This extremely rare Vietnamese Ranger Battalion flag was souvenired by Corporal Rodney James Strand who joined the Marine Corps on September 8th 1964 and served 2 tours of duty in Vietnam as a field radio operator. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on April 1st, 1968. While in the military he earned a Purple Heart, Marine Corps Good Conduct, National Defense Service Medal Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Service, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Sharpshooter Badge in Rifle. He received an Honorable Discharge from Great Lakes Military Base February 28th, 1969. This flag was handed down to his sister after his death and a family friend was given it. This silk flag is embroidered on red silk and has Vietnamese writing with the insignia of the South Vietnamese Army Rangers depicting a black panther over a white star. This flag is fully embroidered with provisions to either hand from a pole or from a wall and has gold silk fringe on all sides. This one sided flag is in excellent condition. The flag measures roughly 52 inches wide. Excellent The 52nd Ranger Battalion was a ranger battalion of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) during the Vietnam War. To form the battalion, the 347th, 348th, 351st and 352nd independent ranger companies amalgamated in early 1964. Its commanding officer was Captain Vong Si Dau. On 11 November 1965, the battalion was augmented to the US 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and conducted an air assault to relief a US element of the 11th ACR that had been ambushed by the VC 275th Regiment and received a United States Presidential Unit Citation. In addition to the first PUC, the unit was awarded a Valorous Unit Citation by the US for its actions at Suoi Long, Vietnam 27 June 1968 and processed for a second Presidential Unit Citation for the same action. The 52d BDQ was significantly engaged during Tet 1968, securing Xuân Lc, clearing Ba Ria and participating in the subsequent clearance of Cholon and Biên Hòa. The battalion ceased to exist after the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975.