Original U.S. Vietnam War Special Forces MACV SOG Uniform & Certificate Grouping with SF Presentation Bolo & Framed MACV Recondo School Certificate - Sergeant Major Paul Enlo Sheppard
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Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is a tremendous group of items belonging to Sergeant Major Paul Enlo Sheppard, who served in the U.S. Army for 24 years from 1955 to 1979. As a special forces soldier, Sheppard conducted operations in Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, and Okinawa and was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star with OLC, and the Meritorious Service Medal along with other awards and decorations. The group includes his Special Forces Counter Insurgency Presentation Bolo, two of his uniforms, several War Department certificates, some great theater-made souvenir pieces, and much more.
The group consists of:
- Sheppard’s Special Forces Airborne ranger uniform shirt with Sergeant First Class chevrons, SHEPPARD and U.S. ARMY tags, Master Parachutist badge, and Special Forces Airborne patch & rocker.
- Sheppard’s Airborne Special Forces Jungle Fatigue Uniform Jacket with Army JFK Special Warfare Center patch and airborne rocker on the left shoulder, Special Forces Airborne patch and rocker on the right shoulder, Sergeant Major rank pins on the collar, SHEPPARD and U.S. ARMY tags, Vietnam Parachutist wings over the right breast pocket, and Master Parachutist wings over the left breast pocket. Tags are retained inside. Size Regular-Small.
- Sheppard’s engraved presentation SF Bolo knife which has badges attached for Airborne Special Forces and MACVSOG CCC. It reads IN APPRECIATION / SFC PAUL E. SHEPPARD / SOA (CCC) 5TH SFGA / KONTUM, VIETNAM. The bolo comes with a display board that it slides into nicely. The board measures 7½ x 19½” and already has a wire for hanging.
- Six of Sheppard’s U.S. War Office green plastic certificate carriers with his 1978 Honorable discharge, his 1979-awarded Meritorious Service Medal certificate, his 1979 retirement from the Army, the Certificate of Appreciation for his Wife Aileen, his 1972 Bronze Star OLC certificate with accompanying citation, and his 1975 Honorable Discharge.
- Original Certificates for Sheppard’s Air Medal (1966), Bronze Star Medal (1966), Army Commendation Medal (1965 and 1966), along with accompanying citations for some of them.
- 1st Airborne Battle Group 505th Infantry BAC CLASS 109 3RD & 4TH PLATOONS photo in original carrier.
- Framed Thai Airborne certificate denoting that SFC. Paul E. Sheppard participated in a parachute jump with the Royal Thai paratroopers and was therefore appointed as a member of the Royal Thai Army Parachute Regiment as a further honor, dated 1957. Measures 15 ¼ x 18 ¼”.
- Small Korea-Made plaque for his 1956-1957 service there, 6 x 7”. Interestingly, his name is spelled Poaul here.
- Korean-Made 8 ½ x 11” shield souvenir for his service in Korea 1956-1957. The top reads I’ AM SURE TO GO TO HEAVEN BECAUS I’ VE SERVED MY TIME IN KOREA. Heavy wear and some mothing.
- Gorgeous Bullion “De Oppresso Liber” Special Forces patch with three-pin attachment to the back. Likely a reunion piece from the 1980s.
- Combat Infantryman Badge, 501st Apache Parachute patch.
- Framed 5th Special Forces Airborne Certificate for Completion of MACV Recondo School, dated January 19th, 1967. Measures 17 ¼ x 20 ¾”.
- Sheppard’s dog tag which is stamped slightly off center on its chain.
- Two sets of Thai Airborne wings, one with green backing and one with red backing. They both have stamped maker’s marks to the back. Great pieces.
- Set of likely Vietnamese paratrooper wings.
- Countless additional documents, certificates, assignment extracts, and citations from his 24 years of service. We really wish we could list it all!
Paul Enlo Sheppard was born on June 6th, 1935. He first enlisted in the Army in 1955, spending 1956-1957 in Korea, and part of 1957 in Thailand. He completed his Special Forces training on May 31st, 1963, with specialization in MOS 111.6. Sheppard served his first of two voluntary tours in Vietnam with the Special Forces from January to December 1966, for which he was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. On January 19th, 1967, he completed MACV Recondo School, and went on to conduct Special Forces MACV SOG operations in Vietnam and Laos. On November 17th, 1971, his commanding officer recommended him for promotion to Master Sergeant, reading:
SFC Sheppard is completing his second voluntary tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. This highly skilled Special Forces Non-Commissioned Officer has been a very valuable asset for Task Force 2 Advisory Element. SFC Sheppard has served as First Sergeant and platoon advisor to Company D, a Special Commando Unit located on Mike Force compound. Responsibilities have been all those involved in running a rifle company. Special problems peculiar to this operation have been many, especially because the Vietnamization Program has been in high gear and leadership has been passing from the Americans to the VN cadre. Extensive training programs had
to be organized and conducted both for the ARVN cadre and for the influx of new commando personnel. SFC Sheppard has given classes on weapons, tacties, patrolling and ambushes. He has conducted both day and night training missions and then has accompanied his unit on many combat oper-ations. The goal has been to create an elite, highly trained combat unit. Through SFC Sheppard's initiative, determined leadership and the close rapport he has had with commando and ARVN cadre, these objectives have been met.
Sheppard’s 1972 Bronze Star OLC citation reads:
The Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) is presented to SERGEANT FIRST CLASS PAUL E. SHEPPARD, U.S. ARMY, who distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service during the period 27 February 1971 to 26 February 1972 in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Sheppard served in a highly commendable manner as First Sergeant and senior enlisted advisory to a paramilitary exploitation company. With the Vietnamization in high gear, Sergeant Sheppard worked day and night presenting classes on weapons, tactics, patrolling and ambushes to insure that the Vietnamese would be able to handle the demanding tasks ahead. His vast knowledge of military subjects and ability to instruct indigenous personnel rapidly brought the maximum capability of his unit to the required level. Sergeant Sheppard accompanied his unit on many successful operations where time and again he demonstrated his courage, skill and ability to remain calm and make rapid and logical decisions. Sergeant Sheppard's devotion to duty and professionalism are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
We were able to find a photo online of Sheppard in the field conducting operations in Laos in 1971. In 1973 he returned to the United States and became a senior drill instructor at Mercer University in Georgia. In 1975 he joined the staff of the Army ROTC advanced camp in Gaffney, SC. Sheppard retired from the Army in 1979 and was a member of the Special Forces Association Chapter 1-18, Fayetteville, NC. He passed away on October 4th, 2013 at the age of 78.
This is one of the greater Special Forces groups we have offered, with much more research left to be done. Comes ready for further research and display!
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