I have taken this opinion in light of no one producing documentary evidence
that the Geneva convention, or any other international agreement requires
national symbols.
The only documentary evidence so far simply forbids use of national symbol on
equipment displaying red cross.
Were this not the case, the TM's wouldn't mention how to obscure the star
with mud etc when needed.
There would be specific instructions to remark vehicle after whitewashing for
winter camo.
Sherman tankers couldn't have gotten away with doing away with the star
"targets" on hull sides.
Where would star go on military bicycle? (don't laugh, there was such a thing)
The Air Force manual I quoted earlier couldn't have contained the words
saying basically "at the descretion of the theater commander."
The USMC manual would give instructions on how to apply.
And the use of the star on Canadian and British etc vehicles in WWII would
have certainly been a problem if each country were required by international
agreement to display "their national" symbol.
What about UN used vehicles...would they have symbol of supplying country or
using troops?
Don't know about non-US vehicles for a fact (I'm sure other listers can), but
off top of my head I can't think of what symbols are used on Vietnamese,
JSDF, Norwegian, etc vehicles.
Of course, if any one on list can site chapter and verse of international
agreement requiring countries to adopt and display on vehicles a national
symbol, I will stand corrected.
BUT, assuming I'm right, the USMC just didn't WANT to require the use of the
national symbol.
Thanks,
David Doyle
PS: To those who asked, sorry I have no TM on marking of navy
vehicles...guess it would vary according to vehicle...hard to paint Jeep and
battleship in same manner! :-)
===
To unsubscribe from the mil-veh mailing list, send the single word
UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of a message to <mil-veh-request@skylee.com>.