A two-piece lot of U.S. Fighting Force & POW ephemera including...
1). An authentic 1988 edition of the Code of the U.S. Fighting Force pamphlet published by the American Forces Information Service for the Department of Defense. It outlines the moral and ethical code of conduct for members of the United States Armed Forces, particularly regarding their duties when captured or in combat. In other words, it outlines the ethical and legal standards for U.S. service members, including their duty to resist interrogation and remain loyal to the United States if captured. Established by President Eisenhower in 1955, it governs the behavior of military personnel in combat or captivity. It's been modified twice (1977 & 1988) to use gender-neutral language.
2). An authentic U.S. military Prisoner of War (POW) Tap Code and Finger Alphabet communication card - This was/is a vital clandestine communication method developed and utilized by American service members—most notably during the Vietnam War—to maintain a chain of command and preserve morale while isolated in captivity. The PW tap code is a covert communication system based on a 5x5 grid known historically as a Polybius square where the alphabet is compressed into 25 letters by dropping K and substituting C in its place. Each character requires two distinct sets of taps separated by a brief pause. The first set of taps specifies the vertical row (1 to 5) down the A-F-L-Q-V index column. The second set of taps specifies the horizontal column (1 to 5) across that row to hit the target letter. Example: Tapping the letter D involves 1 tap (Row 1), a short pause, and 4 taps (Column 4, counting A-B-C-D). POWs used this system through wall-knocking, sweeping brooms, coughing, scratching, or chopping wood. The P.O.W. Finger Alphabet was/is used when prisoners had a direct line of sight but could not make noise; it allowed prisoners to communicate silently through small windows or across distances when tapping was too risky or loud. A specialized system of static finger gestures corresponding to each letter of the alphabet. Numbers were transmitted dynamically by waving specific finger configurations. Hand positioning or movement (indicated by the arrows at the bottom) helped clarify spacing or message transitions.
Note: These codes were essential for maintaining morale, organizing resistance, and sharing information among captives when verbal communication was strictly forbidden.
