why did soldiers put playing cards on top of there helmits during nam? most ive seen had aces ? why
2007-06-02 10:24:48 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The practice was unofficial, same as troops wearing the peace symbol on their helmet covers and graffiti on the flack jackets.
The most prominent card displayed by the troops in the field was the Ace of Spades.
There were two reasons, the grunt considered himself to be the "baddest dude" / which means in the vernacular of the time the best, hard, combat "warrior".
The other reason was the Vietnamese considered the the Ace of Spades symbol to represent evil or very bad luck, and seeing it worn on the helmet of a green clad soldier made them feel very uncomfortable, the troops also used to pin the card to the chest of dead enemy VC and NVA as a Propaganda and Psychological tool, as a warning to the locals not to mess with the best, or some serous bad luck would befall them.
When the use of the Ace of Spades symbol was reported by the press back to the states, a very prominent playing card business shipped out hugh amounts of playing cards consisting of packs only with the Ace of Spades, to be freely given to the troops.
2007-06-02 20:42:04 · answer #1 · answered by conranger1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More people believing in the Hollywood Vietnam.
2007-06-02 17:46:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i Never saw that ever.
lol--they wouldnt last long in the rainy season.
about <20% wore helmets. we wore jungle hats.
sounds great for a movie though.
2007-06-02 17:30:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-06-02 17:30:52 · answer #4 · answered by gamerunner2001 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋