Vintage Zippo lighters from The Vietnam War

Sep 21, 2015 9:19 PM

Thanks for this. My husband is a Vietnam vet. He lost his silver Zippo there, but he came home. It's not here. Was a 'valley of death' one.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

+1 for History

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

this was fascinating. Interesting personal history here.

10 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Lose, born to

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Thanks for posting those. I'm sure most of those guys never thought they would make it home. Some may not have. Great post.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

At least one of those is shopped.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

*Most

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The worst foreign policy decision in the history of this country. I hope Nixon and McNamara are screaming in hell right now.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And I hope Kissinger joins them ASAP

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yup, the Grunts haven't changed.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I want a new one engraved "Waterboarding is just Baptizing with Freedom. 'Murca"

10 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 5

#3 is extremely accurate for that war.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

'NAM 71-72 - a true reflection of the times. Got into a fight in grade school over the Vietnam war. Not everyone thought they were Heroes

10 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 2

That's when my dad was there. Da Nang. Said he was in Cambodia too "but then again I wasn't. *wink"

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

#3 I think I was trying to suggest something about the duality of man, sir. The Jungian thing, sir.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Whose side are you on, son?

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

#1 has always bothered me because his ass would be pointed away from most of the world.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

and this is how FOX News was born.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

#11 I know what it's trying to say, but that just hurts to read

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

#4 WITH THE LEMONS!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

"FUCK COMMUNISM" given to him by John Wayne.

10 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

Texas and The Spaceman

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

+1 for Preacher

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

#7 "Charlie don't surf!"

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

It speaks to the duality of man. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/samsoh/20062007.jpg

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

*Loves the sound of chainsaw revs in the morning*

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

These are awesome! Thinking about getting one engraved like this for a mate of mine now!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The one saying "a sucking chest wound is nature's way of telling you you're ambushed" is gold and exactly how I would imagine it to be.

10 years ago | Likes 136 Dislikes 0

Sorry, I missed something. Could you explain it to me?

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Google sucking chest wound, snipers would shoot to wound so as to take more soldiers out of the fight.

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

Thats true but the sucking chest wound is the worst wound to get its painful and you die slowly of asphyxiation but its the most common 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Wound in an ambush cause soldiers aim center mass snipers only do it when you are in an open space 2/2

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

"I'm the evilest son of a bitch in the valley" damn

10 years ago | Likes 834 Dislikes 2

"I do not fear the valley, for I am the shadow."

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That's a line from The Beach as well! Except motherfucker instead of son of a bitch. A great book for anyone who is interested.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

When I was a kid I found a zippo on the side of the road with that inscription. Really wish I knew where it was now.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

"The only thing I get out of killing a person is the recoil of my rifle." That's numbness and despair talking, folks.

10 years ago | Likes 205 Dislikes 4

That one spoke to me. I fucking love serving this country.

10 years ago | Likes 46 Dislikes 10

I just graduated high school, and planning and excited to go to college, but there's a part of me that really really wants to join 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

either the marines or army. I got alot of family that was and is in the military, and it feels like something I really should do

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There's a lot to think about. Do your own research. Look at all the rates out there. If you want to bash some terrorist skulls in, do it.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Re-use it well then!

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I also want to get to know Beverly Dennington

10 years ago | Likes 44 Dislikes 1

from what i can gather here, she's single...

10 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 0

Ooh yassss

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

10 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Glad to see one of them said "fuck communism."

10 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 5

I'm a big Preacher fan; my GF got me a zippo with 'FUCK COMMUNISM' engraved but the engraver decided to be fancy and do it in a Celtic font.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Glad to see another Preacher fan here!

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

While that's where I first heard about it, stories of John Wayne giving out "Fuck Communism" lighters existed before Preacher.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Given by John Wayne.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

One can only assume.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

you. you are my friend. i will never meet you, but you are my friend.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

"It gives you a feeling of security whole betting fucked"

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Yes. That was my favourite too

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I know what it's suppose to say, how does a typo this bad happen?

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

American education system.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And I will bet good money that each of the is still capable of working.

10 years ago | Likes 55 Dislikes 0

Protip: store extra flints under the cotton pad.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Zippo guarantees their products for life. They fixed my dad's WW2 Zippo to working order for free, even covered shipping both ways.

10 years ago | Likes 41 Dislikes 1

I bought a fake on Hanoi streets last year (fully aware of fakeness),I don't smoke anymore,but it is more likely these are still operational

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Zippo guaranteed their products go life. They fixed my dad's WW2 Zippo to working order for free, even covered shipping both ways.

10 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

This is actually really sad but funny knowing that these men don't give a shit. Hope they got back home in one piece.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Worked for the VA, my fav Vietnam vet gave me his when I left to move cross country. I cried, a lot. My most prized possession.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

WOW. Holy shit. He must have REALLY liked you. I hope you're still in touch.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My dad is a Vietnam Vet and life was REALLY hard living with his PTSD. These hit me like a punch in the gut.

10 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

My pop-pop never talked about it. I know nothing about his time in the war other than that he was on the front lines. Probably good I don't.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My dad went thru Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, & Korea. Before he died, he told me what he went thru. No wonder he drank.

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

It was him telling me about the ambush he got shot up in and how his buddy went hero and saved their unit that allowed me to forgive him.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

The most I've gotten out of my dad on his time in Vietnam: "Don't touch that machete, you don't know where that's been."

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

My boss was a Marine who served in Vietnam. I don't know if he has PTSD or not but I just know some days he's moodier than others. That --

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

-- could just be him going "senile grumpy old man" though.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My dad was a Navy Corpsman. He said soldiers were told to NEVER yell for Medic on the battle field. They used a code name like "Darwin".

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Why

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'd presume what little English the vietcong learned would be military roles the US side were yelling. They'd shoot the medics. Just a guess

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

A lot of these are fake, a whole industry sprang up around fake Vietnam War shit afterwards. Never buy one unless you're sure it's real.

10 years ago | Likes 88 Dislikes 4

Saw them in Japan years ago ... sad, sad, sad.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Shame that even a pithy witticism on a lighter is getting counterfeited to make a buck.

10 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Another hollow victory for the forces of capitalism, wot? Still, it's not all bad. I'm sure the chap who makes them appreciates the irony.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Totally true, spent a week in Saigon winter. Bought a couple of them. Cool, but not authentic.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Many of the designs were originals that are just reproduced on mass now.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Yep, the engraving is way too sharp. These would have been used for years and worn accordingly.

10 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 1

A lot of these have more than one tour so you could have got it done while at home or on RR

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

A lot of these are pretty fucking well worn...

10 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 2

Yeah I looked again and I may Have been hasty.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This are really interesting, did each person individually personalise their own zippo?

10 years ago | Likes 211 Dislikes 3

No, they just had their pick from whatever was ordered from China.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 25

Im sure alot of people did. But there are also a ton of reproductions sold in Vietnam as tourist souvenirs.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I still have my dad's WW2 Zippo. He never had it personalized. It's a nice memory of him.

10 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

I have my grandpa's with a skull and bones. He took it away from kids being punks like fifteen years ago, but fuck it, it reminds me of him

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

The lighters could be purchased at commissaries by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam and engraved with custom designs.

10 years ago | Likes 200 Dislikes 0

Wow! You really know what you're talking about! Cool stuff

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Ah I see, thanks for the enlightenment OP

10 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

Be careful purchasing them though. Many of these are fakes/repros.

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 2

Any tips on how to find authentic ones?

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Meow \o - It has to be a genuine zippo from that time. Zippo site has the info for you. The sound of the hinge is a good indicator. 1/2

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0