| Place | Asia: Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL35303.001 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Uniform |
| Physical description | Cotton sateen, Plastic |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United States of America |
| Date made | c 1967-1968 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 |
Fatigue shirt : Corporal S W Hilt, 173rd Airborne Brigade, US Army
Description
Olive green cotton sateen fatigue shirt with long sleeves and a patch pocket on each breast with pointed flaps. The shirt fastens down the front with six buttons. The cuff, pocket and front buttons are all of olive green plastic. An embroidered olive green name tape sewn above the left pocket, with black lettering, reads 'U.S. ARMY'; a similar tape sewn above the right pocket reads 'HILT'. Also above the left pocket is a white embroidered Basic Parachutist Badge and a blue and white embroidered Combat Infantryman Badge. Both sleeves bear yellow embroidered chevrons for the rank of corporal. The top of the right sleeve also carries a white, red and blue embroidered badge for the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the top of the left sleeve a white, blue and yellow embroidered badge for the 8th US Army Infantry Division, with a blue and white embroidered 'AIRBORNE' above it . The shirt is heavily starched.
History / Summary
Associated with the service of RA11729024 Corporal (later Sergeant) Samuel Walter 'Sam' Hilt. Hilt was born on 24 November 1947 at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, and enlisted in the US Army in 1966. He undertook two tours of duty in South Vietnam with Delta Company, 1st Battalion 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, serving from Saigon to the Central Highlands. Hilt took part in battles at Dak To in November 1967, in Kontum Province; the Tet Offensive, January 1966; Ban Me Thout in Dac Lak Province; An Khe in Gia Lai Province and in operations in Binh Dinh Province. In May 1968 he was evacuated to St Vincent's hospital in Sydney for medical treatment for cerebral malaria and blackwater fever. He remained in hospital until September. Sergeant Hilt also undertook a tour of duty in Germany with 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and was part of an exchange program with the British Parachute Regiment. In December 1969 he was discharged from the army. Sam Hilt migrated to Australia 19 May 1970.