Vietnam Bring Back Chicom Type 53

[4th cav ssg]

I hope this is the right forum for this, anyway i brought this carbine back from Vietnam in 1968. It was captured northwest of Saigon while on Search and Distroy with the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division. This Type 53 Mosin is dated 1960, Factory 26. It has no matching numbers reason being the VC changed parts as needed. During my tour of duty our unit never uncovered any weapons with matching #s. Along with the carbine i have a VC Mainstream Uniform (Black PJ's) and some currency (Vietnamese Dong and MPC), All paperwork inc. American Embassy Export License, Provost Marshal Cleared for CONUS, DD603 Registration of War Trophy Firearms and DD603-1 War Trophy Registration Authorization. If you remember during the first gulf war a General gave a briefing every day on TV, his name was General Thomas Kelly, He also was my Operations Officer in Vietnam and signed my War Trophy Registration though he was a Major at that time. Thanks for letting me post and i hope this information would be of interest to your members. Thanks A.M. (see attachments)

 

[Cheesemaker]

Nice read - thank you.

 

[kBob]

Thanks for sharing and thanks for your service.

-kBob

 

[MikeJackmin]

The blued bolt is interesting. Probably a smart feature, too.

 

[WALKERs210]

In 68 the only thing I wanted to bring back was ME.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

4th Cav, did this search and destroy mission happen before Tet or after?

 

[Reloadron]

Gee, as Bob Hope would say, thanks for the memories.

Thanks for sharing your war trophy collection. While I didn't get to Vietnam till '72 I was with WALKERs210 comment. The only thing I wanted to bring back was me.

Ron

 

[Spade5]

Nice trophy

I was there 70-71 with the 25th probably close to your AO. I remember they changed search and destroy to search and find or some BS like that. Things got so bad we could not have a round in the chamber and could only fire if we were fired upon.

Some of the guys on the Freedom Bird I was on had trophy guns but they could not be found when we hit the states. Talk about some PO'd people.

We found a cache of like new 9mm pistols but the guys in the dark sun glasses took them. I would like to have kept one.

 

[tiamat]

I always wondered how people managed to get war trophies home. I figured they mailed them home piece by piece or something. Now I see there's just a form to fill out. Guess that makes a little more sense.

 

[bikerdoc]

I was planning on bringing back an SKS. A dustoff ride screwed that up. By the time I got back it was missing.

 

[cpt-t]

4th cav ssg: That sure brings back the memories. I was assigned to a Mech Inf unit with the 1st DIV in late 1968. In the same area as yours I think, our Basecamps were at An-Loc and Loc-Ninh. I had quite alittle stash of throphys I was planning on bring home, but was given a ride home by the Air Force in a pair of Blue PJ`s to the Fitzsemms Army Hospital in Denver. But when my Hold Baggage finally cought up with me, instead of 3 full duffle bags, I only got 1 bag and it was pretty much mty just a few dirty clothes in it that were not even mine, the REMF`s really had a feld day with my stuff. I just wish they would have left me my box of pictures, and the presents for my Wife, Son, and my Mother. What type of low life would steal some one else`s pictures. Well no one ever said life was fair. And I am sorry if i got long winded. You have some great Thorphy`s. Thank You for Your Service, And I am so glad You made it home.
ken

 

[carbine85]

Thank you for your service. Can you post more pictures of the rifle?
That paperwork needs to be preserved properly.

 

[TIMC]

Very cool, I have the one my dad brought back, nice piece of history.

 

[4th cav ssg]

To MikeJackmin It's not blued, the light makes it look that way. It's a batina

 

[4th cav ssg]

To WALKERs210 I brought back me too plus a little bit of someone else.

 

[4th cav ssg]

To Beagle-Zebub The S&D was after their Tet

 

[WALKERs210]

To much BS in the last few year of the "Conflict". Bring backs, would love to have a few friends back.

 

[MutinousDoug]

When the 1st Cav went into Cambodia in 1970, my company uncovered a couple of stashes: a motor pool (mostly bicycles) rice, and one weapons stash of mostly SKS; enough for the entire company ( of about 68 effectives) to bring home one SKS each. Pretty exciting for us, as we were told; all we had to do was show up at the Co rear as we DEROSed out, pick one out and bring it home. Come December I asked to see my choice of capture weapon and the supply Sgt said:" Don't you remember those cool USMC camo BDUs we got you? We traded them for all those useless SKSs you brought back from Forbodia."

We thought USMC camo was pretty hot, at the time, but Jeeze!

 

[Sarge]

I was in Special Forces and we could bring 3 war trophy firearms back where the rest of the military could only bring back one(1).
I took a ruskie Makerov to Hawaii on R&R and gave it to the wife to take home. I hand carried 2 SKSs and a Browning Hi Power back.
I had a buddy bring an SKS back for me since he wasn't bringing any thing back himself. Sold that one a couple of years after I got back - which is why I brought it home.
ALL have trophy papers.
I have since picked up several others. Here is a photo of what I have.
Sarge