# Tank captain in Iraq with a skull mask **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745 "2003-02-04T18:35:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/1 "2003-02-04T18:35:36Z")
How’s that for a thread title? I was flipping through today’s (2/4/03) NY Post, and I see a picture of some Halloween looking nut with a army helmet and a ghoulish looking skull mask. I assumed that it was a protester, but upon reading the caption, it was a tank captain wearing a mask for a sandstorm! This thing was a full-face mask, made out of foam or something, and probably used for snowboarding or skiing. The black mask had a white photorealistic skull. He was wearing some Oakleys and had his helmet with the night vision stump thing on it. Man he looked totally badass! I always like when they draw shark teeth on the nose of planes and such, but this mask took the case. 1. Are there any other instances of intimidating art used in the military. 2. What are the regulations for this sort of stuff. Was he issued a death mask? They are not issued but you can bring one? They aren’t allowed at all? Etc. What about planes? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/2 "2003-02-04T18:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > this mask took the case. Was this a typo? The expression is "That really takes the _ **cake** _. Concerning the mask. It depends on the commander and the situation. Patton wore pearl handled revolvers, but I’m not sure he was so understanding with what his troops wore. In basic training such attire would get one in deep stuff. By the time the troops are on the battlefield they are given more liberty with such things. 😃 [sup]Very few inspections there.[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/3 "2003-02-04T18:58:51Z")
Yep that was a typo. So many dress regulations get thrown out in the field? Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![rhinostylee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@rhinostylee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhinostylee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/4 "2003-02-04T20:05:30Z")
I read most of the book “Band of Brothers” by Stephen Ambrose. In it was a related section that I found extremely interesting. All American soldiers in Europe were supposed to turn in their grenades and machine gun bullets and excess ammo/weapons when they were given leave for a few days in Paris or wherever (once it was liberated, obviously). However, these soldiers didn’t really care about such rules at that point, having survived such conditions and seen so many die, etc. So basically the book described new recruits that were frightened by the sight of drunken soldiers raising hell in the streets of Paris, with machine gun bullets draped over their bodies, grenades hanging all over their uniforms, and guns slung over their shoulders. I thought this was pretty sweet. ---
**Author:** ![rhinostylee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@rhinostylee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhinostylee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/5 "2003-02-04T20:07:04Z")
By the way, anyone have a link to that picture of the tank guy in a skull mask? I’d like to see it. ---
**Author:** ![rhinostylee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@rhinostylee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhinostylee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/6 "2003-02-04T20:18:44Z")
[http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/68290.htm](http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/68290.htm) I was feeling ambitious . . . ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/7 "2003-02-04T20:21:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Patton wore pearl handled revolvers, but I’m not sure he was so understanding with what his troops wore. Semiquote from the movie **Patton** : "They’re not pearl-handled, they’re ivory. " Someone of my acquaintance confirmed that the general’s pistols had ivory handles. ---
**Author:** ![Happyjoelucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Happyjoelucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happyjoelucky)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/8 "2003-02-04T20:40:17Z")
This paint scheme of the A-10 Thunderbolt is one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/9 "2003-02-04T20:50:04Z")
The SS in WWII had a skull (totenkopf) emblem. That was on all Officers’ and some enlisted hats. Certain divsions also had them on their collar tabs. IIRC, some Panzer divisions that were not part of the SS also made use of the skull emblem. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/10 "2003-02-04T20:52:03Z")
I like the way that Patton remark continues in the movie: "Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl-handled pistol. " ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/11 "2003-02-04T23:57:21Z")
You might want to take a look at [General von Mackensen](http://pw1.netcom.com/~reincke/mackensen2.jpg), who was fond of wearing his Death’s Head Hussars uniform long after leaving the unit–definitely some scary shit. ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/12 "2003-02-06T00:42:47Z")
Darth Vader had them all beat. ---
**Author:** ![Echo23TC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Echo23TC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Echo23TC)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/13 "2003-02-06T00:58:33Z")
Ok, where can I get one of those skull masks? I have GOT to have that before I get on my tank this summer. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tank-captain-in-iraq-with-a-skull-mask/152745/14 "2003-02-06T04:36:33Z")
Since it’s just a reglar protective mask with a skull on it you could easilly get one and have it painted.