United States. A Silver & Bronze Star Vietnam War Group, To Green Beret Frank R. Yoder, Macv-Sog

Includes: 

four American awards: 

1. Silver Star Medal: engraved "FRANK R. YODER / 208 60 5485 / VIETNAM" on the reverse. 

2. Bronze Star Medal: engraved "FRANK R. YODER VIETNAM" on the reverse. 

3. Purple Heart: engraved "FRANK R. YODER / 208 60 5485 / VIETNAM" on the reverse. 

4. Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Campaign Stars.

three Republic of Vietnam awards: 

5. Military Merit Medal (Quân công Bội tinh). 

6. Gallantry Cross with Palm Branch (Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh). 

7. Campaign Medal, 1 Clasp - 1960-. (Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh). 

All seven awards with an original ribbon and brooch pinback. 

Also included are: 

8. Combat Infantryman Badge (Third Award): in sterling silver with ultramarine blue enamels, maker marked "SIMON-STER" on the reverse, measuring 76.3 mm (w) x 31 mm (h).  

9. Identification Tag (Dog Tag): stamped "YODER / FRANK R / 208 60 5485 / A POS / METHODIST", on chain.

10. Zippo Lighter: engraved "F. YODER / GREEN BERET / CAMP BU DOP" on the cap, engraved with the Green Beret insignia on the base, manufacturer marked "ZIPPO BRADFORD PA. / PAT. 2517191" on the bottom. 

11. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) Patch with QUYET-TU Shoulder Flash: patch in red, yellow, white, green and brown embroidery, with Saigon ad affixed to the reverse, measuring 60 mm (w) x 86 mm (h); locally-made shoulder flash in green, brown, purple, yellow and black embroidery, measuring 78 mm (w) x 18 mm (h). 

12. U.S. Army Special Mission Advisory Group Airborne Special Forces Patch: in red, yellow, purple and black embroidery, measuring 98 mm (w) x 100 mm (h). 

Near extremely fine. 

Footnote: The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War. It was established on January 24, 1964 and conducted strategic reconnaissance missions in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Laos, and Cambodia; took enemy prisoners, rescued downed pilots, conducted rescue operations to retrieve prisoners of war throughout Southeast Asia, and conducted clandestine agent team activities and psychological operations. The unit participated in most of the significant campaigns of the Vietnam War, including the Gulf of Tonkin incident which precipitated increased American involvement, Operation Steel Tiger, Operation Tiger Hound, the Tet Offensive, Operation Commando Hunt, the Cambodian Campaign, Operation Lam Son 719, and the Easter Offensive. The unit was downsized and renamed Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team 158 on May 1,  1972, to support the transfer of its work to the Strategic Technical Directorate of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam – part of the Vietnamization effort. Although never assigned an official crest or patch, SOG personnel adopted the unofficial self-designed insignia seen on the patch in this group.