ZFC Item Section - 50 Star U.S. Flag - Kontum Province, Vietnam.

Exhibits Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Exhibition Copy	Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI (LV101/ZFC0748) 50-Star United States Flag Date: 1960 50 Stars: July 4, 1960-Present (Hawaii statehood August 21, 1959) Medium: Nylon or polyester Comment: Republicans sought to increase their chances in the 1960 elections by offering statehood to two long term territorial possessions. Alaska had been a territory of the United States since its purchase from Russia in 1867. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was granted statehood as the 49th state. On August 21, just six weeks after the official christening of the 49-star flag, Hawaii (which the United States had annexed in 1898) officially became the 50th state, although its star did not appear in the U.S. flag until July 4th, 1960. Ironically, the electoral votes of both states went to the Democratic nominee in the November 1960 elections. During President Eisenhower's second term of office (1956-1960), the United States became increasingly involved in the conflict for the unification and independence of the French territories in South East Asia now known as Vietnam. After the 1954 French defeat at Dien-Bien-Phu, American "advisors" increasingly worked with forces friendly to U. S. interests in southern Vietnam. During the Kennedy and Johnson presidencies, American involvement escalated. In 1973 American forces ignominiously withdrew in defeat. This flag is believed to have been used by an American advisor serving in Kontum Province in 1960. As such, it would be one of the earliest 50 star U.S. flags to see service in Vietnam.

Exhibits

Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Exhibition Copy

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI
(LV101/ZFC0748)
50-Star United States Flag

Date: 1960 50 Stars: July 4, 1960-Present (Hawaii statehood August 21, 1959)
Medium: Nylon or polyester
Comment: Republicans sought to increase their chances in the 1960 elections by offering statehood to two long term territorial possessions. Alaska had been a territory of the United States since its purchase from Russia in 1867. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was granted statehood as the 49th state. On August 21, just six weeks after the official christening of the 49-star flag, Hawaii (which the United States had annexed in 1898) officially became the 50th state, although its star did not appear in the U.S. flag until July 4th, 1960. Ironically, the electoral votes of both states went to the Democratic nominee in the November 1960 elections. During President Eisenhower's second term of office (1956-1960), the United States became increasingly involved in the conflict for the unification and independence of the French territories in South East Asia now known as Vietnam. After the 1954 French defeat at Dien-Bien-Phu, American "advisors" increasingly worked with forces friendly to U. S. interests in southern Vietnam. During the Kennedy and Johnson presidencies, American involvement escalated. In 1973 American forces ignominiously withdrew in defeat. This flag is believed to have been used by an American advisor serving in Kontum Province in 1960. As such, it would be one of the earliest 50 star U.S. flags to see service in Vietnam.

Publications Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Publication Copy	Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 136. "50-Star United States Flag In 1950, during the presidency of Harry S Truman, the U.S. government sent the Military Advisory Assistance Group (MAAG) to Indochina to aid the French in their colony of Vietnam. After the French withdrawal in 1954 the United States continued aid to the republic established in the southern half of the former colony. The MAAG advisors were not to engage in combat except to defend themselves. While technically serving under the flag of the Republic of South Vietnam, many of the advisors took private purchase flags with them for unofficial display. This very early 50-star flag was used by an advisor assigned to the MAAG in Kontum Province, Vietnam, in 1960, during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Note the faded diagonal striations caused by hanging motionless under a fierce tropical sun.

Publications

Publication Copy

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 136.

"50-Star United States Flag
In 1950, during the presidency of Harry S Truman, the U.S. government sent the Military Advisory Assistance Group (MAAG) to Indochina to aid the French in their colony of Vietnam. After the French withdrawal in 1954 the United States continued aid to the republic established in the southern half of the former colony. The MAAG advisors were not to engage in combat except to defend themselves. While technically serving under the flag of the Republic of South Vietnam, many of the advisors took private purchase flags with them for unofficial display. This very early 50-star flag was used by an advisor assigned to the MAAG in Kontum Province, Vietnam, in 1960, during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Note the faded diagonal striations caused by hanging motionless under a fierce tropical sun.