[February 11, 2023] Several readers wrote to me pointing out that recently captured Russian military gear (e.g., helmets, body armor, boots) are for sale on eBay, Etsy, and several other sites. The claim is that this gear, mostly individual combat equipment, was captured during the Ukraine War and is being offered as a war trophy. The question is whether it is moral to own captured military gear.
The short answer to the question is yes. I’ll point out that the tradition of capturing, selling, purchasing, and transferring equipment from the battlefield is old as warfare. Not only is owning this gear moral but it is expected. Today’s social media technology simply makes it easy for anyone to buy it.
But, like anything, there are exceptions to this rule. Items taken illegally (as defined in International Laws of land warfare) or deemed unethical by social convention, or dangerous (e.g., body parts, explosives, stolen personal items) should not be obtained, regardless of method.
A typical war trophy from World War 2 is captured Japanese Flags. Known as Yosegaki Hinomaru, these were flags carried by Japanese soldiers signed by everyone in their life; mother, father, siblings, neighbors, teachers, wives, and children. It was a good luck charm that wished bravery and a safe return home. Americans who captured these flags had no way of knowing this background. Today, there is a movement to return the flags. The non-profit Obon Society is an organization that attempts to return these “heirlooms” to the rightful families.
I would offer caution to purchasing any captured military gear. Fraud is always present and a high possibility. The unscrupulous person will always be lurking in the shadows to scam us of our money.
Personally, I own an Iraqi soldier’s helmet used by one of their officers during the Gulf War. It was given to me by a retired Iraqi Colonel, who I asked to obtain one for me. To this day, I treasure the helmet and will not sell it. It is a war trophy, and it is legal and moral for me to own it.
On a humorous side note, I was offered the chance to own an old U.S. Army Sherman tank during my first combat tour in Iraq (see this article’s thumbnail). It was the properly of the Iraqi Government. I refused for several reasons, the least of which was transporting it home.
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Interesting article, Gen. Satterfield. Thank you for keeping us in the loop on some not-so-common sense things.
Good to know. But I’ve heard of some pretty bad stuff coming home with vets.
My favorite tank, the Sherman. Watch the movie Fury and you will see them in action.
Gen. Satterfield wrote an article a few days ago on War and Brotherhood that is most appropriate here. One of his best. Read it and learn. The link is here:
https://www.theleadermaker.com/war-and-brotherhood/
Can you bring home guns from the military?
Absolutely not. Not in the slightest. In fact, there is a beautiful moment when leaving the military where you turn in your weapons card to the armory knowing you’ll never have to clean that thing again.
War trophies are allowed. You need a commanding officer’s approval and a “DD Form 603-1” filled out. This form will be presented at customs, with the war trophy. Failure to present the form, results in the item being seized. It’s common belief that soldiers can not bring war trophies home, but this is false. A well written request to your commanding officer, should get you his signature. The trick is to word it, so it sounds like an award or commendation. We received Iraqi Ak-47 bayonets, for training their soldiers in close quarters combat.
Yes, indeed, they are allowed but like Gen. Satterfield notes, they must be properly obtained and permission given.
CONTROL AND REGISTRATION OF WAR TROPHIES AND WAR TROPHY: FIREARMS
https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCO%205800.6A.pdf
War trophy. Any item of enemy public or private property utilized as war materiel (i.e., arms, military accouterments) acquired in a combat area or zone within a prescribed period of time, and authorized by the commander to be retained under the provisions of this regulation.
There are military regulations. Good.
Well, I didn’t expect this as an article today. Well said, Gen. Satterfield.
Is it moral to own captured military gear? Gen. Doug Satterfield answers that question clearly.
“The short answer to the question is yes. I’ll point out that the tradition of capturing, selling, purchasing, and transferring equipment from the battlefield is old as warfare. Not only is owning this gear moral but it is expected. Today’s social media technology simply makes it easy for anyone to buy it.” Nuff said.
Yes! My dad has some North Vietnamese equipment he brought home from the war. We take it out of the closet occassionally and look at it. Very educational about the war.
Great point. ……. 👀👀👀👀👀
Interesting ideas. I never would give this much thought but would believe it was illegal.
Our first reaction to anything today in America is to think something is ILLEGAL. Now that says a lot about our nation that so many things are illegal, so much so that our first thought is about doing something might be “illegal”. That is not a good way to think. Do first, then decide if illegal. Otherwise we are slaves to our nation and that is not a free America.
Pow, got that right Patriot Wife. I was thinking the same thing but had a hard time putting those thoughts into words. Now you did it for me. Well done. And, Gen. Satterfield is certainly appreciative also.
Yep, but be careful. More than one might think, much of what we call captured equipment can be illegal. So be more than careful.
Thank you Silly Man.