Death cards

I am thinking of doing a small story on the use of death cards in
Vietnam. We know that they were not wide spread, and perhaps there are
well less than a dozen genuine types. Of course, Ebay is full of fakes
and reproductions. I really don't think there is enough for a story. I
can show maybe 6 I have and talk a bit about the Army's philosophy
toward them, but I don't think there is enough to write anything
worthwhile. How about you guys? Any of our regulars have any anecdotes
or memories in regard to them that might help me to fill out 1-2000
words?

Sorry I can't help this time. I've heard of them but never saw one and never
heard of them being used in my AO during my time.

Bill Clarke

"FatmanE" wrote in message
news:20040111181916.26331.00002582@mb-m15.aol.com...
> Sorry I can't help this time. I've heard of them but never saw one and
never
> heard of them being used in my AO during my time.
>
> Bill Clarke

Nee meether. The story we heard was that the Vietnamese were inveterate
card players--and that was true; I saw mamasans playing cards many, many
times in any shade that was available--and that some of the common
superstitions about certain cards had penetrated Vietnamese culture, by way
of the French.

For instance, the Ace of Spades was a death card. The Queen of Hearts was a
love card. The Jack of Spades represented an enemy. And so on.

ted
Who just remembered that in Spanish-speaking cultures, the Queen of Hearts
is known as "La Rubia," the blonde.
>

Ted,

That will be the point of the story. The Vietnamese in general had no
idea that the ace of spades represented death (except those close to the
French who had learned some of their beliefs). Our official policy was
against the use of the cards. They came from below, not above, and were
used because Americans loved them and used them to mark their territory,
not because they had any effect against the VC. It is not the kind of
thing I usually write about, but it might be interesting to look into.

>Subject: Re: Death cards
>From: "Ted Gittinger" tgittingerbounce@austin.rr.com
>Date: 1/12/2004 7:33 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id:
>
>
>ted
>Who just remembered that in Spanish-speaking cultures, the Queen of
>Hearts is known as "La Rubia," the blonde.
>>

Ah yes, the blonde. She has got me into more than a little trouble, the
blonde.

But in all fairness, she never had to hold a gun to my head.

Bill Clarke