HungSquirrel
Member
I don't think it's so much to ask to be allowed to take home a rifle that belonged to someone who aimed it at me (but is now deceased). I guess I am old-fashioned.
N.C. Man Kicked Out of Military Over Contraband Rifle
- Thread starter greyhound
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Treo
member
When I was in Germany we had a 1SGT that had what looked like Soviet shoulder board on a plaque in his office. I asked him about them one day and he told me he "liberated" them in Grenada. When I asked exactly what he meant he replied that he killed the individual wearing them and removed them from his uniform. I never had the stones to ask if he was kidding but I don't think so.
I had a PLT SGT. here in the States claim to have found an M-9 W/ no serial number during Desert Storm, he SAID he broke it down and dumped it into his fuel tank (Hemmit) I never saw any un-serial numbered M-9 and I figured it was none of my business.
We were informed even before we left that we had better not even think about it.
I have a few Saudi coins in a box somewhere& some Iraqi paper money W/ Saddams picture on it in the dinning room hutch. that's enough for me.
As for homeboy? At the same time he promised to Support & defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foriegn & domestic . he also promised to " Obey the orders of the officers appointed over him in accordance W/ military regulations & the uniform code of military justice"
He failed to do so, his choice he lives W/ the decision.
I had a PLT SGT. here in the States claim to have found an M-9 W/ no serial number during Desert Storm, he SAID he broke it down and dumped it into his fuel tank (Hemmit) I never saw any un-serial numbered M-9 and I figured it was none of my business.
We were informed even before we left that we had better not even think about it.
I have a few Saudi coins in a box somewhere& some Iraqi paper money W/ Saddams picture on it in the dinning room hutch. that's enough for me.
As for homeboy? At the same time he promised to Support & defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foriegn & domestic . he also promised to " Obey the orders of the officers appointed over him in accordance W/ military regulations & the uniform code of military justice"
He failed to do so, his choice he lives W/ the decision.
I am told that early in the war, the outgoing mail was not thoroughly checked... a person claimed success on transporting an RPG. I never saw it though.
Having personally been through customs multiple times I am certain nobody gets anything through anymore. I had my stuff xrayed, I was searched then I dropped off my main bags. I walked around the corner, and surprise! I was separated from what few things remained (belt, hat, carry on bag) and was searched while those items were xrayed again. This happened to everybody I saw.
The only way I see it happening is if one is responsible for an entire aircraft or other large vehicle that is not searched. I bet the zoomies have lots of neat things.
Having personally been through customs multiple times I am certain nobody gets anything through anymore. I had my stuff xrayed, I was searched then I dropped off my main bags. I walked around the corner, and surprise! I was separated from what few things remained (belt, hat, carry on bag) and was searched while those items were xrayed again. This happened to everybody I saw.
The only way I see it happening is if one is responsible for an entire aircraft or other large vehicle that is not searched. I bet the zoomies have lots of neat things.
i remember hearing a story of a salty old colonel in the first sandbox war that was in charge of loading captured AKs and the like into shipping containers and sending em off to get destroyed... well this colonel decides that Ft Benning needs some AKs so that the soldiers being trained can learn about em... so he manages to route several large containers full of guns to the states... well when they get to the shipping yard at the naval base, this colonel goes and picks em up and when the guy at the yard inspects em, he simply has this colonel sign for em... my understanding was that at least one of the shipping containers was only about half full by the time it got to GA...
one can only hope that those toys have a good home somewhere and that one day when this gun control nonsense is fixed that they will be able to see the light of day
one can only hope that those toys have a good home somewhere and that one day when this gun control nonsense is fixed that they will be able to see the light of day
plexreticle
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Everybody knows they will be thoroughly searched, bags vehicles, personal items.
This guy was a numbskull for even trying.
This guy was a numbskull for even trying.
yokel
Member
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- Apr 29, 2007
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- 1,235
We must note the cruel irony. How often do we hear the claim that American troops “defend our freedoms” or “support and defend the Constitution.”
As our Founding Fathers understood so well, the primary threat to our freedom lies with our own government.
As our Founding Fathers understood so well, the primary threat to our freedom lies with our own government.
packnrat
Member
what is wrong with a service man/women from bringing back a war trophy??
just as long as the item is not a museum item. aka stolen art.. that kind of thing. they should be allowed to have something as a memento of there time in service....after all they are risking there lives.
just as long as the item is not a museum item. aka stolen art.. that kind of thing. they should be allowed to have something as a memento of there time in service....after all they are risking there lives.
Nobody's_Hero
Member
Does anyone with military experience or knowledge of the subject know when exactly and why it became a capital sin to bring home war souvenirs?
Like others have mentioned, there were tons and tons of stuff shipped home during WW2 and no body got their feelings irreparably hurt. Fine wines, linens, silverware, lugers.
Maybe it started seeming like we were looting the place, but, that's the only reason I can think of.
So, now you can't even bring home a bayonet?
Like others have mentioned, there were tons and tons of stuff shipped home during WW2 and no body got their feelings irreparably hurt. Fine wines, linens, silverware, lugers.
Maybe it started seeming like we were looting the place, but, that's the only reason I can think of.
So, now you can't even bring home a bayonet?
Treo
member
The issue isn't so much that he attempted to bring back an AK, the issue is that he disobeyed a direct, lawful order. Although, I'm sure the fact that it WAS an AK probably didn't help.
I would GUESS that it became illegall whenever the law against importing firearms W/out a license was passed. My dad never brought home anything from Korea that I'm aware of. One of my cousins had two hand grenades I never got a close enough look to see if they were inert ( if they weren't would that make them ert?).
I would GUESS that it became illegall whenever the law against importing firearms W/out a license was passed. My dad never brought home anything from Korea that I'm aware of. One of my cousins had two hand grenades I never got a close enough look to see if they were inert ( if they weren't would that make them ert?).
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DRZinn
Member
I don't know if I mentioned this when the thread was new 3 years ago, but if I'd had a pistol in my waistband I'd have gotten it through.
Hell no that guy cant bring that home.
Hes a Soldier and i thank him for his service BUT the Armed Forces HAS BEEN INFILTRATED BY GANGS.
This guy might not be a Good ol boy who just wants to take it out and shoot some milk cartons.
The last thing we need is some punk MS13 or Crip with a Select fire Kalash.
Hes a Soldier and i thank him for his service BUT the Armed Forces HAS BEEN INFILTRATED BY GANGS.
This guy might not be a Good ol boy who just wants to take it out and shoot some milk cartons.
The last thing we need is some punk MS13 or Crip with a Select fire Kalash.
The modern U.S. military, at least from WWII on, has outlawed looting and the taking of firearms as "souvenirs." That did not stop it from happening. It also did not make for consistency in enforcement.
During the first Gulf War (91-92) enlisted soldiers caught with souvenir firearms were court martialled and sent to Leavenworth. There was at least one instance of an Army general officer getting caught... and allowed to retire quietly.
The state of being wrong (or doing wrong) does not come from being caught, or being punished... it comes from the act itself.
craig
During the first Gulf War (91-92) enlisted soldiers caught with souvenir firearms were court martialled and sent to Leavenworth. There was at least one instance of an Army general officer getting caught... and allowed to retire quietly.
The state of being wrong (or doing wrong) does not come from being caught, or being punished... it comes from the act itself.
craig
I've got mixed feelings on bring-home booty. On one hand, they are over their risking life and limb, so bringing back some military hardware captured from the 'enemy' should be good.
On the other hand, sometimes the stuff being sent home, especially ala ww2, was silver sets from the locals, prized shotguns, etc.
A sporting rifle or shotgun found over in iraq was probably the means for a family to feed themselves, until saddam's boys or the maddi militia or whoever grabbed it up for themselves. The pistol was probably someone's defense against suni-shia attacks.
It isn't the same as pulling a government built and issued luger from the holster of some Lt that you just killed/captured.
On the other hand, sometimes the stuff being sent home, especially ala ww2, was silver sets from the locals, prized shotguns, etc.
A sporting rifle or shotgun found over in iraq was probably the means for a family to feed themselves, until saddam's boys or the maddi militia or whoever grabbed it up for themselves. The pistol was probably someone's defense against suni-shia attacks.
It isn't the same as pulling a government built and issued luger from the holster of some Lt that you just killed/captured.
Tommygunn
Member
Pity the guy had to do this.
My father served in the U.D.T. during the Korean War. Somehow he brought home his scuba tank, a CO2 powered spear gun and an M1 Carbine. I have the carbine now ... I have no idea what happened to the scuba tank and the spear gun.
My father served in the U.D.T. during the Korean War. Somehow he brought home his scuba tank, a CO2 powered spear gun and an M1 Carbine. I have the carbine now ... I have no idea what happened to the scuba tank and the spear gun.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
What a'bout President Bush owning a "war trophy pistol" that belonged
to Saddam Hussein? Are not the laws written with every U.S. citizen in
mind; or does he get to keep that famed pistol that we Americans saw
repeatedly on TV, of Saddam firing into the air from his perch high above
the city?
to Saddam Hussein? Are not the laws written with every U.S. citizen in
mind; or does he get to keep that famed pistol that we Americans saw
repeatedly on TV, of Saddam firing into the air from his perch high above
the city?
Saddam's Pistol
" What a'bout President Bush owning a "war trophy pistol" that belonged
to Saddam Hussein? Are not the laws written with every U.S. citizen in
mind; or does he get to keep that famed pistol that we Americans saw
repeatedly on TV, of Saddam firing into the air from his perch high above
the city?"
Great point!! I remember when I first heard of that and thinking it was a disgrace, the man who dodged Vietnam and goes to bed to sleep soundly at 10pm every night, including the night before launching an illegal invasion gets a personal trophy to put on his wall?
How many brave and innocent people died so that shirker could show his cronies that gun?
And then he had the cheek to joke about searching for the missing WMD's in the White House?
I agree that looting should be illegal but these poor suckers gets discharged for trying to bring home a souvenir while Cheney, KBR and Halliburton loot our treasury and destroy our image worldwide, where's the justice in that?
Glennser
" What a'bout President Bush owning a "war trophy pistol" that belonged
to Saddam Hussein? Are not the laws written with every U.S. citizen in
mind; or does he get to keep that famed pistol that we Americans saw
repeatedly on TV, of Saddam firing into the air from his perch high above
the city?"
Great point!! I remember when I first heard of that and thinking it was a disgrace, the man who dodged Vietnam and goes to bed to sleep soundly at 10pm every night, including the night before launching an illegal invasion gets a personal trophy to put on his wall?
How many brave and innocent people died so that shirker could show his cronies that gun?
And then he had the cheek to joke about searching for the missing WMD's in the White House?
I agree that looting should be illegal but these poor suckers gets discharged for trying to bring home a souvenir while Cheney, KBR and Halliburton loot our treasury and destroy our image worldwide, where's the justice in that?
Glennser
Owen
Moderator Emeritus
Gifts given to the President don't belong to the President. That pistol will end up in his library, or, at least its supposed to.
eflatminor
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2006
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- 421
I sure am glad my grandfather brought back a Luger pistol with Nazi markings, near perfect condition and with all serial numbers matching. And yes, he gave it to me!
catfish101
Member
When I left the middle east in 91 guys could bring home an AK-47 but the bolt and end of the barrel had to be welded up. I did a few for guys.
DRZinn
Member
Then tell me, please, what is inherently wrong with bringing home a rifle.
cleardiddion
Member
Why is this thread even active again?
And revived by a guy from Chernobyl?
And revived by a guy from Chernobyl?
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