Posted on Dec 27, 2015
What is your favorite "souvenir" brought back from overseas?
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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"?
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"?
Posted in these groups: 
Collecting
Collecting
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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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.
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.
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SGT Eric Dziekan
I heard that was great duty! My dad was a seabee during Vietnam and was sent to Antarctica (Operation Deep Freeze) instead of Vietnam and he loved it.
The book I posted I have tried for years to find information about and recently talked to a retired SGM from PSYOPS who is an authority on the subject and was writing about PSYOPS in Panama and he had not even seen that book before and was kind enough to include a write up about it in his article.
In short I understand about trying to find the history about an object. Don't give up.
The book I posted I have tried for years to find information about and recently talked to a retired SGM from PSYOPS who is an authority on the subject and was writing about PSYOPS in Panama and he had not even seen that book before and was kind enough to include a write up about it in his article.
In short I understand about trying to find the history about an object. Don't give up.
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Russian belt buckle. Traded a pack of marlburos for it. That and a Russian alarm clock I bought in East Berlin.
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SP5 Joel O'Brien
Hmm. Do the Ruskies have an "Army-Navy' game too?! Got these in West Berlin in the mid 70's along with some barbed wire from The Wall. (No chipping chunks off in those days.)
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SGT Patrick Reno
SP5 Joel O'Brien - Got my belt buckle while we were waiting to go through the check point out of Berlin to train in West Germany.
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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.
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