_GOTOBOTTOM
History Club
Military history and past events only. Rants or inflamitory comments will be removed.
Hosted by Frank Amato
Cards stuck on helmets?
youngc
Visit this Community
Western Australia, Australia
Member Since: June 05, 2007
entire network: 2,166 Posts
KitMaker Network: 473 Posts
Posted: Monday, April 06, 2009 - 01:54 AM UTC
Something that has been on my mind today, why did many US infantrymen stick playing cards on their helmets?

I've seen it in Vietnam era photos... is it still done? Red spades, hearts etc... wouldn't the bright colours draw enemy fire?

Chas

calvin_ng
Visit this Community
United States
Member Since: June 23, 2008
entire network: 1,024 Posts
KitMaker Network: 270 Posts
Posted: Monday, April 06, 2009 - 07:42 AM UTC
i not much of an expert on this , but im sure they wouldnt use it today. but in vietnam i dont know. in world war 2 they would paint on card patterns as well. i think its to find your leader or recognize someones rank in the midst of fire. calvin
dioman13
Visit this Community
Indiana, United States
Member Since: August 19, 2007
entire network: 2,184 Posts
KitMaker Network: 356 Posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 04:33 AM UTC
Chas, the ace of spads is considered the death card. sometimes they are left as a reminder to the surviving enemy that they are dealing with death and it will return for them.
acav
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Member Since: May 09, 2002
entire network: 517 Posts
KitMaker Network: 183 Posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 07:48 AM UTC
Hi Chas,

I do know that US grunts in VN would carry items stuffed in their helmet bands to keep it dry ( obviously not in the wet season... ) or close to hand - cigarettes, matches, hippy beads, P-38 can opener, bag of weed ( JOKE! ) - but the only times I've 'seen' playing crads up there was in the movies..!

Hollywood has a lot to answer for - not saying it didn't happen, soldiers do some wierd stuff, but I can't remember seeing any photos of the cards on the helmet in my photo reference collection.

And that's just what will drive me back to my books for a second look - will let you know what I find...

cheers
acav
LeoCmdr
Visit this Community
Alberta, Canada
Member Since: January 19, 2005
entire network: 4,085 Posts
KitMaker Network: 160 Posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 02:28 PM UTC
Death cards were for sure used in Vietnam......and back in WWII and in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Have a read of this..........

http://www.psywarrior.com/DeathCardsAce.html
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Member Since: May 16, 2002
entire network: 17,694 Posts
KitMaker Network: 1,968 Posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 07:27 PM UTC
The death card being kept on the helmet is really a Hollywood invention. Death cards were/are still used, but not kept on the helmet.


Quoted Text

in world war 2 they would paint on card patterns as well. i think its to find your leader or recognize someones rank in the midst of fire.


Actually, it is still used today. It is/was not to receognize a leader though. They are used to ID your unit.

The card suites were/are used by the 101st Airborne Div to ID their regiments. For example, the 501st PIR used a diamond, the 502nd PIR a heart, the 506th PIR a spade, and the 327th GIR a club.

Many other units did/do it a little different too. 3ID and 4ID have their unit patches on their helmets.

The 187 INF BDE "Rakkasans" has a Japanese arch on their helmets from being part of the occupation force in Japan following WWII.
youngc
Visit this Community
Western Australia, Australia
Member Since: June 05, 2007
entire network: 2,166 Posts
KitMaker Network: 473 Posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 - 01:27 AM UTC
Interesting guys,

I found this, might be part of a photoshoot for a magazine, might be fair dinkum?

Where did Warrior do their historical research?

Chas
calvin_ng
Visit this Community
United States
Member Since: June 23, 2008
entire network: 1,024 Posts
KitMaker Network: 270 Posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 - 07:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The death card being kept on the helmet is really a Hollywood invention. Death cards were/are still used, but not kept on the helmet.


Quoted Text

in world war 2 they would paint on card patterns as well. i think its to find your leader or recognize someones rank in the midst of fire.


Actually, it is still used today. It is/was not to receognize a leader though. They are used to ID your unit.

The card suites were/are used by the 101st Airborne Div to ID their regiments. For example, the 501st PIR used a diamond, the 502nd PIR a heart, the 506th PIR a spade, and the 327th GIR a club.

Many other units did/do it a little different too. 3ID and 4ID have their unit patches on their helmets.

The 187 INF BDE "Rakkasans" has a Japanese arch on their helmets from being part of the occupation force in Japan following WWII.
thanks for the info gino , i learn something new everyday
spooky6
Visit this Community
Sri Lanka
Member Since: May 05, 2005
entire network: 2,174 Posts
KitMaker Network: 613 Posts
Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 08:17 AM UTC
Chas, that B/W pic is of a US Marine at Khe Sanh, and was on the cover of Life Magazine. It was shot by David Douglas Duncan who did a feature on Khe Sanh for that issue. 1968, I think. I had a copy of that mag years ago.
bobman331
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Member Since: April 13, 2009
entire network: 177 Posts
KitMaker Network: 10 Posts
Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 06:12 PM UTC
in the squadron "Us Infantry - Veitnam" combat troops series #6 thre is a picture on page 40 of a grunt with a frying pan or something. he has an ace 0of spades in his helmet band. the caption says "The ace of spades in his helmet was the card of death to the vietnamiese and many troops cairried them as means of frightening the locals"

so yes, they werte used in vietnam. thre are period photos and squadron is usualy accurate.
 _GOTOTOP