE COLLECTOR OF THIS WAR . I AM TAKING EACH PIECE AND WITH ROBERTS HELP OF DESCRIPTION AND INFORMATION AND PUTTING IT ON THE SITE FOR ALL TO VIEW
PLEASE READ ROBERTS INFORMATION AND DESCRIPTION ON THE PIECES ROBERT DOES ONE OF THE BEST DOCUMENTATIONS OF AN ITEM THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN 

Captured rifle brought back by Robert Darmstatter. In the picture Robert said all rifles you see in the picture were being tagged or verified for issue to troops when there tour was over.
Robert is holding the rifle tagged for him out of the group in this picture
This rifle is now in the LKmilitary collection with original dd603 war trophy papers included.

Brought back by Robert Darmstatter Quang tri provence, left in a base camp after a mission
The hat is very unusual, pin wheel design, hard plastic in top, missing vents, brim is exactly like issue NVA boonies, very close rows of sewing to give the brim strength. This was in Roberts group of items he brought back in 1968 and is documented in his information. I see hundreds of so called Viet Cong boonies and NVA boonies, please look close this is a real one.

Original black Viet Cong clothing, shirt is very well worn, very well made also, it has a unusual and rare feature, a reverse top pocket, I have had two of these shirts in my collection and when i found the first one I thought it was a mistake by the tailor. It is not, my take on the pocket is to keep personal items safe as inside pocket on a suite coat.
Robert tells me he found this in a bunker / spider hole, Quang Tri Provence, w shaped village, I will post a map later of were the village was located, the river forms a "w" on the map, its neat

Viet Cong or typical Vietnamese worn draw string pants. In very nice condition
Robert says he found these in Quang Tri Provence / Bunker, Spider hole, village not found same time as the top

Viet Cong handmade knife brought back by Robert Darmstatter
This piece was picked up by a trooper name Kerry Wells, he was a radio telephone operator for the Hq element of our company. I’m fairly sure that he picked it up in Quan Tri Provence in the low lands. The company did a lot of work in the rice patties prior to me joining the company. I don't remember what kind of scabbard he had, if any. He left the knife in the back of the orderly room at base camp when he deros'd. I picked it up because i thought it was a neat souvenir
This is an outstanding quality knife, very well made, blade is very heavy compared to most Vietnamese made knives, this reminds me of a Nguyen Dan knife. Its that good, even has a blood grove. Blade is hand formed and very sharp with excellent edge work. Best VC knife I have ever seen, thank you Robert

Most unique item from Robert is this super salty rice tube. I realy like this piece, I have never had a better one.
Roberts statement on this item - Our brigade was tasked with helping out the Americal division . Seems they ran into some really bad stuff and a company was overrun. The survivors got out as best they could but left the bodies behind. (no choppers, all jungle) the rice tube came out of enemy (NVA-VC?) Base camp we found while trying to clean up the area and retrieve the bodies for the Americal division. This would have been east of Da Nang and maybe a little south of Da Nang 

Very rare water proof, rigid rubberized canvas medical pouch. These are quite rare, this one is in good used condition has some printing on the front that is usual for these. This one has what looks to be a stamped name in red ink.
Robert found this west of hue in the hills. Close to Laotian border

Chi com made, North Vietnamese standard issue pistol - equipment belt. Shows considerable use, belt was found at the time the pouch above was found west of hue in the hills. Close to the Laotian border great belt

Unique item, chop sticks and holder, I think this is really neat. Never had anything like this from Vietnam, Robert said he is not sure where he picked it up, no one else wanted it so he took it, it came out of a hooch or bunker

DOCUMENTED CAPTURED KIA LZ WATCHER GROUP
CAPTURED BY MAC V SOG - RT - OHIO RT-ARKANSAS IN MAY 1971

I have had this group for a few years put away, I never put it on the site. This is one of the best captured, documented groups i have found too date. All items are pictured with the vet holding them and may pictures of him with the RT teams on patrol. Complete letter signed and dated by the veteran.
I will try to describe the items that are included in the group
It is stated that in May 1971 the team engaged several North Vietnamese landing zone watchers and he captured one of the ruck sacks. Consisting of identification card, map, canteen, hammock, cold weather vest, NVA uniform pants and a pair of ho chi minh sandals photographs of the veteran holding each item will accompany the document.
Look close at all the items, these by some are considered not war time, mainly the sandals, I have several sets acquired through Jason Hardy that were being backs by special forces veterans that are exactly like these and most collectors shun the cutting on the sole. The fact is they are original and right as rain
The KIA NVA also carried a SKS that was new, it was also stated the NVA was a very old man to be still serving in the war.

Map is in english, completely water proofed with plastic cover
Front picture of the ruck, notice the width of the straps to close the top cover. Late and post war are all different

Back of ruck, there is no added pocket on the back
Top of ho sandals

Bottom oh ho sandals, look close at how the tread has been cut to reduce weight and add comfort to the wearer.
NVA light gray, issue uniform pants

Real nice original cold weather vest, gray in color with cream interior. Not everything was reed green
Nylon hammock, has burn holes and tears and shows us, looks to be NVA issue

I sometimes wonder about collectors, these were on eBay a while back, I watched and waited for someone to buy these, right as rain ho chi mien sandals
 along with another pair of cottage industry 100,000 mile 1960's shoes , they are leather sandals with tire treads as copied from the ho chi minh sandals of the war. They are super rare also
The ho sandals pictured here have been worn, I am not sure why collectors did not jump on them, these are 100% correct, I have had several sets shaved exactly like these, 50 dollars!!!! On eBay for both pairs is a steal

A FINE NVA STANDARD ISSUE KHAKI UNIFORM

uniform is in very nice condition for a war time uniform, no rips are tears but its blood stained on the back and pants show lots of stains on the seat /one of the best I have had

A TEXT BOOK NVA WAR TIME FLAG

The flag is original as I have ever found and was flown or hung at one time , food dyed , a real nice original nva flag

SUPER NICE TAYLOR MADE VIET CONG SILK PARACHUTE SHIRT AND PANTS

The pants and shirt or both made of parachute material and silk, the sewing is fine and well done, there is a liner in the shirt to comfort the wearer

EXCELLENT NORTH VIETNAMESE BOONIE HAT

Local made, reed green, larger brim, waterproof material , very small size, in very good condition
From Jason Hardy at the dog tag

VIET NAM WAR TROPHIES - THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF GARY E. ROGERS

This may well be the most exciting item I have ever added to the collection. I met Gary years ago when he was selling his fantastic collection. He collected before US citizens started going back to Vietnam. He collected most everything including Uniforms, weapons, booby traps, and much more. I never new this book existed. I was contacted by Gary some time back and he wanted a few things for a display. I was offered this book of his collection in a trade for some items. I was thrilled that I could have a book containing Gary's collection before he sold it, the book is excellent, Gary was a very detailed person and the descriptions and pictures or fantastic. I have shown two pages of the book of items that I have or had in my collection from Gary. I have been able to purchase a lot of Gary's items over the years from other collectors that had some of his things. Gary's items have a tag on them that states it from the Rogers collection
I have enjoyed talking to Gary again, He still collects

, he still has a superior knowledge of the Vietnam war and the items that were brought back. IF

I have been doing research on these for over a year now, I only know of a few pairs of these that exist. they are not the split toe typical of post war NVA boots. I fell that these are war time North Vietnamese made to fill the void trying to acquire the standard NVA shoe made and supplied by the Chinese. These are poorly made and look to be worn, the materials used for the inner shoe are mix match, one shoe has South Vietnamese Ranger pattern material. these seem to be molded rubber over the sewn materials that make up the top of the shoe. 

North Vietnamese or Viet Cong used Russian,com block country helmet with added cover. cover has been on this helmet for ever. It is torn exactly along the helmet edge and has been on this for a long time.
bought out of a very large collection that went up for sale in Texas. I have several captured exact helmets in my collection

lkmilitary

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