Connecticut Soldiers Collection, Dennis Lyons Collection

This Vietnam War-era uniform belonged to U.S. Army supply specialist Dennis M. Lyons from 1968-1971. The service uniform or “class A” was supposed to be worn by U.S. Army personnel in situations calling for formal dress, such as public and official functions. The green uniform features a jacket with four gold buttons, dress slacks, a cap, and an olive drab utility fatigue shirt. The jacket has three ribbons above the left breast pocket: a National Defense Service ribbon, awarded to service members who served honorably during a period in which a “national emergency” had been declared during a time of war or conflict, a Vietnam Service ribbon, recognizing service during the Vietnam War, and a Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon, awarded by the former South Vietnamese government to military personnel for service in South Vietnam. Below these ribbons there is an Army Sharp Shooter Badge on the left pocket with a rifle qualification. The left shoulder of the uniform jacket features a red and blue 5th Army patch with an Army Specialist 5 rank patch below it. The right shoulder features another Army Specialist 5 rank patch with a 20th Engineer Brigade patch above it.