Army Republic of Vietnam ARVN Provincial Reconnaissance Unit Phoenix Program Printed Patch

The Army Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Provincial Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) Phoenix Program Printed Patch represents a significant aspect of South Vietnam’s military efforts during the Vietnam War. The PRUs were elite units operating across various provinces, tasked primarily with intelligence gathering, counterinsurgency operations, and the identification of Viet Cong infrastructure. These units played a central role in the Phoenix Program, a joint United States and South Vietnamese initiative aimed at dismantling the political and support networks of the Viet Cong. This printed patch typically features distinct symbols and lettering associated with the PRUs, reflecting unit identity and mission. Such insignia were worn on uniforms to indicate affiliation and function within the ARVN structure. The item serves as an example of the specialized insignia used by South Vietnamese forces involved in covert and reconnaissance activities during the conflict from the late 1960s through the early 1970s.