American pilots shot down over Kuwait carried a “blood chit” sewn inside their jackets, written in English, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Kurdish. It read: “I’m American. I don’t speak your language. Help me with food, shelter, and care, and you’ll be rewarded by U.S. authorities.
by PrimedGold
39 Comments
That actually is interesting as fuck.
A blood chit is a notice carried by military personnel and addressed to any civilians who may come across an armed-services member – such as a shot-down pilot – in difficulties. As well as identifying the force to which the bearer belongs as friendly, the notice displays a message requesting that the service member be rendered every assistance.
Here is one from the Vietnam War
https://preview.redd.it/35x2cewj5pmg1.jpeg?width=968&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=904d0582c7b5a2370b980b01282ce890292405f3
Actually, that looks like the novelty one that my father and his fellow pilots had made during the Gulf War that they had sewn into their leather jackets. They actually had ones issued to them made of waterproof paper, that had a serial number on each of the four corners, that could be torn off and redeemed for a reward. His real one is framed in my parents home.
It’s not sewn into the jacket, it’s a water proofed folded paper.
I used to fly for the navy
I wonder how well things like this work after the government has shat all over its own respectability. This sounds like the empty promises of arrogant assholes
Sure. Like anyone is going to believe the lies of Americans after the way they treated their Afghan helpers who risked their lives, and all the people they have harmed recently.
The full text: I am an American and do not speak your language. I will not harm you! I bear no malice towards your people.
My friend, please provide me food water, sheiter, clothing and nacessary medical attention. Also, please provide safe passage to the nearest friendly forces of any country supporting the Americans and their allies.
You will be rewarded for assisting me
when you present this number and
my name to American authorities.
Pilots and aircrew have been carrying blood chits for a very long time. Surprisingly few people know about them
That’s very interesting actually.
I just bombed the F outta your shiz, gimme a burger. Caaaaants.
These are nothing new lol, I was active duty USAF and carried one in 2011 when I was part of a helicopter crew flying in hostile areas, I kept it, but sadly lost it along with my challenge coins, that’s my biggest regret of my 20’s was not keeping enough things to pass on to my daughter
Kuwaitis, Emiraties and Qatars are amongst the richest per capita in the world, that’s going to need to be some reward if they weren’t already allied
The Flying Tiger pilots in World War II wore something similar on the back of their jackets.
https://preview.redd.it/s8vohkvh8pmg1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ad81ec6353fcca7940592eeaf3753b988ba8bf0
Rewarded how? ICBM to your location?
I carried one of those in my pocket while in Iraq, during the War on ISIS (along with some sorta tracking device thingy)
I remember my platoon sergeant being like, “Don’t bother with that thing if ISIS catches you” lmao
“A Lannister always pays his debts.” kind of statement
As rewarded as the Afghan who helped the US against Taliban and were left behind. Or the lucky ones allowed to enter the US to be send back by ICE under Trump I suppose.
Do they think the rest of the world doesn’t have internet?
Because what the US did, I think that today, the only worth of an american is what he can be traded for. Who’s will pay the most and the fastest? the US or their opponents?
One unknown operative for a President that said casualty are to be expected, or a public execution of one who killed their daughters?
One for which the government said they don’t negotiate with terrorists and then call all their enemies terrorist, or one that could be, for exemple strapped to a nuclear missile by DPRK to please the junte?
I am afraid that piece doesn’t worth much, much less than during the Vietnam war, much less than ever. But those soldiers, like anyone else of their country voted for it successively during decades.
The live by the sword die by the sword kind of thing I suppose.
I still have mine from Afghanistan.
Edit: I was not a pilot.
“Rewarded by American authorities” hasn’t meant the same thing since the 1940s.
From NYT:
Blood chits were first used in a systematic way by the British Army in 1842 in the mountains of Afghanistan. Their success led to further usage during World War I and continues to this day. The U.S. military began their own blood-chit program in the China theater of operations with the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in 1941-42 under General Claire Chennault. This program quickly grew throughout the U.S. military and was in use throughout all theaters of operation with much success.
Blood chit usage by the U.S. military in World War II was in the tens of thousands. They were issued only to aircrew members. Payments ranged from $50 to approximately $250 depending upon the theater. The blood chit program continued through the Korean and Vietnam wars. During the Korean War, approximately 42 payments were made for the safe return of U.S. fliers. During one six-month period of the Vietnam War we have found reference to 13 payments being made. Exact numbers of blood chits used are not available as almost all records concerning blood chit usage from these wars were destroyed shortly after cessation of hostilities.
After the Vietnam War the program was disestablished and then re-established for Desert Storm and has been in continuous use ever since. The program has been expanded beyond aircrew so that all U.S. military members deemed High Risk of Isolation are to be issued blood chits after receiving required training in their use. Blood chits are controlled items and are issued and tracked very closely.
This is really handy because I bet a lot of pilots have lost the conversational Kurdish they learned in high school /s
Yea I’m not sure I’d admit I was American to anyone these days 😂
Any idea if/how the USA respects the promise?
Oh…you’ll be rewarded alright…with bombs, bullets, and force-fed “Murican” freedom!!!
Ask the Afghan translators how much the US promises are worth
Oh, please. We don’t even take care of our own service members, and people are supposed to believe THIS bullshit?
See: Afghani translators
I doubt the American Government will reward the finder.
Not just pilots. I’m currently deployed with the Army and I put it behind my plate carrier when I go out. Had it on my last deployment too.
That is interesting. Growing up during 9/11 makes my twisted brain imagine what would happen emergency landing in the region and then immediately ripping open your jacket like a suicide bomber to franticly show them your intention. I’d say maybe yell allah akbar real loud so they know you mean well.
I still have mine from Iraq. I was embedded with an Iraqi army infantry unit as part of a Marine Corps transition now. In 07-08. We got issued the blood chits- they were sewn in our belts. We also had PLB’s issued.
I’ve been meaning to frame the chit for years, it’s sitting in a box right now.
Why would anyone trust the government that’s killing their innocent people??
Do you think the government now would honour this promise?
Rewarded with a nuke
My grandfather wore one during the Pacific Campaign
https://preview.redd.it/r0wbq6zxfpmg1.jpeg?width=3228&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e73489d3b967326ad8d78b5437cfbd82ba4e4eb3
You will be rewarded, then we’ll renege on that promise and probably deport you.
Yup, that’s a lie. The USA government can’t ever be relied upon to keep its word. Look how they threw the Afghan and Vietnamese translators to the wolves to be murdered.
rewarded with another invasion and more death nice
Didn’t we leave people when ending the war and then deport helpers recently? Can’t trust you’ll be safe do helping us