Patch - THE GRIM REAPER - USSF - DEATH CARD - ACE of SPADES - Vietnam War, M.827

DEATH CARD - US SPECIAL FORCES and 101st Airborne Division

Patch - 101st Airborne - BLACK - ACE of SPADES - Vietnam War

The Grim Reaper - Death's Head Skull

Death's Head - Airborne Black Ops - Black ACE

Measures - 3.2 x 2.4 inches (8 x 6 cms)

Death Card

During the Vietnam War, the practice of leaving behind "death cards" or "Ace of Spades" playing cards as a symbol originated and gained popularity among US Special Forces Recon Units.

It served multiple purposes:

1. Psychological Warfare: Some soldiers and units used the Ace of Spades as a psychological tool to instill fear and uncertainty in the enemy. The card's association with death and bad luck was intended to demoralize the enemy forces.

2. Identification:

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4. The Ace of Spades was sometimes used to mark the bodies of enemy combatants, indicating that they had been killed by American forces. This served as a way for soldiers to keep track of their kills or to send a message to the enemy.

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6. Symbolic Meaning: The Ace of Spades has long been associated with death and has a symbolic significance. By leaving behind the card, soldiers intended to convey the message that death was imminent for the enemy or that they were "dealing death" to their adversaries.