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Monday, June 11. 2007

Spoils of War

Western soldiers like to collect souvenirs of war. As quoted in a scholarly essay by Michael Stevenson :

'Many soldiers in the 24th Division's tank companies and Scout platoons began to collect battlefield souvenirs - especially Soviet AK-47 assault rifles carried by the military. … In one instance, an elaborate Iraqi Defense Ministry compound was broken into by the 2-4 Cavalry, and, under the eyes of its commander … soldiers loaded glassware, trays, sterling silver, gun collections, oversized rugs, and a huge photograph of Saddam Hussein onto tanks and armored cars to take back to America. … The items were to be used … for a Cavalry Ball, to be held after the war…'. In the case of this war, a 'war-souvenir officer' was even appointed to gather war trophies - flags, enemy tanks and artillery pieces, two camels, etc - for display at the Fort Stewart Museum, back in Georgia.

Stevenson's essay takes a look at how widespread this was during the 19th Century wars in Africa. Why did people go to the trouble of collecting this stuff, what meaning did it have for the collectors, and what meaning does it have for later owners?

The whole essay is linked above. Photo: Zulu shield and spear.

Posted by Bird Dog in History at 04:56 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

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We were very disappointed that we could not bring home any type of captured firearm from the Gulf War, as John Kerry did in Vietnam.

I have a captured Japanese rifle that my father-in-law brought home from his post WWII duty in the Pacific. I wish I was allowed to bring home a similar piece of history (even modified, whatever).

Instead, all captured equipment was collected and destroyed. Our bags were searched before leaving the Gulf to ensure the PC Police that nobody was trying to sneak an evil gun back to the U.S.
#1 NJSoldier on 2007-06-11 07:58 (Reply)
In William Manchester's book about the Pacific War in WWII, Goodbye Darkness pg 315-317 he has a scene about encountering some poor soul who gets killed because he was souvenir hunting and didn't understand why US soldiers did it.
#2 grant1863 on 2007-06-11 08:10 (Reply)
The boons of war..been done as long as man has fought.
#3 Habu on 2007-06-11 09:17 (Reply)
O/T but a great idea...

I just talked with an Eric @ Grassroots which is a spinoff of the NRA.

I mentioned to him that we celebrate our Bill of Rights in many tangible, overt ways. We blog, write letters to editors,practice the religion we want., etc.

However the 2nd amendment that secures all the others is a day we do not demonstrably celebrate. Gun ownership was so important it was the second amendment passed.

I suggested that on a day such as the 4th of July gun owners shoulder their weapons and carry them*EMPTY* to the local parade, or to the State Capitol , or to the City Hall. Long guns only.

It is a powerful visual image. I don't know how many gu owners there are in the USA but if 10%or 20% participated the numbers would be in the millions.

The message. That we are willing to exercise all of our rights as citizens, especially the one that protects all the others.

Let the press cover that story! And our enemies take note.
#4 habu on 2007-06-11 09:20 (Reply)

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