Original Item: Only One Available. An outstanding example of a uniform worn by Colonel Plocki, a Catholic Chaplain who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean and Vietnam War. A good amount of information is available on Plocki with some research including a recorded interview conducted in Vietnam in 1971 with Plocki which is currently held in the US Army Center For Military History. This is a great opportunity to obtain a rare uniform which has yielded some impressive research potential!

The jacket is a standard 1968 Dated ripstop poplin Jacket, which features a mix of U.S. made and locally produced “Incountry” made insignia which was commonly sourced from Vietnamese sewing shops. Direct embroider insignia was popular, especially with officer’s who could afford extra uniforms. The collar insignia is direct embroider, with Plocki’s Colonel’s Insignia and Chaplain Insignia embroidered directly to the collar. In addition, his name and US Army Tapes are also directly embroidered. The left sleeve features a US made early merrowed edge subdued US Army Vietnam (USARV) Shouder Sleeve Insignia, while the Right Sleeve features a Provisional Corps Vietnam Combat Patch which is Vietnamese-Made as well.

Vietnam Jungle Fatigues with original applied insignia are becoming incredibly hard to find at present. This particular jacket has the tell tale signs of having had the insignia applied for a long time, such as the bunching of material on the reverse of the patches inside the jacket. This undoubtedly was a Jacket which saw service in Vietnam then returned home with a veteran!

Jacket is marked in the collar “Medium-Short”.

Approx. Measurements:

Collar to shoulder: 9.5”
Shoulder to sleeve: 23”
Shoulder to shoulder: 18”
Chest width: 23"
Waist width: 22.5”
Hip width: 23”
Front length: 30.5"

Chaplain Plocki’s Obituary from 1999:
“1999-04-29 04:00:00 PDT San Francisco -- Monsignor Robert J. Plocki, a well-known Bay Area clergyman, former chaplain of the Presidio in San Francisco and highly decorated U.S. Army officer, died of a heart attack Monday at his home in Tiburon. He was 78.

A native of Chicago, Monsignor Plocki graduated from that city's St. Ignatius High School and De Paul University. After attending De Paul Law School for two years, he entered Kenrick Seminary in the Springfield, Ill., diocese, where he was ordained a Catholic priest June 3, 1945.

While associate pastor at St. Agnes Church in Springfield, he was assigned the chaplaincy of a National Guard unit.

In 1952, Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson activated the National Guard and sent "Father Bob's" unit to Korea. Thus began a long career of service in the Army, which took him to Korea, Vietnam, Germany, Iceland and finally to the Oakland Army Terminal and the Presidio.

He saw battlefield action in both the Korean and Vietnam wars and was decorated for bravery on numerous occasions.

A licensed marriage, family and child counselor, as well, Monsignor Plocki served St. Hilary's parish in Tiburon during the 18 years that came after his retirement from the Army. He also often said Mass at the San Domenico School in San Anselmo.

In 1995, on the 50th anniversary of his ordination, Monsignor Plocki wrote to Archbishop John Quinn:

"Almighty God has been so bountiful with His love and graces over the 50 years He has allowed me to Serve Him. Our Dear Lord has given me all opportunities to work in His Vineyard. . . . God has been very good to me and I am so grateful for His graces and love. I thank God every day of my life for His strength and direction."

He is survived by his sisters, Irene Southon of Deerfield, Ill., and Louretta Bobay of Greenbrae, and his brother, Gene Plocki, of Larkspur.”