mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Share #1 Posted January 20, 2013 My first real world deployment was at the end of Operation DESERT STORM. My orders didn't specifiy what unit I was going to, so imagine my surprise to learn as an Air Force Tech Sergeant, that I was now the comm NCO for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 72nd Signal Battalion (7th Signal Brigade). It ended up being as great job though, and the Army guys treated me like royalty. We eventually pulled back across the Iraq/Turkey border for Operation PROVIDE COMFORT to protect the Kurds. I found countless things I thought we old American Helmet liners...they were garbage as far as I was concerned, but when one of my Army colleagues told me they were really Iraqi helmets, I filled a mobility bag with them..along with bayonets, flags, an RPG site, etc....unfortunately, I gave most of the stuff away when I got back to Germany, but I kept one of everything for my self. I gave away a beret to a guy later in Combat Comm after he fixed my brakes for me. I forgot to take a pic of the RPG site, but here's the rest. Sorry for the glare, these are in my museum. Here's an AK-47 magazine: Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted January 20, 2013 This is the bayonet I kept...funny thing is, we actually wore these on our belts and used them as tools. I never did get one of the ones with the reddish plastic grips and scabbards...everyone thought they were an "Officers Model", so any that were found were snatched up right away. One of the captains had managed to get an RPG site with it's spare parts kit....he wore it on his belt during the day, and slept with it by his pillow at night he was so afraid someone would steal it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted January 20, 2013 I had a number of Iraqi flags, but again, gave them all away...I attached an OPC patch and my unit patch for the 7th Signal Brigade to it. Somewhere around here I also have a nice Turkish flag I had the people in the HHC sign. You can see part of the RPG sight I brought back in the lower right corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted January 20, 2013 ..And an Iraqi gasmask...like the helmets, these were pretty much laying everywhere and weren't too difficult to find in good condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted January 20, 2013 I kept this helmet because it looks like it has a bullet hole in it, and it has some Arabic written on the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted January 20, 2013 This is a piece of tile from one of Saddam's palaces...it's where we landed going into Iraq...obviously his place was a mess. We only had a short stop, but I wanted to take something so I grabbed the tile. After I got to my final destination, one day walking to the chow hall I happened to see an Iraqi hat emblem laying in the dirt. After I got back to Germany I attached it to the tile and had a small plaque made so i could hang it in my office. ....good time.....goooood times....... Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted January 20, 2013 ...and here I am as a much younger whipper-snapper....we were wearing BDU's when we first arrived, but as soon as the new tricolor DCUs were available, the Battalion Commander (LTC Thomas "The Silver Fox" German) put me at the front of the line and made sure I got two sets. I stayed in the 1st Combat Comm tent, little knowing that 6 years later i would be assigned to them. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted January 20, 2013 Share #8 Posted January 20, 2013 the 30 round magazine is for the Czech Vz58 assault rifle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted January 20, 2013 It was just laying on the ground, so I assumed it was an AK..... Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted January 20, 2013 Share #10 Posted January 20, 2013 It was just laying on the ground, so I assumed it was an AK..... Mark sends it looks similiar to a AK 30 rd mag but it's not interchangable nice collection, I collect Iraqi war items Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted January 20, 2013 Share #11 Posted January 20, 2013 nice floor tile...I brought some back from his palace, as well, when I was there before they moved the embassy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted January 20, 2013 I've got a metal piece from one of his chandeliers someone brought back from the current war.....there was so much junk laying around that the thrill wore off pretty quick...but I still manage to fill a mobility bag with stuff! Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoovieDude Posted January 20, 2013 Share #13 Posted January 20, 2013 Very nice! I need to centralize all my items. Those that I have left. Gave away tons of stuff to friends over the years. Some even went to members here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoovieDude Posted January 20, 2013 Share #14 Posted January 20, 2013 the 30 round magazine is for the Czech Vz58 assault rifle Bolo, where did you find that photo? That gent looks like one of the Special Police Commando I was an advisor to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SergeantMajorGray Posted January 20, 2013 Share #15 Posted January 20, 2013 the bayonet you have is romanian the other type you were talking about sounds like a russian one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted January 20, 2013 Share #16 Posted January 20, 2013 Bolo, where did you find that photo? That gent looks like one of the Special Police Commando I was an advisor to. http://www.tworiversarms.com/Rifles.html I found it on this firearms site while searching for photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted January 20, 2013 Share #17 Posted January 20, 2013 VERY VERY cool ! thanks for taking and getting and showing . owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted January 20, 2013 Share #18 Posted January 20, 2013 I have a piece of marble from the Ba'ath party house that I didn't bring back, but a friend did for me. I had a similar plaque made for it. I will have to post a pic later. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted January 20, 2013 Here's my RPG sight...... Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corpsmancollector Posted January 21, 2013 Share #20 Posted January 21, 2013 A fantastic topic and some great items. This has been a pleasure to read, so thanks for posting and sharing your stories Mark! Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrely Posted January 22, 2013 Share #21 Posted January 22, 2013 Spectacular thread! Always love to see collections that were brought back personally! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now