Black wool beret with TF-116 beret insignia of the so-called "Brown Water Navy," the men assigned to patrol boat duty in the Mekong Delta. This beret has what the reference book River Patrol Insignia refers to as the second type of beret patch encased in a sewn plastic protective coating. The reference book notes that "90 percent of all berets found today have the clear protective plastic." This example has a typical lining and Saigon maker’s label for Chan Hung ("All Military Articles") sewn in a diamond shape. The front of the beret has a worn U.S. Navy Ensign rank bar pinned on which has considerable wear and patina. Between the TF-116 patch and the rank insignia are a pair of crossed flechettes from a flechette round 1 in an X pattern sometimes seen on these berets. The significance of the crossed flechettes is unknown. Size 54. Very nice, field-worn example of a beret which is very sought after and difficult to find.