Explore Black History

1968-1969

This jungle tiger stripe fatigue jacket belonged to Sgt. James E. Moss who served with Company F, 52nd Infantry, 75th Ranger Regiment in Vietnam. He was one of only a small number of African American Army Rangers serving during the war.
Moss graduated from Infantry School at Fort Gordon, Georgia, in September 1967 and from the Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, in November 1967, at the age of 18. By July 1968, he was serving with the Army in Lai Khe, Vietnam. Moss graduated from the 5th Special Forces MACV Recondo School in Nha Tran, Vietnam, in August 1968 at the rank of Specialist 4th Class (SP4). Graduates of Recondo School were trained to lead long-range reconnaissance patrols (LRRPs), which are small, heavily armed long-range reconnaissance teams that patrol deep in enemy-held territory.
As an Army Ranger, Moss led his five- to six-man LRRP team behind enemy lines. Their main mission was to monitor the enemy and report back to division headquarters about their movement. This information was then used to call in artillery and air strikes. The vast majority of his team’s missions were done at night. During the day they would camouflage themselves and hide in the bush until they moved out for another mission at night. The jungle tiger camouflage pattern was designed to blend in with the jungle terrain. Although the pattern was adopted by U.S. special operations forces during the war, it was never officially issued by the U.S. Army.
For his Vietnam War service, Sergeant Moss received the Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service bars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and Parachutist Badge.

US Army Jungle tiger fatigues worn by Sergeant James E. Moss during the Vietnam War. The fatigues consist of a jacket (.1) and pants (.2).
The jacket is made of printed cotton twill in black, brown, and green tiger stripe camo. It has a pointed self-fabric collar and opens in the center front with six taupe plastic buttons sewn to the proper right side. The long sleeves taper towards the wrists. A self-fabric patch pocket with a flap is sewn to the top of the proper left sleeve. A vertical buttonhole is sewn on the pocket flap, but there is no matching button. The sleeves end in self-fabric cuffs which open along the side. A godet is placed on the bottom of the sleeve ending above the cuff opening. Two taupe plastic buttons are sewn to one side of the cuff opening which align with a buttonhole on the other side. A patch pocket is sewn to each side of the center front opening at chest level. Both pockets have self-fabric flaps with two vertical buttonholes. Two buttons are sewn on the proper right pocket and one button is sewn on the proper left pocket, the other button is missing. Two green patches with black embroidery are sewn above the proper left pocket. The top patch has a thick horizontal line across the center with two mirrored half circles. The patch below reads [U.S. ARMY] in black thread. A self-fabric hanger loop is sewn below the collar at the center back interior. Four inches of seam allowance are folded to the center front opening. A row of machine stitching is placed along the edge of the center front opening. The seam allowance ends with the fabric’s selvage on both sides. The text [M8] is stamped in black at the center back interior below the collar. The text [4868 CA] is handwritten upside down along the hem of the proper left side panel. The jacket has a double rolled hem and is secured with a row of machine stitching.
The pants are made of printed cotton twill in brown, green, and cream tiger stripe camo. The pants open in the center front with four buttons on the proper right side and four buttonholes and a hidden button placket on the proper left side. Seven belt loops are sewn to the top part of the pants, two at the front, one along each side seam, and three on the back. A slanted side seam pocket is sewn on each side. A hole is on the proper right side at the bottom of the hidden button placket. Three cotton twill adhesive patches are placed below the button placket on the proper left pantleg. Two of the patches are green and one is brown. An additional green cotton twill adhesive patch is placed at the top of the inseam and is reinforced with hand stitching. A seven-inch-wide self-fabric patch pocket with a flap is sewn on each pantleg along the side seam. Two more pockets are sewn on the back of the pants, one on each pantleg at the top. The flap on all four pockets has two buttonholes which align with two buttons sewn to the top of the pocket. One button on the proper left side seam pocket is missing and one button on the back proper right side is missing. The pants are unlined and unlabeled. Three cotton twill adhesive patches are placed at the interior of the pants, a green patch along the top of the inseam and two blue patches to the proper left side of the hidden button placket. The green patch is reinforced with hand stitching. The pants are machine sewn and have a double fold hem. Illegible text is written at the top of the pants along the center back interior in pink marker.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Clothing - Military Uniforms

Double Victory: The African American Military Experience

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of SGT. James E. Moss

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2025.29.1.1-.2

jackets
trousers
uniforms
military uniforms

No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

cotton twill, cotton thread, adhesive, and plastic

a: jacket
Length (a: shoulder to hem): 25 in. (63.5 cm)
Width (a: shoulder to shoulder): 20 in. (50.8 cm)
b: pants
Length (b: waist to hem): 37 in. (94 cm)
Waist (b: flat): 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm)

Object Name • US Army Jungle tiger fatigues worn by Sergeant James E. Moss

nmaahc_2025.29.1.1-.2

NMAAHC

US ARMY JUNGLE TIGER FATIGUES WORN BY SERGEANT JAMES E. MOSS

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1960s

United States Army • Moss, James E.

Viet Nam • Asia

Vietnam War, 1961-1975 • Military

NMAAHC • Double Victory: The African American Military Experience

Country • Viet Nam • Continent • Asia

Uniforms • Military uniforms • jackets • Trousers

Yes

Images

No Known Copyright Restrictions