Zippo cigarette lighter : US 173rd Airborne Brigade

Zippo brand chrome-plated brass flip-top cigarette lighter. '"SGT RICK" VIET-NAM 66-67-70-71' with 173rd Airborne crest engraved on obverse. US Army parachutist wings and 'FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT, FREEDOM IS A TASTE THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW' engraved on reverse. 'KAREN' is engraved on the top.

Cigarette lighter used by an unidentified American soldier of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

In May 1965, this formation became the first American infantry brigade to deploy to Vietnam, with the Australian Army's 1 RAR and its supporting elements being assigned to the 173rd at Bien Hoa upon their arrival.

Australian soldiers participated in brigade operations through the latter half of 1965 and into 1966. These included several search and destroy operations in War Zone D, and Operation Crimp in January 1966, a failed attempt to destroy the Communist committee headquarters housed in a bunker complex in Cu Chi district.

Australian units were placed under direct Australian operational command with the formation of 1 Australian Task Force in April 1966.

In 1966 the 173rd became involved in Operation Attleboro, which ran from September to November and grew into a huge operation involving 22 thousand soldiers. On February 22, 1967, the brigade conducted Operation Junction City, the only combat parachute jump of the Vietnam War, and in November of the same year fought in the bloody Battle of Dak To in Kontum Province. This battle left the brigade's combat battalions seriously weakened, so in 1968 it was moved to the comparatively quieter areas of An Khe and Bong Son while its battalions were rebuilt. The brigade was then moved to Binh Dinh Province, until its withdrawal from Vietnam in 1971.

It is thought that this lighter was received by an Australian veteran who served during the period when 1 RAR was attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade.