Original Item: One-Of-A-Kind. This is a rare theater made Vietnam War bush hat. This style hat became popular with US Servicemen, specifically NCOs, who spent time in the wet hot conditions of Vietnam during the war. The patches all appear to be theater made and correct for the era. The hat itself appears to have been Thai made which would be correct as many personnel spent their R&R time in Thailand and would have hats such as these made for when they went back in country or for their trips back to the “real world”.

The “Cheap Charlie” Viet Cong Hunting Club Patch is featured on the front. When people refer to "Cheap Charlie" patches they are referring to patches made in Vietnam in a specific patch shop in Saigon. This patch shop made patches for the GI's / soldiers that came in and ordered them, but also made some for dealers who were selling them to patch collectors in the US at the same time. This 4 ½” x 4 ½” patch features an all subdued design with 3 red lines across the center. The outside border has the text VIET CONG HUNTING CLUB with a silhouette of a VC soldier in the center. The patch is embroidered and still retains lovely color and stitching.

Other features on the hat include a U.S. MARINES subdued nametape, “TENN” embroidered in orange on the back of the dome, FOX CO. 2ND BN 7 MARINES embroidered on the left brim and VIETNAM 70-71 embroidered on the right brim. Size is small, probably around a 55-56cm or 6 7/8 - 7, and the vinyl sweatband has shrunk a bit.

This is an extremely attractive example of a souvenir slouch style boonie hat worn by a US Marine who fought during the Vietnam War. Comes more than ready for research and display!

The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7) is a light infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and consist of approximately 1,200 Marines and Sailors. The battalion falls under the command of the 7th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

2/7 was deployed to Vietnam from July 1965 until October 1970 as part of the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. The Battalion operated in the southern half of I Corp most of the time. Qui Nhon, Chu Lai, Da Nang Air Base, Dai Loc and An Hoa. 2/7 were instrumental players in Operation Utah and Operation Harvest Moon.