And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
An American soldier displaying his captured German war trophies, World War I.
I was told by some Afghanistan war veterans that, sadly, American troops are no longer permitted to collect war trophies and/or bring them home.
If so, that means I was very lucky, because I did bring home a war trophy from Viet Nam, which required a certificate signed by my commanding officer.
It was a metal punji stake I retrieved from a booby trap while on a patrol outside the perimeter of Camp Eagle (i.e., located between Hue and Phu Bai, west of highway QL-1), the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), where I was serving as a Specialist Four, E-4, Field Radio Relay and Carrier Equipment Repairman (MOS 31L20) in the 501st Signal Battalion (Airmobile).
I have it in my living room sitting on my gun rack, and the certificate is in my file folder of military documents.
OH OH. My OCD controlled eyes spot a finger on the trigger.
ReplyDeleteMy first reaction too.
DeleteEven in a photograph, watch where you're pointing that thing!
I was told by some Afghanistan war veterans that, sadly, American troops are no longer permitted to collect war trophies and/or bring them home.
ReplyDeleteIf so, that means I was very lucky, because I did bring home a war trophy from Viet Nam, which required a certificate signed by my commanding officer.
It was a metal punji stake I retrieved from a booby trap while on a patrol outside the perimeter of Camp Eagle (i.e., located between Hue and Phu Bai, west of highway QL-1), the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), where I was serving as a Specialist Four, E-4, Field Radio Relay and Carrier Equipment Repairman (MOS 31L20) in the 501st Signal Battalion (Airmobile).
I have it in my living room sitting on my gun rack, and the certificate is in my file folder of military documents.
Lot of SKS rifles came back that way, John.
DeleteThere was a guy in Viet Nam who offered to sell me an SKS rifle, but I only wanted one if I could capture it myself.
DeleteAlas, my job was "in the rear with the gear", so I never captured anything from the enemy.
But, I'm happy with my genuine punji stake, because I got it with my own two hands, using my knife to dig it out of a punji pit.
Are you sure he's American?
ReplyDeleteThose are Australian emblems on his belt.