USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$12.00
Only 52 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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Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club Patch — Embroidered Patch
The Most Exclusive Club in the Pacific
Membership was earned the hard way. The Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club patch is one of the most iconic pieces of Vietnam-era naval humor — the tongue-in-cheek name given to the naval task forces that operated in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. If your ship steamed through those waters, you were automatically a member of the world's least relaxing yacht club.
The Gulf of Tonkin was the staging area for the United States Navy's air campaign against North Vietnam, with aircraft carriers launching strike missions from Yankee Station while smaller vessels conducted coastal operations from Dixie Station. The sailors and Marines who served aboard the carriers, destroyers, cruisers, and support ships in the Gulf adopted the "Yacht Club" moniker as a way of coping with the reality of sustained combat operations in tropical heat, surrounded by hostile waters and under constant threat. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August 1964 led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized the massive escalation of American military involvement in Vietnam. For those who served there, the Yacht Club was anything but recreational.
Perfect For:
Vietnam-era Navy veterans, Tonkin Gulf veterans, carrier air wing members, destroyer and cruiser sailors, naval aviation Vietnam veterans, and military humor patch collectors
Membership: involuntary. Memories: permanent.
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.
