Kurt Volkmar wrote:
Pipes you really need to chuck the Alice ruck in the bin, sorry but this is like a German reenactor wearing Bundy stuff. And as an item of point; all Zippo's and VC/NVA flags coming out of Vietnam are junk made for the tourist trade, much the same as when you go to Paris and come away with a model of the Eiffel tower.
Also the M17 Gas mask bag should be worn on the left thigh, thin strap around the leg and the larger one going around the waist.
Otherwise a great start to a new impression

Cheers for the good advice Kurt, as i say iam a "newbie" to the Nam portrayal
but as far as iam aware the "ALICE" gear came out in 73 so was used to some
extent till the fall of Saigon in 75, and have seen it in use on some late pics.
As for some of the other bits, as you say there are a lot of copies floating about but
two of the flags ive shown (large type) came from the US from an estate sale (ebay)
where in fact i obtained my helmet and Mitchell cover and two maps.
I can only go from what information i was told but these five items belonged to
a "Viet vet" in the US, the smaller flag and lighter was purchased from a different source
someone who had been to Vietnam so am not sure about them, although the lighter is a
genuine Zippo 1960's type although i cannot prove the engraving was done in the Vietnam
War period, thought i would just clarify this.
Regards Pipes