Identity disc : Sergeant S W Hilt, 173rd Airborne Brigade, US Army

Rectangular steel identity disc with rounded ends and a hole punched in one end for attachment to a neck chain or leather thong. The disc is impressed on one side 'HILT./ SAMUEL W/ RA11729024/ APOS 183-40-4198/ PROTESTANT.'

Worn by 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.