question for the military guys

blueedwards · Dec 27, 2005

why do many soldiers have a spade on their helmet?

charleslanger · Dec 27, 2005

¿to dig a trench?

blueedwards · Dec 27, 2005

its a picture or stamp of a spade. i've seen it on a lot of helmets in movies and on the history channel...not sure what it means.

jeffksu · Dec 27, 2005

hey blue hate to do this to ya but i think i edged you out in the bet jam contest that dante is in charge of...i had 348 total passing and you had 351...it landed on 350...so without going over i think i will win...so how was your christmas "lucky"...take care...jeffksu

blueedwards · Dec 27, 2005

jeffksu said:
hey blue hate to do this to ya but i think i edged you out in the bet jam contest that dante is in charge of...i had 348 total passing and you had 351...it landed on 350...so without going over i think i will win...so how was your christmas "lucky"...take care...jeffksu

jeff, christmas was good...how about yours?

btw, i win...this is not the price is right. you can go over.

jeffksu · Dec 27, 2005

it was good ...thanks for asking...i'll bet santa was loading up the presents at your house...little girl 1st christmas yes it had to be good...well i'm glad to hear all is well and you guys have a great new year...only the best to you and yours...be safe and enjoy your trip to cali...should stop off here in vegas and visit for awhile...take care...jeffksu

charleslanger · Dec 27, 2005

google says that:
during wwii in the 101st Airborne, soldiers in these divisions put these on their helmets to stand for their division insignia:

506th Parachute Spade****************
502nd Airborne: Heart
327th Glider: Club
501st Infantry: Diamond

hellah10 · Dec 27, 2005

i never had a spade on my kevlar :icon_conf

ppeter · Dec 27, 2005

Its the Ace of Spades, commonly referred to as the "death card." In Vietnam, some special forces left "calling cards," usually aces of spades, on the bodies of dead viet cong.

And Hellah is right, thats just exagerate Hollywood crap, the modern army does not permit unprofessional b.s. like that. Moreover, the surface of the new "Sgt. Shultz" Kevlar Helmets do not let you write on it.

hellah10 · Dec 27, 2005

the only thing we put on our kevlar was a condom (camo cover)...cat eyes (the green band with 2 glowing things) and sometimes your patch

HellonWheels · Dec 27, 2005

Back in the old days the 101st Airborne patches used to look similar to a Spade

Now it is this

My brother has been in the 101st Airborne Air Assault division for the last 5 years. They are called the Screaming Eagles. They are back in Iraq for their second tour of duty right now. Everyone hopeing for a safe and speedy return.

Dante · Dec 27, 2005

blue edwards said:
why do many soldiers have a spade on their helmet?

WE DID NOT HAVE THEM on our helmets in the airforce....but we carried them in our TA-50 gear

LEYKIS101 · Dec 27, 2005

Dante said:
WE DID NOT HAVE THEM on our helmets in the airforce....but we carried them in our TA-50 gear

Gotta love that T&A gear!

:shaking:

Glad to hear you weren't part of that "don't ask don't tell bunch. :lolBIG:

:smoker2:

tenman · Dec 27, 2005

hellah10 said:
the only thing we put on our kevlar was a condom (camo cover)...cat eyes (the green band with 2 glowing things) and sometimes your patch

Same here when I was in the Army. Here is a pic with the band that usually had your name on the front and one with the cover that I had.