Edward Gleason’s Taiwanese, machine embroidered, second generation Recon Team Plane pocket patch that was removed from his uniform.
Edward J. Gleason Jr. served five tours in Vietnam. His first tour was in 1965 with the 173rd Airborne Division. He returned in 1967 with 5th Special Forces Group (5th SFG (ABN)) assigned to A-104, Hai Tong. Gleason’s third tour was in 1969 as part of a 1st SFG, Snakebite Team assigned to Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MAC V SOG), Command and Control South (CCS), Recon Company, assigned to Recon Team Plane. Ed’s fourth tour was in 1970 – 1971 with MAC V SOG, OPS-34 A and B (Pike Hill and Earth Angel Programs) as an Agent Handler. His fifth tour was in 1972 with 1st SFG assigned to Individual Training Command (ITG) / Forces Armee Nationale Khmer (FANK Training Command)).
Sergeant Major (E-9) Gleason retired from the Army in April 1991 after thirty-two years’ service with forty eight months in Vietnam.