Kurtz Dossier

As far as promotions, I don't know how it was for officers but for enlisted, there was a standard form, that basically said so and so is now promoted from X to Y effective Z date. That was for standard promotions. For promotions outside of grade, ie: jumping a rank to the next higher, there would be verbiage as to why.

I have no idea how it is for officers though sorry.
 
What does the letter/form look like when you're promoted? I can't find this online? I'd assume that there'd be a letter with each promotion, saying what qualities led to the promotion right? Wouldn't that be in a military transcript folder
 
I'm working on the vietnamese ids in case anyones interested? If the full details are available on a screen grab I'd be happy to fill em in and post them finished. heres a taster
its more accurate to the props than real life ones:
viettest.png
 
Here's a great high quality scan of the real id's (not from the movie, I bought mine on Ebay. As for the photos, I didn't worry about THAT level of detail. I figured that close enough was ok.

Does anyone have a lead on old 1960's era Vietnamese newspapers? Or a scan of such?
 
When you see the dossiers contents all laid out like that, incredible work BTW Adam, it really is a masterpiece, especially for the time with no easy way of doing it, i am in awe of it. We have a massive Vietnamese community in Melbourne, will try and think of where to start looking for the paper or something appropriate. Great contributions.
 
What does the letter/form look like when you're promoted? I can't find this online? I'd assume that there'd be a letter with each promotion, saying what qualities led to the promotion right? Wouldn't that be in a military transcript folder

I didn't get anything like that. Mine was basically a letter on army letterhead stating that I was promoted from e-1 to e-2 and then e-2 to e-3. My promotion from e-1 to e-2 was after I finished basic, and my promotion to e-3 (PFC) was while I was in AIT (Advanced Individual Training) In my case Medical Specialist, which used to be 91A which I believe now is 68W Combat Medic. I never got a certificate just a letter which I got a copy of and a copy was placed in my file. I was enlisted so officers may be way different. I do remember my C.O. had his commissioning certificate on his wall in his office and I was impressed as he was commissioned a 1st Lt, from a E-6 (Spec-6 or Staff Sgt) for his service in Vietnam. But I don't remember seeing any other certificate for further promotions. There may have been I just don't remember seeing any.

ETA: The letterhead letter was a form letter, with lined/underlined areas for name and grades to go, plus the various authorizing signatures. That is all I can remember.
 
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Great! That's exactly what I was looking for. What letterhead would it be on? Army? War Dept?
 
Great! That's exactly what I was looking for. What letterhead would it be on? Army? War Dept?

Mine said Department of the Army, but I was enlisted and officers had lots of differences. Your best bet might be to contact ARPERCEN in St. Louis, Mo. they are at 9700 Page Ave St. Louis MO 63132. Many years ago I worked as a Security Officer there. That is where all of the Army Personnel records are kept. There was a fire there back in the late 70's early 80's that wiped out a bunch of records, but they should be able to tell you or point you in the right direction of what type of form or letter head would be used during the Vietnam War period. The Main phone # is 314-263-3901

Also I can't remember when the War Department became the Department of Defense, but the ARPERCEN should be able to help you.
 
Anyone have a vietnamese newspaper? I can't even find it in google images? Be great to get one from Saigon in the late 60's.
 
I bought a genuine military flashlight for my collection from a guy in Vietnam, last week and
have asked him if he could look for a couple of correct era papers. He was happy to look for me and im waiting to hear back.
 
New thing to decode.

It's a screenshot. It'd be great if we could get a better (blueray) screenshot of this to see it more clearly...

Let me know if anyone can oblige. My photoshop skillz aren't up to being able to read the lion's share of this pic.
 
Awesome. I can get a lot more from that. I have good graphics on that envelope. Where is this in the film again? I'm getting confused.
 
Great find on those pics Mr. Webber, which reminds me, how were you able to find those pics? Did you just do a regular search, or use a specific website or program?
 
Its the scene when they come to get Willard in his hotel room Adam, at first i thought it was the scene with H, Ford.

I got them from google images Bear using as many search parameters i could think of. I still think theres more to find using old fashioned books.
 

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