USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$12.00
Only 117 items left in stock
Bulk Patch Pricing
Embroidered
Minimum order: 25
25-49: $6.00 each
50-99: $5.00 each
100-199: $4.00 each
200-299: $3.00 each
300+: $2.50 each
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I Was in Vietnam Before It Was Popular Patch — Embroidered Patch
The Original Advisors
Before the buildup, before the headlines, before the protests — there were Marines already on the ground. This patch speaks to the earliest American military personnel in Vietnam, the advisors and support crews who deployed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when most Americans couldn't find Vietnam on a map. It's dry humor with a sharp edge, the kind only someone who was there first would appreciate.
The American military presence in Vietnam began long before the massive troop deployments of 1965. Military advisors, helicopter crews, and support personnel were operating alongside South Vietnamese forces as early as 1955, with Marine helicopter squadrons deploying under Operation Shufly beginning in April 1962. These early rotations from MAG-16 flew UH-34 Seahorses out of Soc Trang and Da Nang, supporting ARVN operations in the Mekong Delta and the northern highlands. By the time the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade came ashore in March 1965, half of the Marine Corps' medium helicopter squadrons had already rotated through a Shufly deployment. The men who served in those early years paved the way for everything that followed.
Perfect For:
Early Vietnam-era veterans, military advisors, Operation Shufly veterans, Marine helicopter crews, Vietnam history collectors, and morale patch enthusiasts
First in. Before anyone knew. Before anyone cared.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
