# Military Souvenirs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731 "2002-03-12T00:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/1 "2002-03-12T00:35:25Z")
Can members of the US armed forces keep any of the weapons they find on captured or killed enemies as personal souvenirs? I assume there are pretty strict rules against “pocketing” an RPG launcher or even an AK-47. How about pistols? Daggers? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/2 "2002-03-12T01:41:03Z")
I don’t have a cite, but soldiers appropriating _anything_ on the battlefield are technically looting. Historically, that was how soldiers were paid. But since the coming of “profesional” arimes, it is officially discouraged. But there is, of course, a lot of nodding and winking. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/3 "2002-03-12T04:05:48Z")
Absoultely not. General Order No. 1 (for CENTCOM) prohibited alcohol, pornography, and among other things, the taking of ‘souvenirs’ from the battlefield to include: Live/expended shells and ammunition, complete weapons of any caliber or nation, any personal equipment from the enemy, or anything of the like. I tried to find my ‘Visitor’s Guide’ when I got deployed. Can’t find it, but I do know one of the things it specifically prohibited was the taking of souvenirs. Tripler That’s not to say it doesn’t happen in small instances. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/4 "2002-03-12T04:35:01Z")
Whoa! Found it. . . > [@](#): > > _From the PSAB Deployment Guide_ > **GENERAL ORDER # 1 (GO-1):** General Order #1 is a lawful order issued by the Commander, CENTCOM, and the Commander, CENTAF, and is applicable to all personnel serving in these commands. Violation of any may constitute an offense punishable under Article 92, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). \*Snipping for brevity . . \* > > Among the prohibitions: > [ul] > [li] Taking war trophies as souvenirs, with limited exceptions.[/li][li] FIREARMS: Possession of private firearms/explosives. . .[/li][/ul] > > and so forth . . . Tripler There ya go. In black and white. . . ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/5 "2002-03-12T04:40:00Z")
Thanks. Two follow-up questions: Are returning troops searched? Does anyone really care if you took, say, a bayonet? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/6 "2002-03-12T04:48:58Z")
When I came back from SWA this past December, we had to go through Customs in Baltimore. They asked if we had anything to declare, and we obviously didn’t . . . Keep in mind, that we were the first batch of guys to come back since 11 Sept. We had gotten over there just a week prior to all the shit happening, and I suspect the Customs agents were fairly sympathetic. We (read: everyone at my base) was in lockdown for 95% of the rotation, and we didn’t have a chance to go ‘acquire’ and contraband. Also keep in mind that 99% of us took commercial flights to our regular stations once we got into Baltimore, so our baggage would be scanned and searched for weapons just like any other civilians’ luggage. But, I was able to acertain a 45 lb. concrete block and pack it with my gear. It’s pretty cool, but they never asked me about it. Tripler Yes, I snagged a concrete block. I’m an engineer. Whaddya want?!? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/7 "2002-03-12T06:37:08Z")
Any time I ponder battlefeld souvenirs, I’m reminded of the [Safety Digest](http://www.vcds.dnd.ca/dsafeg/digest/intro_e.asp) and their charming “Accident Alley” articles describing some schmo being maimed by his keepsake Soviet grenade or whatnot. If I get a U.N. callout, I intend to bring back all my fingers and toes, still attached. That’s all the souveniring I need. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/8 "2002-03-12T08:34:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGauss \* > \*\*Can members of the US armed forces keep any of the weapons they find on captured or killed enemies as personal souvenirs? I assume there are pretty strict rules against “pocketing” an RPG launcher or even an AK-47. How about pistols? Daggers? \*\* Everything taken from the enemy, military or civilian, is captured enemy equipment and is US Government property. This is to prevent looting. This isn’t always strictly enforced, but it can be at any time. The reason that looting and other such activities are discouraged is based on bitter experience. It has been known for a long time that it is real easy to give the enemy a victory if they have a habit of celebrating riotously afterwards. And then you attack during the celebration. It has happened on numerous occasions in history. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/9 "2002-03-12T18:40:22Z")
Quoth some Big Brass, via **Tripler** : [quote] [li] Taking war trophies as souvenirs, with limited exceptions.[/li][/quote] Don’t just leave us hanging, here… What are the “limited exceptions”? Is it a case-by-case matter (in which case, who decides?), or is there a list of items which it is acceptable to abstract? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/10 "2002-03-12T19:53:45Z")
ENEMY military souveniers from Desert Storm I have/had include a shovel (my father has an NVA shovel from HIS war), gas mask, tanker’s helmet, chemical protection kit, and some Officer Record Books. We were expressly forbidden to gather weapons or explosives, to include bayonets, unless taken back for Historical display and rendered inoperative by the professionals. We were searched randomly in Saudi Arabia before departing. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-souvenirs/97731/11 "2002-03-13T04:32:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\*Quoth some Big Brass, via **Tripler** :Don’t just leave us hanging, here… What are the “limited exceptions”? Is it a case-by-case matter (in which case, who decides?), or is there a list of items which it is acceptable to abstract? \*\* I would assume that for a ‘limited exception’ to be completely kosher, Public Affairs and the base command would have to sign off on it. Obviously, dragging a barrel of sweet Kuwaiti crude would _not_ be a limited exception, but maybe a rock or something. I dunno. If you have to ask permission to take something back, either it’s pretty important to you, or you are just a moron looking for trouble. 😃 Tripler Like I said, I got a 45 lb concrete block back.