What was the message of cutting an ear off the dead?

My twopence worth.

Proof of numbers eliminated [The all important body count for the relatively safe commanders]is my guess.

Allegedly a combat [hero] type in line for a big medal during the Falklands situation had quite few in his kit which negated any praise that was potentially going his way. I believe this was found because he was killed and his property being cataloged. This may of course be a complete urban myth type tale from that campaign.

Of course it could also be a left over from the idea of scalping [allegedly a white man invention during the early days of American colonisation, [which I maybe have to lay at the door perhaps of my own [British, nations empire building period] or indeed those days of rat catching etc. A means of getting paid at some time in the past.

It is however indicative of cruel disturbed person if done as a trophy collection.

These individuals do walk [mostly never known about] among us.

The US does not seem to mind displaying a callous approach to the taking of life in its story telling. Some posts have alluded to killing for killings sake in tales like Apocalypse Now although in FMJ the killing of the female sniper was suggested as an act of mercy. [They did kill her did they not ???].

I have just had a look at a site about recorded massacres of Native American [Indians] since days of old. Not nice to know considering the tradition of Thanksgiving and all that y'all.

My Lai just seems like a continuation of that sort of attitude to the foreigner. Don't forget Iraq has thrown up smaller multiple unjustified killings and of course how can we forget obsession with actually recording our contempt [Abu Ghraib]. Not ears of course but you get the point.

I do however feel some sympathy for the Berenger character. It was his job really to do on the job training for those new characters who just arrive and may as soon disappear. It was something similar during the battle of Britain for many many spitfire groups not wishing to get to know the new boys and self survival is really the name of the game. The hard training is meant to get you fit and ready and hopefully able to react immediately to a superiors orders. It has to be hoped that that superior is really in his place for the many reason one of which is 'to look after his men' which includes that also new arrival of the fresh young officer. My time in a cavalry unit [British] the new officer started [informally] as a basic unit in the troop and took his turn at many things for some months being assessed as time went on. I wonder if it still happens.

I must have a fresh viewing of this tale. I got here accidentally while looking for the cover of the PC game.

So many US soldiers and families have had unwanted trauma mental and physical due to the false military and political thinking regarding what may now be seen as very unnecessary action. I don't think the [in hindsight] jury will be out all that long on the present conflicts.

Screw you

It has been done though. Look up Anthony Poshepny. He actually mailed a bag of ears to the US embassy in Vientiane to prove his body counts

You ever hear of Tiger Force?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Force