MTMC Reservist wears Vietnam--era patch--again.

His unit's mission in Laos was secret. As a consequence, Master Sgt. Kenneth Mair never considered wearing his U.S. Army Support Thailand patch on the right shoulder of his uniform, which signified he was a combat veteran.

Anyway, that was over 30 years ago. When Mair left the Army in the spring of 1971, he forgot about it.

Now, thanks to the research of a fellow Reservist, Mair, the personnel services NCO for Individual Mobilization Augmentees, is wearing the patch again.

Capt. John Wydock met Mair when both men were mobilized for duty with the Military Traffic Management Command after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America.

Wydock was intrigued to learn about Mair's participation in the Vietnam War, particularly his time served in Thailand. Although a registered nurse in Scranton, Pa., Wydock is an avid historian, graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a history degree in 1989. Wydock immediately began to research Mair's former unit.

"I take care of a lot of veterans and hear some stories that I never read in a book or magazine," said Wydock. "I knew there were forces in Laos, and I was eager to learn more about Mair's unit."

While reviewing records, Wydock made a critical discovery. In 1992, the Army publicly recognized personnel who had served in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia, from March 1961 to March 1973, and authorized the wearing of the U.S. Army Support Thailand patch.

"I felt Master Sergeant Mair had served his country for two years in Thailand and deserved to be recognized for it," said Wydock.

The next challenge was finding U.S. Army Support Thailand patches.

After an extensive search, Wydock found a battle-dress uniform subdued patch at a local military clothing sales store. On the Internet, he located a Class A dress uniform patch through a military artifacts company.

Wydock proudly presented the patches to Mair at an informal birthday ceremony Jan. 15. He also presented Mair with a display case containing the patch and several authorized medals.

"I am very proud to wear this uniform again, with the U.S. Army Support Thailand patch, for my support to a unit that I am very proud to recognize," said Mair.

Mair served in Korat, Thailand, with the undisclosed unit in 1969. For security reasons, members of the unit were not recognized for one of its missions in Laos.

Even after his departure from Thailand, Mair kept his duty assignment confidential for national security reasons. After his discharge, he worked as a computer programmer/analyst with an insurance company in Maine.

Mair joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1981. He began working for MTMC's Plans, Readiness and Mobilization staff seven years later.