armament and shrouds vietnam 1965

The infantry had early M-16s with the open front three prong flash suppressor. 

At that time it was greens for uniforms with camo helmet covers, and they carried the first model M-16 (triangular handguard, no forward assist, and open three prong flash hider) low velocity fragmentation vests (flak vests) had not been issued yet. Make sure you only use the 20 round magazines in the M-16's, as the thirty round units were not fielded then.

Look at the photo above. It was taken in the Ia Drang during the LZ X-Ray Battle. That M-16 has a forward assist

The mags were made of a thin aluminum and had a tendency to be a different color that the weapon and coiuld also start to change colors with use.  The rifle sling was made of nyllon and was a yellowish tan color with flat fold over aluminum clips to hold it together.  The butt stock and forward grips were a semi flat black and the pistol grip was flat black.

I'm not sure but I think some of them also carried the M-148 40mm low velocity grenade launcher  on their rifles which wouild be some shade of O.D.  They aeventually turned over their entire supply of thee launchers to the Air Force for the M-203.

After proper research, I stand corrected. Hal Moore's men were carrying the XM16E1, a forward assist equipped AR15. It later became (1967) the M16A1.

Brian

Incidently, I do not commonly trust a lot of photos, especially if they come from the internet, as there is no control and no required provenance there. I have found photos listed as the USS ARIZONA, that were not even battleships.

HooYah Deep Sea

After proper research, I stand corrected. Hal Moore's men were carrying the XM16E1, a forward assist equipped AR15. It later became (1967) the M16A1.

Brian

Incidently, I do not commonly trust a lot of photos, especially if they come from the internet, as there is no control and no required provenance there. I have found photos listed as the USS ARIZONA, that were not even battleships.

 

I believe the XM16E1 also lacked the fence around the magazine release.

DW

The photo of Lt. Rick Rescorla, taken during the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley (November 1965), shows his early-model M-16 to have the forward assist on it.

Rescorla survived combat in Vietnam, only to perish as a security officer of one of the World Trade Center twin towers while trying to get people out on September 11th, 2001.     

These are Air force M-16s.  They are even earlier versions, no bolt assist, nothing around the release, many still had the three prong flash supressors attached, the exception being the G.A.U. version the Army called the Car 15.  I believe theirs had the upgrades but sunce we had very little contact with them I'm not sure.

I'd heard of Lt. Rescorla and read Moore's book. But thanks for identifying the photo.

I looked him up; a good Wiki article.

Born in England, British Army, Rhodesia Police, Us Army, Morgan Stanley security.

Had a lot of jobs which make one think he was a bit of a free thinker.

A life full of service. 

Thank you, sir.

Ikar, that rifle on the bipod is a fine looking piece of industrial design. Looks like a 60s car say a Buick Riviera or a Pontiac Grand Prix.

Bill

And somehow I still have the bipod.  I'm trying to find a case for it.

I still like the 60s cars.  I owned a 62 Mercury, 63 Chevy Biscayne, 63 Pontiac Catalina, 64 Galaxy, and 67 Impala.