Military photos

Rhodesian soldier.

Kill cards

Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam - March 1963

Photo by Gilles Caron

There was much debate on the real value of this additional protection. Patton was against it as it could slow the vehicle (with the extra weight) and lessen the protective value of speed. Whether it actually increased real protection may be open to doubt – but it certainly gave psychological comfort to many of the tank crews who sported such improvised additions. Released for publication by the censor in March 1945, but possibly taken earlier in the year, this image shows Corporal Arthur Garrett of the US 14th Armoured Division adding a final flourish to cement filled sandbags, on his Sherman. There was much debate on the real value of this additional protection. Patton was against it as it could slow the vehicle (with the extra weight) and lessen the protective value of speed. Whether it actually increased real protection may be open to doubt – but it certainly gave psychological comfort to many of the tank crews who sported such improvised additions.

War in Vietnam 

South Vietnamese soldiers ride elephants across a river in the Ba Don area, about 20 miles from the Cambodian border, during a patrol in search of Viet Cong guerrillas in June 1964. In some conditions, the Hannibal-like transportation is more suited to jungle warfare than more modern vehicles. (AP Photo/Horst Faas) 

Vietnam Helmet Graffiti: "As is the case with so many other things, the conflict in Vietnam put its own unique stamp on the things we wrote on our helmets." (Marc Leepson, 30 July 2010)