The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ARMY CUSTOM

IN VIETNAM IT IS CUSTOM AND GOOD LUCK FOR THE SOLDIERS
TO WRITE THE NAME OF AT LEAST ONE GIRL HE KNEW ON
HIS HELMET. THEY ALSO BELIEVED THAT YOU WOULD
NEVER MARRY THIS GIRL. WRITING THIS NAME WAS GOOD
LUCK AS FAR AS SURVIVING WENT, BUT BAD LUCK AS
FAR AS RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REALLY BELIEVES IN THIS AS THE TWO GUYS THAT
DIED IN HIS OUTFIT DIDN'T HAVE NAMES ON THEIR HELMETS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Date learned: 11-22-1971