Description

Hat: Bamboo? (rice paper) hat worn by Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. The hat is light brown bamboo? and palm leaf? (rice paper) and is in a circular cone shape with a pointed top. It is approximately 7 1/2" high (11 1/4" from bottom to top with tape measure against hat) and has a diameter of 17 1/4". The rice paper is in vertical rows. There are rows of horizontal stitching approximately every 3/4". Inside is a 3/8" wide dark brown ribbed satin? ribbon for the chin strap. It is tied to each side of the hat on a twisted piece of rice paper. At the top inside point is red stitching around the point. Under the point is a small rice paper circle with a star in red and black stitching. There is a small remnant of silver colored paper at the circle. Condition - The hat has some small tears and holes, espeically on the inside. The thin wood along the bottom rim of the hat is broken and splitting in some areas.

See hat 1999.59.4.

The hat is a Vietnamese peasant hat. It was often used by the Viet Cong to blend with the local civilians. He likely got the hat during one of his tours (hat 1999.59.4 was from one of his tours).

Richard Johnson is a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps (Artillery). He was a graduate from the U.S. Navy War College. He served 2 tours in Vietnam. He served from November 10, 1954-June 30, 1980. He served from 1965-1966 as a battery commander and from 1969-1970 as an operations officer. He retired from the Marine Corps as a Colonel in 1980.

Geographic Notes

Vietnam