Original U.S. Vietnam War Presentation Montagnard Crossbow with Quiver & Bolts to Captain James F. Russell, U.S. Army Advisor

 Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a lovely Montagnard crossbow souvenir presented to (then) Captain James F. Russell, a U.S. Army Advisor in Vietnam from September 1964-1965. Russell served two tours of duty in Vietnam, the first as an adviser from 1964 to 1965, and the second from 1970 to 1972. During his second tour, he commanded a U.S. military police battalion in Saigon. The bow measures 21 inches and the body measures 12 1/2 inches, makes a fantastic display.

He was a personnel operations officer at Army headquarters in Washington from 1966 to 1967, and was a member of the staff of the National Emergency Airborne Command Post at the Pentagon from 1969 to 1970. For the past year he had been deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and security for the Military District of Washington.

His decorations included the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. He also held a master parachutist badge. Co. Russell was a native of Hope, Ark., and a 1956 graduate of Henderson State Teachers College in Arkansas. He earned a master's degree in law enforcement administration at Michigan State University and was a graduate of the Naval War College and the Armed Forces Staff College.

In addition to assignments in Germany and Panama, he had been provost marshal, first of the 82nd Airborne Division, and then of the XVIII Airborne Corps, both at Fort Bragg, N.C., in the 1970s.

The crossbow has a badge for US Army Advisors on one side with a plaque reading CAPT. JAMES F. RUSSELL / SEPT 64 - SEPT 65. The other side is missing a badge but has another plaque reading II CORPS ADVISORY GROUP / PLEIKU, VIETNAM. The quiver has a large crack in it, but still holds roughly 16 arrows! The quiver has a lovely design etched into it.

A great presentation piece, ready for further research and display.