What is your favorite "souvenir" brought back from overseas?

SGT Eric Dziekan — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 13:39:02 -0500

For ages, when forces went off to war or to occupy a land after an invasion, inevitably some of them acquired "souvenirs" either legally or illegally. Even knowing the risks in attempting to collect some of them they still let the urge take over.

I wasn't immune to this and most of what I brought back is documented (such as a couple of knives) and nothing was illegal to posses such as this propaganda book against the United States.

So I'm curious, who else has "acquired" any souvenirs while overseas and were they claimed on a DD Form 603-1 "War Trophy Registration / Authorization"?

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Dec 27 at 2015 1:46 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 13:46:52 -0500

Brought home an Iraqi flag, couple of bayonets, Iraqi uniform shirt from a Republican Guard member as well as assorted ranks and patches that I retrieved when we took Saddam International Airport and none of them were required at the time to have had a DD 603-1 as my memory serves me.

Response by SGT Eric Dziekan made Dec 27 at 2015 1:54 PM

SGT Eric Dziekan — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 13:54:44 -0500

These were what I had to declare as "war trophys". Note the last two pictures. This was a custom made knife for an important person whose initials are on the butt plate pictured.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 27 at 2015 1:56 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 13:56:04 -0500

I was too honest to ship an item I found up on Adak back in HHG. It was a brand new, wrapped in cosmoline, MA-DUCE. I tossed it into the pickup and took it over to the compound for the Marines to put in their Armory. They refused because it wasn't on their inventory. Called my OIC buddy to get that fixed. Far as I know it was reissued for real work later on.

I did recover an old bakelite ship's clock out of the dump and over several months restored it. Keeps perfect time but I have no idea what its history is.

I do have some stuff from Antarctica like a few trail marker flags, mukluks, bear paws, and an old flight parka. They were issued and frequently not accepted back unless in perfect condition. I worked outside all the time so my stuff had wear on it. And since the sunglasses (double gradients) are prescription, I got to keep those.

Don't forget to "liberate" a M1 Garand from the CMP and a M1911 soon. Shooting history helps you see where your service fits in history.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Dec 27 at 2015 1:56 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 13:56:33 -0500

I remeber a picture in Stars and Stripes. A soil diet was waving an I assume an Ak47 saying I got my souvenir . Runnin on top of pallets of mail.
Stars and strips was indicated with letters to the editor about smashed packages.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Dec 27 at 2015 2:48 PM

SGT Patrick Reno — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 14:48:12 -0500

Russian belt buckle. Traded a pack of marlburos for it. That and a Russian alarm clock I bought in East Berlin.

Response by SSG Don Maggart made Dec 27 at 2015 3:11 PM

SSG Don Maggart — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 15:11:15 -0500

What Technically is the Statute of Limitations???

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 4:27 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:27:26 -0500

Piece of a 107

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 27 at 2015 5:02 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:02:02 -0500

Kick Myself for not bringing back my Sea Shell Collection from Diego Garcia, Even had a Nautilus. Probably the most significant thing from Overseas that is associated with me is Nut Crackers as in the Nutcracker Suite. While Mother in Law was in Germany she started sending Nut Crackers to me at my Flat in London around Christmas Time. My current Landlord knowing my love got me another Nut Cracker (From Germany) to add to my Formation of Troops.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 8:42 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 20:42:34 -0500

Legal stuff include mink blankets when I was in Korea - I'm still using them some 30 years later. I was invited to dine with Bedouin family while in Northern Iraq, and they gave me a spoon. Yeah, it looks like any piece of cheap crap that you can buy at Walmart, but I know where it's from - and now it's on my Mom's wall in her commemorative spoon collection.

Folks I worked with were assigned to various RAID teams (Redeployment Assistance and Inspection Detachment) over the years, these are the folks that inspect crap being shipped back to the states to make sure that it's safe enough to be on board ships. They've found entire arsenals welded INSIDE of vehicle fuel tanks - with ammo (AK's, RPG's, more), and an Ambulance coming in from A'stan that was packed to the rafters with opium. The entire back of the truck was all 2-kilo bags of white powder cakes. Unfortunately, nobody could be identified as to the "loader" so the entire cargo was burned and the truck was sent home - empty. (insert evil laugh here!!)

Response by SN Stacey Werkmeister made Dec 27 at 2015 9:18 PM

SN Stacey Werkmeister — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 21:18:51 -0500

No souvenirs per se but the memories of spending a month in PI .Olongapo City

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 10:16 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 22:16:03 -0500

In 2005, I was stuck guarding a polling station in Mosul, Iraq during their first election. That was some crappy duty, and I thought sure that we'd get attacked. We didn't, but I did come back with some sweet "Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq" swag.

Response by SSG Joel Galford made Dec 28 at 2015 1:40 AM

SSG Joel Galford — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 01:40:51 -0500

Just some local hand made jewelry, a few legal knives, and a Taliban bayonet I picked up after a fire fight. The last of which my gunny helped me (for the price of 4 rolls of dip and the movies from my hard drive) smuggle back in a conex box of the companies gear.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 5:32 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 17:32:49 -0500

Beer mugs. Lots and lots of beer mugs.

Response by PO2 Sam Messer made Dec 29 at 2015 2:12 AM

PO2 Sam Messer — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 02:12:34 -0500

My Body ! I left Vietnam in my birthday suit 2 nd class boats made sure I got nothing back when he packed my belongings & sent state side.. He stole me blind...

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 29 at 2015 2:48 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 02:48:12 -0500

Probably some Iraqi currency with Saddam Hussein pictured on it.
I did at one time have a "Bobby" hat I got from an English police officer but unfortunately it got lost in an HHG shipment.

Response by SGT Justin Anderson made Dec 30 at 2015 1:59 AM

SGT Justin Anderson — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 01:59:36 -0500

Pieces of shrapnel, empty shell casings, propaganda books, a few keep sakes from memorable patrols/fire fights, and some forgein military patches.

Response by Patricia Bruni Febres made Jul 7 at 2019 11:56 AM

Patricia Bruni Febres — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 11:56:36 -0400

i am interested in panama invasion or noriega souvenirs.