1968 UNISSUED ORIGINAL VIETNAM ERDL CAMOUFLAGE BOONIE HAT 6 7/8 (NIB)

Description

YOU ARE PURCHASING AN UNISSUED 6 7/8 NEW IN THE BAG ERDL CAMOUFLAGE TYPE II JUNGLE BOONIE HAT.  IT IS AN ORIGINAL 3 INCH WIDE BRIM VIETNAM ERA TROPICAL COMBAT HAT DATED 1968.  IT IS CONSTRUCTED OF 6 OUNCE RIP-STOP COTTON POPLIN MATERIAL.
A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT ERDL CAMOUFLAGE:
THE CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN ON THIS HAT IS A VARIANT OF ERDL KNOWN AS "GREEN DOMINANT" ERDL.  IT IS ALSO UNOFFICIALLY CALLED "LOWLAND" ERDL.  THE ERDL (AN ACRONYM FOR THE ARMY'S "ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY") CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN WAS DEVELOPED ORIGINALLY IN 1948 FOR ELITE RECONNAISSANCE AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNITS AT THAT TIME.  LATER ON THE U.S. MARINE CORPS ADOPTED GREEN "LOWLAND" VERSION AS STANDARD ISSUE IN 1968.  EVENTUALLY THE U.S. ARMY INTRODUCED IT ON A WIDE SALE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA THROUGHOUT THE WAR AND UP UNTIL LATE 1972.  THE ERDL PATTERN COMBAT UNIFORM---BOONIE HAT, COMBAT COAT AND COMBAT TROUSERS---WERE CONSTRUCTED IDENTICAL IN CUT TO THE OG-107 GREEN JUNGLE FATIGUES.  DUE TO SHORTAGES IN AVAILABILITY OF COMBAT UNIFORMS AND THE FACT THAT
UNIFORMS WERE IDENTICAL IN CUT IT WAS QUITE COMMON TO SEE MARINES WEARING MIXTURES OF ERDL CAMOU AND OG-107 GREEN JUNGLE FATIGUES AT THE SAME TIME.
THE SIZE LABEL AND LAUNDERING INSTRUCTIONS ARE SEWN INSIDE THE HAT.  A NYLON CHIN STRAP WITH A LEATHER SLIDER KEPT THE BOONIE FROM FALLING OFF THE SOLDIER'S HEAD.
THERE ARE FOUR METAL GROMMETS AIR VENTS IN THE UPPER  PART OF THE HAT TO KEEP THE SOLDIER'S HEAD COOLER IN THE HOT TROPICAL VIETNAM CLIMATE.  THERE IS A ROW OF NYLON TAPE SEWN ALONG THE BASE OF THE CROWN FOR INSERTING CAMOUFLAGE FOLIAGE.
WEIGHT:  5 OZ.
ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE E-MAIL ME BEFORE YOU PURCHASE.
U.S. CUSTOMERS WE WILL USE USPS FIRST CLASS MAIL / ACTUAL SHIPPING COST
THANKS FOR READING.
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS – PLEASE NOTE:
IMPORT DUTIES, TAXES, AND CHARGES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ITEM PRICE SHIPPING COST.  THESE CHARGES ARE THE BUYER’S RESPONSIBILITY.
PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR COUNTRY’S CUSTOMS OFFICE TO DETERMINE WHAT THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS WILL BE PRIOR TO BIDDING OR BUYING.
CUSTOMS FEES ARE NORMALLY CHARGED BY THE SHIPPING COMPANY OR COLLECTED WHEN YOU PICK THE ITEM UP.  THESE FEES ARE NOT ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES.
WE DON’T UNDER-VALUE MERCHANDISE OR MARK THE ITEMS AS A GIFT ON CUSTOMS FORMS.  DOING THAT IS AGAINST U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL LAWS.
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We combine shipping.  To take advantage of this discount you must wait for an invoice
and pay for everything at the same time, not separately.