The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

During the Vietnam War, when a soldier was to go back to the
United States shortly, his time in Vietnam was considered "short."
There was a "short superstition" among the American soldiers
during the war. It was generally believed that as a soldier's time
became "short" he was more likely to be killed than at any other
time of his tour of duty.

Submitter comment: The informant could name numerous time when a soldier had
survived most of his tour of duty only to be killed when he was
"short".

Where learned: Vietnam ; Asia

Date learned: 00-00-1969