Plaque for Vietnam War service presented to Major Colin L. Powell
date: label: Date
content: September 1969
name: label: Created by
content: 1st Infantry Regiment
label: Received by
content: General Colin L. Powell, American, 1937 - 2021
label: Subject of
content: United States Army, American, founded 1775
label: Subject of
content: United States Department of Defense
label: Subject of
content: United States Armed Forces, American, founded 1775
notes: label: Caption
content: This plaque was presented to Major Colin Powell for his second tour in Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a training ground for many future American leaders. Powell later became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State.
label: Description
content: A wooden plaque commemorating the Third Battalion, First Infantry Regiment, Major Colin L. Powell’s military unit in Vietnam, presented to Powell September 1969. This square medium wooden plaque features a four-point beveled front and two metal plates. The center and largest plate depicts the outline and list of cities in the country of Vietnam, tracing the activities of the U.S. military presence during the war. In large black text the plaque reads “THIRD BATTALION, FIRST INFANTRY” and “ALWAYS FIRST”. The United States Army 1st Infantry “SEMPER PRIMUS” Unit Crest is positioned parallel to the Vietnam map and features a red-white-and blue coat of arms on a golden oval with emblazoned shield and belt. A rectangular metal plate at the bottom of the plaque is engraved with the text “MAJOR COLIN L. POWELL / EXECUTIVE OFFICER 3RDBN 1STINF / JULY 1968 SEPT 1969”. On the reverse of the plaque, at the top, is a metal hanging hook and a white paper label with black text that reads “94-0014”.
place: label: Place collected
content: McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
label: Place depicted
content: Viet Nam, Asia
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: International affairs
label: Topic
content: Military
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1969-2001
label: Topic
content: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Memorabilia and Ephemera - Other
label: Exhibition
content: Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: A2022.101.1.103
objectType: label: Type
content: plaques
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No known copyright restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: metal on wood
label: Dimensions
content: H x W: 10 × 8 × 3/4 in. (25.4 × 20.3 × 1.9 cm)