Arsip Militer

Special Warfare shirt belonged to Lt. Col. Juan W. Spann, 101st Abn/Somerset Plain

Special warfare shirt belonged to Lt. Col. Juan W. Spann, 2 tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Divison. And participated in Operation Somerset Plain (August 1968).

special warfare shirt belonged to Lt. Col. Juan W. Spann, 2 tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Divison. Slide no 3 is him when in Operation Somerset Plain (August 1968). In the early 1960s, Natick Laboratories began developing prototype jungle clothing uniforms for the Special Forces in Southeast Asia. One such example is the two-piece “Special Warfare” uniform. Made from 6oz nylon/cotton poplin, it was used until 1965. You can identify these uniforms by the extra gas-flap and adjustable sleeve gusset on the arms. If the tag’s text is still readable, it will say “SPECIAL.WARFARE”. My example has the contract number “CONT.NO.5186”. According to forum discussions, the term “Special Warfare” refers to conditions outside the normal temperature/climate expected for the US Army. This uniform was not a private purchase like FOTL (Fruit of the Loom) nor privately tailored like Maharajah; it was indeed issued to personnel before introducing the 1st pattern jungle jacket. The material is very thin, making these items rare, especially the trousers (information sourced from Shelby Stanton’s book and the USMF forum).

About special warfare shirt:

In the early 1960s, Natick Laboratories began developing prototype jungle clothing uniforms for the Special Forces in Southeast Asia. One such example is the two-piece “Special Warfare” uniform. Made from 6oz nylon/cotton poplin, it was used until 1965. You can identify these uniforms by the extra gas-flap and adjustable sleeve gusset on the arms.

If the tag’s text is still readable, it will say “SPECIAL.WARFARE”. My example has the contract number “CONT.NO.5186”. According to forum discussions, the term “Special Warfare” refers to conditions outside the normal temperature/climate expected for the US Army.

special warfare shirt belonged to Lt. Col. Juan W. Spann, 2 tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Divison. Slide no 3 is him when in Operation Somerset Plain (August 1968). In the early 1960s, Natick Laboratories began developing prototype jungle clothing uniforms for the Special Forces in Southeast Asia. One such example is the two-piece “Special Warfare” uniform. Made from 6oz nylon/cotton poplin, it was used until 1965. You can identify these uniforms by the extra gas-flap and adjustable sleeve gusset on the arms. If the tag’s text is still readable, it will say “SPECIAL.WARFARE”. My example has the contract number “CONT.NO.5186”. According to forum discussions, the term “Special Warfare” refers to conditions outside the normal temperature/climate expected for the US Army. This uniform was not a private purchase like FOTL (Fruit of the Loom) nor privately tailored like Maharajah; it was indeed issued to personnel before introducing the 1st pattern jungle jacket. The material is very thin, making these items rare, especially the trousers (information sourced from Shelby Stanton’s book and the USMF forum).
CONT.NO.5186
special warfare shirt belonged to Lt. Col. Juan W. Spann, 2 tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Divison. Slide no 3 is him when in Operation Somerset Plain (August 1968). In the early 1960s, Natick Laboratories began developing prototype jungle clothing uniforms for the Special Forces in Southeast Asia. One such example is the two-piece “Special Warfare” uniform. Made from 6oz nylon/cotton poplin, it was used until 1965. You can identify these uniforms by the extra gas-flap and adjustable sleeve gusset on the arms. If the tag’s text is still readable, it will say “SPECIAL.WARFARE”. My example has the contract number “CONT.NO.5186”. According to forum discussions, the term “Special Warfare” refers to conditions outside the normal temperature/climate expected for the US Army. This uniform was not a private purchase like FOTL (Fruit of the Loom) nor privately tailored like Maharajah; it was indeed issued to personnel before introducing the 1st pattern jungle jacket. The material is very thin, making these items rare, especially the trousers (information sourced from Shelby Stanton’s book and the USMF forum).

This uniform was not a private purchase like FOTL (Fruit of the Loom) nor privately tailored like Maharajah; it was indeed issued to personnel before introducing the 1st pattern jungle jacket. The material is very thin, making these items rare, especially the trousers (information sourced from Shelby Stanton’s book and the USMF forum).

special warfare shirt belonged to Lt. Col. Juan W. Spann, 2 tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Divison. Slide no 3 is him when in Operation Somerset Plain (August 1968). In the early 1960s, Natick Laboratories began developing prototype jungle clothing uniforms for the Special Forces in Southeast Asia. One such example is the two-piece “Special Warfare” uniform. Made from 6oz nylon/cotton poplin, it was used until 1965. You can identify these uniforms by the extra gas-flap and adjustable sleeve gusset on the arms. If the tag’s text is still readable, it will say “SPECIAL.WARFARE”. My example has the contract number “CONT.NO.5186”. According to forum discussions, the term “Special Warfare” refers to conditions outside the normal temperature/climate expected for the US Army. This uniform was not a private purchase like FOTL (Fruit of the Loom) nor privately tailored like Maharajah; it was indeed issued to personnel before introducing the 1st pattern jungle jacket. The material is very thin, making these items rare, especially the trousers (information sourced from Shelby Stanton’s book and the USMF forum).

The actual picture when he was still in rank Major:

111-CCV-398
CC 50515
OPERATION “SOMERSET PLAIN”
MAJ Juan W. Spann (Claufield, Tenn.) Operations Officer, 2nd Bn, 502nd Inf, 101st Air Cav Div, checks the A Shau (A Sầu) Valley with binoculars from Fire Base “Berchtesgaden.”.

7-10 Aug 1968

Photo by SSG Hector Robertin
USA Sp Photo Det, Pac

UNCLASSIFIED by USAPA, 29 Aug 68

Vietnam. 101st Air Cav Div

About “Somerset Plain”

1 BDE 101 ABN was a US Army unit
2 BDE 101 ABN was a US Army unit
1 CAV DIV was a US Army unit
3 BDE 82 ABN was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army


Operation SOMERSET PLAIN
Thua Thien Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, A Shau Valley


Description: Task Force 1 (consisting of B Troop, 1/9th Cav; C/1/505th, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne; the 1/327th and 2/502 “Strike Force.” Airborne battalions, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne) conducted this search and destroy operation aimed at eliminating NVA troops trying to reenter the A Shau Valley after DELAWARE.

The 1st ARVN Div sent the 2d and 3d battalions, 1st ARVN Regt on LAM SON 246 as a companion operation.

Casualties: US 19 KIA, 104 WIA, 2 MIA; ARVN 15 KIA, 57 WIA, 2 MIA; enemy 171 KIA, 4 POW.

Quote from:
https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/panel/battle/68090401.HTM

Period picture of the operations:

A Shau area, South Vietnam, Aug. 9, 1968: Engineers — taking part in Operation Somerset Plain, fix dynamite to blow up trees on top of a hill for landing zone.
A Shau area, South Vietnam, Aug. 9, 1968: Engineers — taking part in Operation Somerset Plain, fix dynamite to blow up trees on top of a hill for landing zone.
Paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division land at Ta Bat within the A Shau Valley during "Operation Somerset Plain", which lasted from August 4-20, 1968.
Paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division land at Ta Bat within the A Shau Valley during “Operation Somerset Plain”, which lasted from August 4-20, 1968.
zhen rezky special warfare shirt belonged to Lt. Col. Juan W. Spann, 2 tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Divison. Slide no 3 is him when in Operation Somerset Plain (August 1968). In the early 1960s, Natick Laboratories began developing prototype jungle clothing uniforms for the Special Forces in Southeast Asia. One such example is the two-piece “Special Warfare” uniform. Made from 6oz nylon/cotton poplin, it was used until 1965. You can identify these uniforms by the extra gas-flap and adjustable sleeve gusset on the arms. If the tag’s text is still readable, it will say “SPECIAL.WARFARE”. My example has the contract number “CONT.NO.5186”. According to forum discussions, the term “Special Warfare” refers to conditions outside the normal temperature/climate expected for the US Army. This uniform was not a private purchase like FOTL (Fruit of the Loom) nor privately tailored like Maharajah; it was indeed issued to personnel before introducing the 1st pattern jungle jacket. The material is very thin, making these items rare, especially the trousers (information sourced from Shelby Stanton’s book and the USMF forum).
SpesifikasiDescription
Owner Identity Lt. Col. Juan W. Spann

Airborne Ranger in the 101st Airborne Division for two tours of duty in Vietnam
Era / PeriodThis shirt worn around mid 60s period
Manufacturer & VariantSpecial Warfare Shirt, Pre-1st pattern jungle jacket shirt.
Brevet / Patch List None• Woven black/gold US Army tape
• Stamped name tape
• Army Infantry Training School which is based at Fort Benning, GA.
• US Army Airborne Senior Parachutist Jump Wings
Additional Notes

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