US Army F/75th Ranger Infantry Hooch Banner.
Theatre-made "Hooch Banner" for Team 38, Company F, 75th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, and 25th Division. Nicknamed the "Tropical Rangers", they served near the infamous Chu Chi tunnel complex. This unofficial banner is typical of locally acquired flags used by soldiers and units to decorate their living quarters and company areas.
They served as moral builders and reflected unit pride. They often included insignias, unit designations, patriotic slogans or mottos, which often reflected macabre humor common on the front lines with references and symbols of mortality. They were also used to identify bunkers, dwellings, barracks and other facilities.
Little is known about the history of this banner. It is thought to be a GI bring-back, acquired through a private purchase in 2007. It is reputed to be a flag brought back from Vietnam on rotation by a team member of the Tropical Rangers - Team 38, Company F, 75thInfantry, 3rd Brigade and 25th Division.
This is the same unit that carried ZFC0290 in Burma during WWII.
Provenance: Acquired in 2007 by purchase.
ZFC Noteworthy Flag
Sources:
Unit History, Company F (LRRP), 50th Infantry, 10 May 2012, from: http://www.ichiban1.org/html/history_F.htm
75th Ranger Regiment (United States), Wikipedia, 10 May 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/75th_Ranger_Regiment_%28United_States%29
75th Ranger Regiment Lineage, Lineage and Honors Information, 10 May 2012, from: http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0075ra.htm
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
