<< The purpose of the national symbol (star) on military vehicles is
for recognition. No star = shoot, has star = no shoot.
The Marines never used stars? I would direct you to the book "Jeeps
Over the Pacific" by Yasuo Ohtsuka. >>
I bow to Jim's superior knowledge as regards WWII and Korea. But as regards
the National Symbol, I really think that the "has star = no shoot"
explanation is too simplistic. Yes, in WWII and Korea, I'm sure that this was
a by-product of the use of the Star, however, I still think that the use of
the National Symbol, as described in the Painting TM, relates to
International Agreements on the conduct of warfare. As far as the Mutt
ambulance goes, the TM says so specifically! I would still like to hear an
explanation as to why USMC vehicles are allegedly "exempt" from using the
Star........ someone promised to quote from the USMC-version of the Painting
TM...... so perhaps the answer is in there somewhere.
Just as a by-the-way... I was at the annual Duxford (Cambridge, England)
Military Vehicle Show just after the end of the Gulf War. Always on the
lookout to add to my collection of modern militaria, I saw a "Desert Cammo"
cover for an Alice Pack, on display. I enquired about its use, and current
ownership, and whether I could buy it. I was informed, by a serving British
Army sergeant, that a British Unit (he did tell me which) had acquired these
Alice Pack covers from "our friends the Yanks" and had begun to use them in
the Gulf (to cover the issue Bergans), only to be told by the Commanding
Officer that their use "must cease forthwith". The Sergeant told me that his
CO had said that the use of equipment in "US Cammo" by British forces would
be seen as a contravention of the Geneva Conventions on the conduct of
warfare. The Sergeant told me that the troops had reluctantly removed the
covers from their packs, but the one on display had been saved from being
disposed of.
Kind regards......
Ken
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