13 photos of US troops with enemy flags show some traditions never die

A military unit losing its colors is pretty humiliating — maybe even as bad as losing a battle. But it probably feels pretty good to be the one who captures those colors. And American troops have captured a lot of enemy flags over the years.

While the Geneva Convention demands all POWs be allowed to keep their personal belongings and protective gear, a “war trophy” like a captured flag doesn’t really apply. But even if troops decide not to keep trophies like an enemy flag, that doesn’t mean they can’t snap a quick photo, as many have before and will likely do for many wars to come.

1. Civil War

civil war enemy flags — Union soldiers pose with Confederate flags that they captured in battle during the Civil War. Each was awarded a Medal of Honor for grabbing the enemy’s flag.

2. United States Expedition to Korea

3. Spanish-American War

spanish-american enemy flags — U.S. troops capturing Spanish guns at Malate Fort in Manila, Philippines. (U.S. Army)

4. Philippine-American War

5. U.S. Intervention in Nicaragua

nicaragua enemy flags — U.S. Marines holding the Nicaraguan rebel leader Augusto César Sandino’s Flag in Nicaragua, 1932. (U.S. Marine Corps)

6. World War II

wwii soldiers with italian flag — U.S. soldiers with a surrendered Italian flag at Paestum, Italy. (U.S. Army)

marines on iwo jima — U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima with captured Japanese flags. (U.S. Army)

world war ii troops — American Paratroopers pose with a captured Nazi flag after landing in Normandy. (U.S. Army)

7. Korean War

korean war enemy flags — U.S. troops with a captured North Korean flag during the Korean War. (U.S. Marine Corps)

8. Vietnam War

vietnam war enemy flags — Sailors from SEAL Team One captured this flag during the Vietnam War, circa 1970. (National Archives)

9. Invasion of Grenada

grenada enemy flags — 1st Platoon, B Co, 1st Ranger Battalion with a flag from Cuban barracks captured during the invasion of Grenada, 1983. (photo by Bryan Staggs, who captured the flag and is standing in the front row, right)

10. Invasion of Panama

invasion of panama enemy flags — U.S. troops during Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama, in December 1989. (Ron Busch)

11. The Iraq War

iraq war soldier — U.S. Army Lt. Col. Rod Coffey holds the flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq, the precursor to ISIS, in Diyala Province, Iraq, 2008. (Rod Coffey)

There are, of course, many other photos of American troops with captured enemy flags that we can’t post here. There are photos depicting joint U.S.-Afghan forces taking down a Taliban flag. Photographer Scott Nelson also took a photo of U.S. troops with a captured Iraqi flag during the 2003 Invasion.

If you do decide to take a battlefield souvenir, be sure to fill out your DD Form 603-1.