National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Clothing - Laplap
This item was given to Captain John E D White, of the AATTV, by the Chief of the Rhade/Rade tribe, whose wife had woven it. The chief was John's recruitment officer in 1968. During the Vietnam War, the Rhade would be "recruited" from their villages to work with various units such as the MIKE force led by Captain White. As well as fighting-power, they were valuable for their understanding of the local environment. Like all Montagnards serving in the war, translation was also a vitally important skill they provided.Long piece of coarsely woven fabric with patterned braid and fringing at each end. Fabric is striped vertically with broad black sections and fine lines of yellow, white, and red.montagnard, white, rhade tribe, vietnam, john white, jed white, lap lap, laplap, loin cloth, rade