Black Beret Authorized, RVN?

[SamColtFan]

T86 advised to post under this section.

An acquaintance of mine was in Viet Nam. He claims that he was a Black Beret.

According to an April 1967 COMRIVPATFOR memo to RIVPARFOR, it stated:

(E) ONLY RIVER PATROL FORCE PERSONNEL MAY WEAR BERET. THIS INCLUDES LST PERSONNEL AND MINESWEEPER, HELICOPTER AND SEAL DETACHMENTS. NO OTHERS ARE AUTHORIZED.

My acquaintance stated that he was in a unit called Boat Support Unit One. He said that Mobile Support Team (MST) personnel came from BSU-1 and when deployed for 6 months in RVN with the SEALs they were an integrated unit. The purpose of the MST units was to insert and extract SEALs (I'm told). He also stated he was not assigned to a PBR unit. He was an MST that worked with the SEALs.

So, my question is, under these circumstances was my acquaintance authorized to wear the Black Beret?

He was in Viet Nam in 1969.

Regards,
Sam

[Doogie320]

From a buddy of mine that was at PBR Mobile Base II:

"When I was there..the US Navy river patrol personel wore black berets
(crews of PBRs [Patrol River Boat] and "heavies"[larger boats like the
flame thrower "zippos"] ). As a "support unit" (PBR Mobile Base II) for
these river boats and their crews, I and my men wore blue berets IAW
NAVSUPPACT Nha Bay, Siagon authorization.

...so to answer your question I would think that any US military attached
to a "combat" unit can/could wear a black beret. If attached to a support
unit you could wear a blue beret (I still have mine).

For a more authoritative answer you might check
http://www.pbr-fva.org/index.html."

Hope this helps.

BTAR

[Former]

I've seen pictures of Black Pony (VAL-4, OV-10 Bronco Navy CAS squadron from '69-'72) ground crews wearing black beret. Not surprising that many different commands in the Brown Water war were wearing that headgear. The reference cited was from 1967, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was modified over the next five years. BSU's, by the way, are the forerunners of today's SBU's. They have a more direct line of heritage than the Coastal and River Divisions do. BSU's were designed specifically for SEAL support, while the PCF's and PBR's had their own primary mission separate from supporting land forces. If your friend was with a BSU, I'm sure he earned his Black Beret. He would have operated STAB's, not PBR's. Here's a link to a Navy organizational chart of forces for the IV Corps in Vietnam. Pretty obvious that SEALs and riverine forces alike fell under CTF 116.

http://www.ov-10bronco.net/usn-val4-orgchart.cfm

[SamColtFan]

Former and others....

Thank you for your very helpful replies. I wasn't in Viet Nam and I am not familiar with my friends claims. I didn't know that BSUs were developed for SEAL support. Thanks again. And thanks to those who served in Viet Nam.

Regards,
Sam