bracelet, commemorative POW*MIA
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From the collection of the National Park Service, National Mall and Memorial Parks.

bracelet, commemorative POW*MIA

CATALOG NUMBER

VIVE 03037

ACCESSION DATE

02/17/1987

ASSOCIATED NAMES ON THE WALL
ITEM SUMMARY

Commemorative POW*MIA bracelet dedicated to U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Herbert Eugene Smith. The bracelet bears engraved inscriptions specifying CMSgt Smith's military rank, name, & casualty date which read, "M/SGT. HERBERT SMITH / 7-29-66". The artifact was left at The Wall by an anonymous donor between December 1986 - February 1987.

ITEM DESCRIPTION

COMMEMORATIVE POW*MIA BRACELET DEDICATED TO U.S. AIR FORCE CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT (CMSGT) HERBERT EUGENE SMITH. THE OBJECT CONSISTS OF A FLAT STRIP OF RECTANGULARLY SHAPED, POLISHED ALUMINUM [?] METAL WITH ROUNDED ENDS BENT INTO A ROUGHLY CIRCULAR SHAPE TO FORM A BRACELET. AN ENGRAVED INSCRIPTION (IN-FILLED IN BLACK) AT THE EXTERIOR, OBVERSE OBJECT SURFACE OF THE BRACELET BEARS CMSGT SMITH'S MILITARY RANK, NAME, & CASUALTY DATE, "M/SGT. HERBERT SMITH / 7-29-66", WHILE A SECONDARY INSCRIPTION STAMPED UPON THE INTERIOR OBJECT SURFACE IN RECESSED BLOCK SCRIPT READS, "VIVA"; THEREBY INDICATING THAT THE BRACELET WAS CREATED & DISTRIBUTED BY VOICES IN VITAL AMERICA (VIVA), AND AS SUCH IS AMONG THE ORIGINAL SUCH ITEMS PRODUCED.

ACCESSION GROUP

VIVE-00036

RECORD COPONENT QTY

1

ASSOCIATED ITEM TEXT

Text of the engraved & stamped inscriptions upon the various object surfaces is transcribed in full, as follows: [Exterior, obverse object surface, engraved inscription] "M/SGT. HERBERT SMITH / 7-29-66" / [Interior, reverse object surface, stamped inscription] "VIVA"

ITEM DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

Item Weight: 15.4g
Item Width: 1.3cm
Item Depth: 6.8cm (Diameter) / 21.4cm (Circumference) / 6.4cm (Depth)

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT ON bracelet, commemorative POW*MIA
POSTED ON 8.30.2023
POSTED BY: Kathleen McDonough
I recently reconnected with my bracelet. Exact description and wording. I, too, have had mine since high school (Class of 1973).
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POSTED ON 11.9.2022
POSTED BY: Gina Taranto
This was my great uncle. I grew up with great stories of his sacrifices and dedication to the USA and also the pain his loss brought to my family.
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POSTED ON 12.13.2018
POSTED BY: lynn turnage
I have one of these MIA bracelets i got when i was in High School in the late 70s. I just stumbled on this. I think about this bracelet periodically. And every time i stumble on it or think about M/Sgt Smith, i pray for his family and their peace. This is the only way i participated in the Vietnam war and praying for those involved. I would love to send this to anyone in his family if they see this.
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