32 P-38 Beaded Key Ring
$3.00
If you were in the field, you know what a P-38 is. If you weren’t, ask a veteran — and watch their face.
The P-38 can opener was standard-issue survival gear for every soldier who cracked open a C-ration. Small enough to live on a dog tag chain, tough enough to outlast the war.
These key rings were created by VDHA Lifetime Member David Rudd, #16677, 3rd SPS, 1968-1969. During his recovery from an illness, Dave needed to keep his hands busy and his mind occupied. He started stringing bright beads onto P-38s, the colors drawn from the Vietnam Service Ribbon, and he kept going until he had enough for every place setting at the 2013 Las Vegas Reunion Banquet Dinner.
By the end of the night he’d donated all 155 he brought with him. Just like that.
Each key ring features two bead strands — Vietnam Service Ribbon colors on one side, black and white on the other.
A little piece of history that fits in your pocket.
Description
The key rings became so popular that in October 2015, Dave donated his entire remaining stock of P-38s to the VDHA BX and the key ring became a permanent item. All of Dave’s P-38s have since sold. We now make them in-house, carrying on exactly what he started.
When asked about the black and white beads, Dave said it best: “I have been told by others they see the significance as the likeness in color to the Missing in Action, POW symbol. The first key chains we made in-house had the Vietnam service ribbon colors on both sides. This seemed redundant to me, thus the black and white prevailed.”