1st Patt Jungle Jacket: SSGT Hughes, 5th SF

1st pattern jungle jacket attributed to SSGT James Edward Hughes, 5th Special Forces, Vietnam. This jacket comes from the late Craig Pickrall, USMF co-founder collection.

I found a collector of his medals in USMF forum, here’s the citation below:

James Edward Hughes was born on October 15, 1933, and joined the Armed Forces in his hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia. In 14 years of service, he attained the rank of SSGT/E6.He was assigned to Detachment A-502 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), III Corps, Mike Force, 1st Special Forces.

His primary specialty was a 05B4S, a Radio Operator and his tour of duty in Viet Nam began on 18 June 1964. Detachment A-502 was originally authorized as a standard 12 man Special Forces A-Team in March of 1964. Later, In October of that year, team members were actually assigned to the unit.

Then, in December of 1964, Detachment A-502 was made operational. Since the detachment’s mission was the security of the 5th Special Forces Group Headquarters and the Nha Trang air base, it was located with a South Vietnamese LLDB unit that was strategically located within A-502’s Team Area of Responsibility.

Staff Sergeant Hughes was killed in action on 13th March 1966 while engaged with the enemy during Operation Silver City, five miles north of Camp A-312, Xom Cat, Long Khanh Province, South Vietnam. He was 32 years old. He was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct, National Defense, Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign medals. He is buried Garden of the Last Supper Section 239 Lot D-3, Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Roanoke, Virginia.
kanemono – USMF member

A-502 Detachment

I also emailed Tom Ross, detachment A-502 webmaster asking about SSGT Hughes, and he replied with the 1964-1965 team picture.

A-502 was set up to man outposts in the Nha Trang area. This was separate from the Mobile Reaction Force at Trung Dung by earlier TDY teams which was designated A-503.

These camps were under the control of B-51 (Dong Ba Thin) RF/PF advisors and the Nha Trang Area Defense Command (ADC/IDC). The CO of Trung Dung was the Deputy Commander of the IDC beginning in 1969. A-502 billed itself as the largest A-team in the World.
Tom Ross – specialforcesbooks.com

Also, many details linked to SSGT Hughes:

Jungle Fatigue

SSGT Hughes start tour in mid-1964, so it all makes sense why he is still wearing 1st pattern jungle fatigue w/ typical all-colored patches early-Nam configuration. Highlighted:

Machine-embroidered on twill cotton black/gold US Army tape.
Stanciled black ink on white-backing name tape.
Ghosting of 5th special force unit patch SSI.
US-Made gold on green SSGT ranks (Enlisted 1955 – Vietnam Era).
Nomenclature tag DSA-1-2397-63-C (FY 1963 contract).

Overall it’s a very rare early untouched coat with honest wear (non-put-together junk), and it comes from a well-respected collector with all the story behind it.