Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a lovely Tiger Stripe uniform blouse! This blouse, which features direct embroidery, belonged to Petty Officer John J. Donovan who was a Navy SEAL and a member of SEAL Team 2, Naval Special Warfare Group 2.
The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's primary special operations force and a component of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Among the SEALs' main functions are conducting small-unit special operation missions in maritime, jungle, urban, arctic, mountainous, and desert environments. SEALs are typically ordered to capture or to kill high level targets, or to gather intelligence behind enemy lines. SEAL team personnel are hand selected, highly trained, and possess a high degree of proficiency in direct action (DA), and special reconnaissance (SR), among other tasks like sabotage, demolition, intelligence gathering, and hydro-graphic reconnaissance, training, and advising friendly militaries or other forces.
It is easy to understand how this pattern got its name from its bold black stripes, which mimic those of a tiger. The combination of green, brown and black stripes provided near perfect camouflage for a jungle environment with its light and shade. It was made using a screen-printing process, which is why it can sometimes appear smudged. The pattern was adapted from the black and green "Lizard pattern", used by the French during their war in Indochina.
This camouflage was much in demand during the Vietnam war and was worn by elite units such as US Special Forces, US Navy Seals and USMC advisors amongst others. Even war correspondents and photographers, including the famous British photographer Tim Page, sported Tigerstripes.
There are more than 25 patterns of Tigerstripe but the most sought after by collectors, is the gold Advisor Sparse pattern (ADS). Another is the John Wayne Dense pattern (JWD). The JWD pattern is so named because it was used in John Wayne's movie, 'The Green Berets'. The uniforms in the film were made from material that was bought in Vietnam and shipped back to the States for manufacture.
This camouflage fatigue shirt is offered in very good condition, and features the "John Wayne Sparse Pattern" of the Tiger stripe camouflage. The jacket is approximately a US size 38. It is complete with all buttons and in lovely condition. We have not been able to find much on his service, which is expected when it comes to SEALs, but we were able to find an interview.
The interview was conducted by the Dartmouth Vietnam Project by Paulina Calcaterra on August 7, 2017. The interview consists of
1. Growing Up in Boston
2. ROTC at Holy Cross
3. Initial Impressions of Vietnam
4. Riverine Warfare
5. Losing Faith in Vietnam and Subsequent Reading
6. Post-Navy Transition Period
7. Working in Education and Outdoor Programs
8. Consulting in Southeast Asia and Philanthropy in Vietnam
The full transcribed interview can be found at this .
Comes more than ready for further research and display.
Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 21.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16.5”
Chest width: 17"
Waist width: 17"
Front length: 28"
