Sp5 Robert D. Jester arrived in Vietnam in November 1964 with the Signal Company, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), stationed at the Special Forces Operational Base at Nha Trang. The Headquarters of the 5th Special Forces Group was located in this base. During 1965, the Signal Company was redesignated Company E. The standard tour for the men who arrived with this unit was one year, November 1964 to November 1965, but Jester extended his time in Vietnam to March 1966.
Box labelled "Mountains in Viet Nam": Looks like a single series, stamped DEC 65Z in black (mtd). Numbered 1-36, about a third missing from box right now.
Box labelled "NHA": Portions of at least three series, stamped OCT 65Z in red, DEC 65Z in red, DEC 65 Z in black (5, 10 are not the missing from "Mountains")
Box labelled "Nha Trang": Two indistinguishable series both stamped AUG 65Z in red (nta), one (12) OCT 65Z in red (nto).
Box labelled "SF Nha Trang, etc.": Mostly (1-21) stamped DEC 65Z in black, two (22, 23) stamped OCT 65Z in red, one (25) stamped JUL 66Z2 in black, and six with minimal undated red stampings.
Box labelled "SF (personal - friends) etc.?": Mostly (1-20) stamped SEP 65Z in black; one (1) DEC 65Z in black; two (15-16) stamped FEB 67A1 in black.
Box labelled "1 Chou Dac": thirty stamped MAY 66Z4 in black (m66z4); three (cd2db 4, 8, 20) DEC 65Z in black; two (11, 12) AUG 65Z in red; one (cd2dr.32) DEC 65Z in red
Box labelled "2 Chou Dac": one (18) stamped AUG 65Z in black (cd2dd); five (9, 10, 10, 16, 20, of which two conflict with AUG 65Z red in "Nha Trang") AUG 65Z in red (cd2ar); five (1, 12, 13, 30, 33) DEC 65Z in red (cd2dr); eight DEC 65Z in black (cd2db); eight MAY 66Z2 in black (cd2z2).
Photographs are Copyright © 2007, Robert D. Jester, MSG/E8, US Army Ret.
e-mail: rdjester65@yahoo.com
I am extremely grateful to Mr. Jester for having given me permission to place his photos
on this web page, making them available to scholars and students.
Edwin E. Moise
Professor of History
Clemson University
e-mail: eemoise@clemson.edu
Opinions expressed on these web pages are those of Robert D. Jester and/or Edwin E. Moise. They could not very well be the opinions of Clemson University, which does not have opinions on the relevant subjects.
Revised March 30, 2011.