War Throphies

[fjruple]

This forum has a lot of military veterans from around the world. A lot of us brought "stuff" from our service. Other than war brides, firearms, explosives, and VD, what is the craziest thing you or someone else brought home from your military service?

One of the craziest items that I saw someone bring home was a piece of steel track from a T-34/85 tank. The soldier was always trying to get some else to carry it for him. The piece of track must have weighted at least 40 US pounds.

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[ssgross]

I don't know when exactly the policy started, but were taught, beginning in USMC boot camp and reiterated throughout my time, that war trophies are strictly prohibited under article 103 of the UCMJ - and the bringing or mailing back of firearms under any circumstances is a serious crime.

Nonetheless, claiming abandoned US property wasn't so strictly enforced. Grenade boxes, ammo cans, empty shells packed full of trinkets, rocks, and other benign items of novelty. I heard of a guy who mailed home the broken steering wheel of a vehicle blown up by IED with him inside. I have a couple wooden grenade boxes in the attic packed full of silly stuff - uniform items from friends I made in other NATO forces in Kosovo, Sadaam dinars offered by civilians for cigarettes, and other such small things.
Sorry, Kosovo, Iraq, and other modern places weren't quite as interesting in comparison to previous times.

[browningautorifle]

that war trophies are strictly prohibited under article 103 of the UCMJ - and the bringing or mailing back of firearms under any circumstances is a serious crime.

War trophies have always been a bag of contention. Troops looking for "Stuff" aren't watching their arcs and booby traps are set with neat stuff as subject. Many times guys trying to procure become a casualty. I picked up a helmet in the UNPA in Nicosia right after the war and the NCO I was walking with just stood dumfounded as I walked over in a grassy area to get it. Never occurred to me that area could have been mined or an anti lift on the helmet... I still have it though. Weapons brought back by individuals are strictly frowned on here too. More by the country firearm laws but also by the military.

[Doco overboard]

I seen wool and other types of material/ clothing from WWII German soldiers that was sent home and then turned over to the local seamstress to fashion into winter and other clothing for the local women. And I don't mean a piece or two, but 2 wheeled racks like you would see at a clothier.
I'm sure for some that wouldn't be too awful of a stretch to the imagination and have seen that before but it was a moment of realization for me that I had never considered.

[usabaker]

My grandfather brought home 75mm Trench Art and casings, a personalized bracelet made from a Japanese Zero, and captured nicknacks from GUAM in WWII. My Dad had a bunch of stuff he brought home from Korea I remember seeing it as a kid but when he passed a way much of it "disappeared" like his firearms so my step-mother says. At least I got his KA-BARS, his decorations and a few odds and ends, mostly field gear and tools in one of his footlockers I grabbed when I visited him about a year before he died.

Most of the stuff I had from my service years is long gone, most with my first divorce thanks to my EX.

[browningautorifle]

stuff I had from my service years is long gone, most with my first divorce

That's too bad too...

[Rockandroll]

My craziest thing I brought home after 20 years of service is a tail rotor blade for an OH6. If you know about ‘hunter/killer teams’ you know why.

[RCS]

Attachment 115210Attachment 115211Attachment 115212Long time ago when I was an armorer, there were some tanks that were going to be sent to the 3.5 in rocket range. I thought
that it might be interesting to remove the mount next to the cannon, it was not difficult. just to have something that no one else
had in their stuff.

[browningautorifle]

the mount next to the cannon

.30 cal Co-ax?

‘hunter/killer teams’

Was it from your chopper? Pink team?

[BEAR]

My dad brought my Mom home to Michigan. I thought that was pretty awesome, especially a few years later when I was born.