Black with short sleeve shirt with blue and red “flag” pinned to proper left pocket. Brown wool pants. Black and white checked cloth neckerchief with red band at each end. Brown cloth rice belt. Rubber sandals.
General History
The Viet Cong were a guerilla force that fought against the United States and South Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict. Viet Cong could be a farmer, a woman, or a child and they were indistinguishable from the United States' South Vietnam allies. They used makeshift weapons, had a variety of uniforms, and avoided traditional combat, making it difficult to know who exactly the enemy was. Their orders came from the North Vietnam Communist party.
Silk with images of allied flags and the phrase "THIS BEARER IS U.N. FORCES" in several languages.
Specific History
This safe conduct pass was purchased and carried by Corporal George E. Munson, United States Marine Corps.
General History
Pilots and air crews carried small banners, called blood chits, that identified them as members of United Nations forces. In the event they were shot down, the chits offered a reward to anyone who assisted them.
Photograph of a house with an officer, possibly Lt. James Brennan, and three children sitting on the porch stairs in the front of the house. The child at left is in a stroller and the man holds a stick in his hands. Written in pencil on back is "Brennan House in Fort Yates"
Worn to honor and increase awareness of POW/MIA soldiers. Traditionally, these bracelets were worn until the POW returned to the United States at which time the bracelet was presented to the former prisoner.
General History
The idea for POW bracelets originated in 1970. Carol Bates Brown and Kay Hunter were college students looking to support U.S. troops in Vietnam without being involved in the controversy of demonstrations and protests. Through their student group VIVA (Voices in Vital America), they were able to distribute millions of bracelets and other memorabilia nationwide.
POWs in the Public Eye
During the Vietnam War, American prisoners were a focus of public attention as never before.
Over 4,000 Americans were captured during World War I; more than 130,000 were taken prisoner during World War II; 7,000-plus were held in Korea. The American public knew little of their plight. But Americans were painfully aware of the 726 who were prisoners of war in Vietnam. The North Vietnamese paraded them in a sophisticated propaganda campain to erode public support for the war. POW families launched awareness campaings, and the media gave the POW situation extensive coverage. At the war's end, 661 returned home. Some Americans believe that thousands more "missing in action" were left behind.
U.S. Army Signal Corps Female Telephone Operator "Hello Girl" uniform, World War I. The uniform consists of a coat, skirt, and overseas cap, each made of navy blue wool. The coat has several patches and insignia, including the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) General Headquarters patch on left sleeve and the Chief Operator rank insignia on the right sleeve. There are two overseas service chevrons on the lower left sleeve, denoting 6 months of service each. On the left breast is the World War I Victory Ribbon with silver citation star. This uniform was worn by Helen Cook and donated by her through The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
The Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators unit was formed in late 1917 following an urgent request from General Pershing. The AEF was in desperate need of bilingual switchboard operators to improve vital communications at the front. By the end of the war, over 400 women had been trained by the Army as "Hello Girls" and over 200 had served overseas, with many receiving Distinguished Service medals.
Upon returning home after the war, "Hello Girls," unlike women who had served in the Navy, were denied veteran benefits as Army regulations at the time defined soldiers as male. It wasn't until over 60 years later, in 1979, that the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators were finally given their veteran status and benefits.
Picture of 16 soldiers in uniform and one civilian standing on porch steps in front of doors numbered "9" and "11". The soldiers are holding swords. The soldier at center front is seated in a chair and the civilian at back left is wearing a cowboy hat. Written at top and bottom in black ink is the name and unit of each man pictured. At top (left to right): "Dr. Duke / Contract Doctor" / "Lt. Sage 17th" / "Capt. O'Brien / 17th Infy" / "Lt. Brennan / 17th" / Capt. Greene / 17th Infy" / "Lt. Kerr / 17th Infy" / "Lt. Chubb / 17th Infy" / "Chaplain" / "Lt. Ogle / 17th Infy" / "Lt. Dowdy / 17th Infy". At bottom (left to right): "Capt. McDougall / 7th Cav" / "Capt Horn / 17th Infy" / "Lt. Brush / 17th Infy" / "Col. Gilbert / 17th Infy" / "Lt. Rogers / 17th Infy" / "Dr. Alden / Surgeon" / "Lt. Brant / 7th Cavalry".
Photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Spotted Horn Bull (Sioux name Tatanka He Gleska). Mrs. Spotted Horn Bull was also called Pretty White Buffalo (Sioux name Ptesan Waste Win). They were members of the Hunkpapa Lakota, also known as the Teton Sioux, tribe. Mr. and Mrs. Spotted Horn Bull were both present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn - Mr. Spotted Horn Bull fought in the battle and Mrs. Spotted Horn Bull watched from a distance. Mr. Spotted Horn Bull is pictured sitting with a blanket on his lap, holding a long pipe, with a patterned shirt, a scarf and beaded jewelry around his neck, and a single feather on the back of his head. His long hair is down and hanging over his shoulders. Mrs. Spotted Horn Bull is standing by him with her arm on his shoulder. She is wearing light colored fringe dress with a belt. She has long beaded necklaces on and her hair is parted down the middle and braided with two braids hanging over her shoulders.Written on back of the photograph in ink is: "Mr & Mrs / Spotted Horn Bull / who were / in the Battle of the / [illegible] Little Big Horn / June 25th 1876 / Mrs Spotted Horn Bull / has been known to talk / on two occasions regarding / the fight - She is suspected / of being the one who followed / the young officer who blew / his brains out as he thought / he was pursued"
Photograph of two groups of soldiers in formation behind several large buildings. The group at left appear to be a band and are holding musical instruments. The group at right is standing at rest with rifles lowered. One man at right foreground is observing/directing the scene. There are rows of small white tents behind the soldiers. Handritten notes at the bottom of the picture identify the group at left as the "Band of the / 17th Infy", the group at right as "New Guard", and the man at far right at "Adjutant." The entire scene is identified as "Guard Mount Ft Yates". Written on back is "Guard Mount in Fort Yates"
U.S. Army Contract Surgeon women's uniform from World War I. The uniform consists of a coat, skirt, shirtwaist, necktie, campaign hat, gloves, boots, and insignia. The coat and skirt are made of olive drab wool. The hat is brown wool with a black and maroon hat band and black and gold hat cord. The shirt is olive drab cotton and the tie is maroon cotton. The gloves and boots are brown leather. Insignia include metal "U.S." insignia on shirt collar and bronze caduceus with a superimposed "CS" monogram on the coat lapels. World War I Victory ribbon on left breast. Three overseas service chevrons on lower left sleeve, depicting 6 months of service each. This uniform was worn by Dr. Loy McAfee, who was assigned to the Office of the Surgeon General by orders dated May 17, 1918. Donated by Dr. McAfee through The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
During World War I the U.S. Army Medical Department employed contract surgeons in order to meet the demand for additional skilled medical personnel. Women who were contract surgeons served as anesthetists, lab technicians, dispensary physicians, and other capacities as needed.
Source:
Vivian Lea Young, “'Petticoats Are Part of this Uniform': American Women Volunteers of the First World War and Their Uniforms” (Master's thesis, George Washington University, 1987).
Photograph of a group of officers and ladies, including George and Libby Custer, picnicking outdoors in front of a large white tent. The men are officers of the 7th Cavalry and are mostly dressed in civilian clothing. Libby Custer is seated at center wearing a dark hat. George Custer is standing beside her at right, wearing a pale buckskin coat. Myles Keogh is standing beside her at left in black. Written on the back of the photograph in ink is: "Group of officers & ladies / 7th Cavalry / Mrs. Custer sitting in center / between Col Keogh & Capt [illegible]" At bottom is a simple drawing in pencil of an American Indian in feather headdress standing and facing a Pilgrim in a square top hat.
Stereo photograph of a row of houses on the left and an emptry dirt road on the right. Several people are standing and sitting on the front porches of the houses. One person sitting on the porch steps of the far left house is holding a striped parasol. Written on the back in ink is: "The [illegible] large house is occupied by Capt Van Horn & Capt Pearson - / on Captain Van Horn's piazza is his wife and childrens [sic]. On Capt Pearson's - Miss Lulu Merrill / in light dress - Miss Hueston stands up by pillar & I sit at her feet. Lt. Mann has on a white hat / Mrs. Buford of Rock Island stands near him - Miss Mamie Merrill & Mr. Douglass Carlen / next - Lt. Burns, stands in shadow near me. Our little house is just below / They have not finished porch yet. I hope to have it photographed this / summer." Maker's mark "W.R. Cross, Photographer / Niobrara, Neb." stamped in black ink at top.
Women's American Library Association (ALA) uniform from World War I, consisting of a hat, coat, shirtwaist, necktie, skirt, and insignia. The hat is green velour, the coat and skirt are olive green wool gabardine, the shirtwaist is white crepe de chine, and the tie is greenish brown silk. Metal lapel and hat insignia and cloth sleeve insignia show "ALA" over an open book. This uniform was donated by the ALA through The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
The ALA's mission during World War I was to provide American men in the armed forces with reading material during their off-duty and recovery hours on transport ships, in camps, and in hospitals. Men served as librarians for the ALA, while women typically engaged in fundraising, sorting and preparing books, and working at ALA headquarters.
Source:
Vivian Lea Young, “'Petticoats Are Part of this Uniform': American Women Volunteers of the First World War and Their Uniforms” (Master's thesis, George Washington University, 1987).
Women's American Library Association (ALA) uniform from World War I, consisting of a hat, coat, shirtwaist, necktie, skirt, and insignia. The hat is green velour, the coat and skirt are olive green wool gabardine, the shirtwaist is white crepe de chine, and the tie is greenish brown silk. Metal lapel and hat insignia and cloth sleeve insignia show "ALA" over an open book. This uniform was donated by the ALA through The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
The ALA's mission during World War I was to provide American men in the armed forces with reading material during their off-duty and recovery hours on transport ships, in camps, and in hospitals. Men served as librarians for the ALA, while women typically engaged in fundraising, sorting and preparing books, and working at ALA headquarters.
Source:
Vivian Lea Young, “'Petticoats Are Part of this Uniform': American Women Volunteers of the First World War and Their Uniforms” (Master's thesis, George Washington University, 1987).
White cup with handle and lid; blue trim around rim, on handle, and on lid.
Specific History
This enamel cup was given to Captain Charles "EV" Southwick, U.S. Navy, a prisoner of war from May 14, 1967, to March 4, 1973.
General History
A Prisoner of War (POW) is someone who is captured and imprisoned by an enemy power during a time of conflict or war. In 1949 the Geneva Convention defined who was to be considered a POW and determined how they were to be treated. The policies established by the Geneva Convention were based on the international humanitarian law, or laws of war.
Stereo photograph of a military band practicing in uniform on open lawn near several buildings. An American flag is planted into the ground at center. At center right the band leader stands in front of the group wearing a very tall fur hat. Stamped on back in black ink is the maker's mark "W.R. Cross, Photographer, / Niobrara, Neb."
Photograph of a house with several people on or around the front porch. At left are two women and two young girls. Next to them a man is stading leaning against a pillar by the porch stairs. On the stairs sit four young children, one partially obscurbed by a white mark on the photo. A seated figure is visible behind the children. There is a large tree in the front yard in front of the porch steps. Stamped on back is "From D.F. Barry, / Photo / Bismarck, DAK."
Women's American Library Association (ALA) uniform from World War I, consisting of a hat, coat, shirtwaist, necktie, skirt, and insignia. The hat is green velour, the coat and skirt are olive green wool gabardine, the shirtwaist is white crepe de chine, and the tie is greenish brown silk. Metal lapel and hat insignia and cloth sleeve insignia show "ALA" over an open book. This uniform was donated by the ALA through The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
The ALA's mission during World War I was to provide American men in the armed forces with reading material during their off-duty and recovery hours on transport ships, in camps, and in hospitals. Men served as librarians for the ALA, while women typically engaged in fundraising, sorting and preparing books, and working at ALA headquarters.
Source:
Vivian Lea Young, “'Petticoats Are Part of this Uniform': American Women Volunteers of the First World War and Their Uniforms” (Master's thesis, George Washington University, 1987).
Photograph of Chief Gall, cousin of Sitting Bull. An American Indian man in traditional dress with a large cross hanging from his neck and a single feather on this head. Faded typed maker's mark at bottom is likely "D.F. Barry, Photographer, Bismark, D.T." Written in ink on back is "Chief Gall - / a cousin of Sitting Bull". Written in pencil at back along left edge is "Given by Mrs. Brennan to her son Leslie Nov. 14, 1900"
During Operation Enduring Freedom, Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) were dropped from US C-17 cargo planes. Each package contained a complete day's food supply of 2200 calories. The food contents of the package varied, but never contained any meat products. The text on the outside of the bright yellow package translates to "Halal", which indicates the food is permitted under Islamic law.