Once upon a time, say 1971, I found it the best of several choices to volunteer and join the Army Reserves. And, after a considerable while, I was shipped off to scenic Fort Polk, Louisiana, for basic training. One of the rules was that you showed up at each class with a little notepad and a pen, and took notes.
And what should I find in one of my closets the other day, in addition to 3300 boardgames and close to a hundred boxes of books, but one of my little notepads, and the notes I took 34 years ago. Some details may have changed, but a very senior Army officer approaching retirement might have gone through when I did.
In particular I found the pages "Geneva Convention The Laws of War", which I anticipate were given as a lesson to every single soldier of the period.
Of course, these are notes, so I will rarely insert a parenthetical word of clarification. Once I cannot read a word I took down. At another point I think I dropped a negative on something that I already knew.
Geneva Convention
The Laws of War
We follow them and encourage the enemy to do so. Customs over the century.
1) Rules against unnecessary destruction.
Hague and Geneva Conventions
Lincoln-General Order 100-humane treatment of captured enemy soldiers
Prohibited targets, legal weapons
Destructions of enemy property forbidden unless required for the mission.
Legal targets. Military targets, those occupied by the enemy.
rules of engagement
in attacking enemy, hospitals, chapels and churches, historical monuments must be preserved
MUST BE a military purpose for destroying something. Only necessary force may be used.
Tricks and methods which must be avoided.
Illegal targets may not be used to protect military ones.
Misuse of white flag forbidden
Prohibited weapons: must prevent unnecessary suffering.
Modifications of weapons or projectiles forbidden, e.g., dum-dum bullets.
Humane treatment of noncombatants: civilians, prisoners of war, detained civilians. Follow the golden rule. Hostages humiliation, execution without trial, murder, mutilation torture forbidden,
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE
Interrogation of prisoners: No physical or mental torture, nor may you stand by and let (him?) them (GP: emphasis added in 2005)
Can't be done.
- You may be a prisoner.
- Army has real interrogators. Information under torture not reliable. Treat people as humans.
Treatment of enemy POWs.
Forbidden: execute enemy prisoners.
Treat prisoners well and send to the rear.
Pillage forbidden.
There exists a duty not to obey illegal orders, & to report war crimes and attempted war crimes, & to obey the laws of war.
CO responsible for bringing war criminals in his unit to trial.
There exist orders to be disobeyed. Rule: The man who commits a crime is subject to punishment, even who did it in obedience to orders.
Ask for clarification of orders. You can't be courtmartialed or punished for refusing to obey a(n un)lawful order.
A soldier who sees a war crime and doesn't report it is as guilty as the person committing the war crime.
(????) rights as a POW
adequate food and housing
medical care to all wounded and sick
should be allowed to aid their buddies
allowed to practice their religion
may keep gas mask, steel pot*, similar items
mail must get mail
name rank birthdate service number
must obey legal camp regulations
officers may not be compelled to work
NCOs may be compelled to act as supervisors.
privates may be compelled to do manual labor, but not defense related
When in combat, follow golden rule.
Do not commit crimes.
Report crimes of others.
Choice is at obeying specific orders.
Off we go into (argon?)
VN war obligation of citizen to remain bound even when he doesn't agree with the decisions.
Don't modify your weapons.
---and here starts the next lesson--
M14
1)US rfile 7.62 mm lightweight air cooled...
* the steel pot is the helmet.