Tropical combat trousers : Sergeant S W Hilt, 173rd Airborne Brigade, US Army

Pair of olive green US tropical combat trousers featuring a five-button fly, pair of hip pockets with rectangular flaps and concealed button fastening, pair of front pockets and a pair of expanding cargo pockets over the thighs with concealed buttons. The left cargo pocket includes a small inner pocket designed to hold a survival kit. The waist is fitted with belt loops and a pair of adjusting buckles while the legs are finished with a tunnelled draw-cord. A label sewn to inner proper right hip pocket describes the trousers as 'Poplin OG 107 DSA 100-67-C-3344' and includes instructions on cleaning and use. All buttons are of olive green plastic.

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.