Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. We are delighted to offer the uniform of Distinguished Service Cross recipient Lieutenant General John Hancock Hay, Jr, commander of the Berlin Brigade, 1st Infantry Division during the Vietnam War and XVIII Airborne Corps. Hay was awarded the DSC for heroic actions while serving with the Headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.

John Hancock Hay, Jr. was born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota on October 2nd, 1917. Hay served with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II, reaching the rank of Major before the war ended. He was awarded the Silver Star and Legion of Merit during World War II. During the interbellum, he served as commander of the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 327th Infantry Regiment from September 1959 to July 1960 and later as chief of staff of the 101st Airborne Division until 1961. In 1962 he served with the Eighth United States Army in South Korea. Hay then commanded the Berlin Brigade from 1964 to 1966.

Hay was assigned to South Vietnam in January 1967 as commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and remained in this role until February 1968. Hay subsequently was promoted to deputy commander of II Field Force, Vietnam and became commander of Capital Military Assistance Command at Camp Lê Văn Duyệt, Saigon and led the defense of Saigon during the May Offensive. He remained in this role until his departure from South Vietnam in August 1968. For his service in Vietnam, and command of the 1st Infantry Division, Hay was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Army Distinguished Service Medal.

Hay served as commandant of the Command and General Staff College until the end of February 1971, and then commanded, as lieutenant general, the XVIII Airborne Corps from 1 March 1971 until his retirement in May 1973. Hay passed away on December 11th, 1995.

Hay’s uniform includes the following:

- General Officer’s Cap in fantastic condition.
- General’s uniform jacket with the following on it.
- Lieutenant General’s stars on both shoulder boards with a green band wrapped around the shoulder boards.
- 1st Division SSI on his right sleeve.
- XVIII Airborne Corps SSI on his left sleeve.
- Hay name tag and Presidential Unit Citation with device.
- Joint Chief of staff badge on left breast pocket.
- Master Parachutist Wings with blue and white cloth backing.
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Black General’s bands on each cuff.
- 21-place ribbon bar sewn onto board and sewn directly onto uniform. Ribbon bar includes Distinguished Service Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with 3 OLCs, Legion of Merit with 1 OLC, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 OLCs, Bronze Star with Valor device and two OLC, Air Medal (x26), Army Commendation Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Euro/Africa/ME Campaign Medal with 3 stars, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 stars, NATO Medal, Vietnam Distinguished Service Order with Rosette for first class, National Order of Vietnam, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with 2 gold leaves, Vietnam Military Meritorious medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal with device.

His Distinguished Service Cross Citation reads:

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major General John H. Hay, Jr. (ASN: 0-25290), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry Division. Major General Hay distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 April 1967 while repulsing a heavy enemy assault on units of his command. An estimated reinforced regiment of Viet Cong launched an intensive mortar attack on the night defensive position of elements of two battalions at Landing Zone George. Several hundred mortar rounds savagely pounded the friendly position. Upon receiving word of the action, General Hay alerted his helicopter crew, briefed them, and flew to the scene. As he arrived, the Viet Cong were pressing a fierce ground attack. He immediately called for the support of additional flareships, forward air controllers, and light fire teams. Ignoring intensive automatic weapons and machine gun fire directed at his aircraft, General Hay instructed his pilot to make extremely low passes while he marked insurgent weapons positions and troop concentrations with smoke. Incoming artillery rounds, explosions on the ground, and relentless hostile fire made low passes over the battle site extremely hazardous. With complete disregard for his safety, General Hay continued his flights over the area to observe all movements of the hostile force and adjust friendly fires accordingly. As a result of his daring actions, the Viet Cong advance was halted and the friendly forces were able to counterattack and reestablish their perimeter. The insurgents attempted two more assaults on the perimeter, and again General Hay directed all friendly fires from the air. As ground fog cleared, he called in tactical air strikes which inflicted severe casualties on the Viet Cong force and caused the insurgents to break contact and flee into the jungle. General Hay then ordered his pilot to fly low over the retreating hostile force, and he directed the interdiction of the Viet Cong escape routes. His aggressive pursuit of the enemy, while continually subjected to concentrated machine gun and small arms fire, was responsible for causing further heavy casualties to the Viet Cong. His inspiring leadership was a deciding factor in the overwhelming rout of a main force Viet Cong regiment, and the enemy unit was rendered ineffective for other aggression. Major General Hay's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 14.5”
Chest width: 20"
Waist width: 18"
Hip width: 20"
Front length: 33"

Pants
Waist: 15"
Inseam: 28"