2006-09-25 12:02:33 · 19 answers · asked by brianimpala62 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I am a former US army officer and have been on many CONUS bases (we normally call them Forts in the army; Ft. Sill, OK; Ft. Bragg,NC; Ft. Ord, CA; Ft. Bliss, TX) and have never seen the items you mention at the base of any flag pole. Nor was I ever informed or heard a rumor that said items were contained in the concrete base of the flag pole.
It is possible I suppose that in the early to mid-1800's (especially during the Indian Wars in the west) this might have been a tradition.
Also, having returned from Iraq recently (as a civilian) I never noticed these items on at the base of any flag pole there say at Camp Victory/Liberty outside of Baghdad.
2006-09-25 12:17:38 · answer #1 · answered by iraq51 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I spent 6 years in the 82d and can definitively tell you that snopes is dead wrong on this one. You would be hard-pressed to find it in the regulation, sure, but the Army has taught their troops about the finial for decades. I can personally tell you that this IS a question you can (and often will) be asked at either a Soldier of the Month board and/or an E-5 board. For those unfamiliar, you sit in a chair and are interviewed by many First Sergeants and a Sergeant Major who presides over the board. I'm sorry, but snopes (a civilian organization) doesn't know very much about our military's inner workings (the things that happen or are taught without being in any regulation, per se). I know there are probably a hundred people to view this that think they know what they are talking about, but we veterans and service members know that a civilian just cannot understand the strange ways our military operates.
2015-01-18 03:46:24 · answer #2 · answered by Aaron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay people. Technically, there's supposed to be a bullet, a match, and a razor blade in the truck (the ball on TOP of the pole). If the base is attacked and overrun, and you're the last one standing, the razor blade is to cut the flag apart (cut the union from the stripes and the stripes from each other), the match is to burn it, and the bullet is for the gun that is buried due north of the pole for the exact height of the pole to shoot yourself with--never surrender.
2006-09-25 13:17:24 · answer #3 · answered by desiderio 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Military wife and I have been to countless bases and stood in front of many flag poles, and I have never seen this or heard of this.
2006-09-25 12:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by Naples_6 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No. If anyone ever tells you that, ask them what regulation covers it.
And for the record, the ball on top of a flag pole is the fineal. The truck is the wheel portion of the truck and pulley system.
2006-09-25 14:40:01 · answer #5 · answered by DOOM 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, as someone who spent years living on bases, I can tell you the only things at the base of the flag poles are:
1) Concrete
2) Rocks, sand or gravel
2006-09-25 12:06:25 · answer #6 · answered by choppes 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
According to Snopes, it's an urban legend (also variously thought to be the contents of the gold ball or eagle on top the flagpole. Read about it here:
http://www.snopes.com/military/flagball.htm
2006-09-25 12:16:39 · answer #7 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is what they told us in Boot Camp or at least the version above by boredstiff. It is an urban legend used to promote a sense of honor and bieng hard core. If you want to know more go to www.snopes.com (like said above)
2006-09-25 13:11:05 · answer #8 · answered by Helo60 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Match, Bullet and a razor blade.
It is for the last person left alive on the base.
Razor is to cut the Stars from the Stripes from the flag.
Match to burn the flag.
Bullet for the Head.
2006-09-25 12:07:02 · answer #9 · answered by Boredstiff 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Sounds like an urban legend. If that's the right term.
2006-09-25 12:05:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋