There are a lot of military myths and urban legends out there, but few are more widespread or ridiculous than the legend of the base flagpole truck. No one knows who started it or why. It’s just a legend that has been passed down from generation to generation of veterans. It transcends military branches and eras of wars, and it is as common to hear the myths of saltpeter in the Gatorade or “etherbunny.”
The Base Flagpole Truck: What’s Supposedly Inside
The legend goes that the truck above every military installation’s flagpole is actually hollow and contains three to five very specific items for very specific uses. The most common legend is that it has three items: a razor blade, a match, and a bullet. The razor blade, it’s said, is used to strip the flag, the match is to burn the flag properly, and the bullet is to use in defense of yourself (or, in some versions, to use on yourself). In another version of the myth, the truck also contains grains of rice and a penny (or some kind of coin). The rice is for nourishment, and the coin is supposedly to blind the enemy.
When Patriotism Gets in the Way of Reality
Every flagpole has a truck. It’s the thing at the top that holds the rope and pulley system in place, so one could easily raise and lower the flag. Some flagpole trucks also have some kind of ornamentation or finial, because flags are usually important things and there’s nothing wrong with a little élan. But most of the time it’s just a big golden ball, made of solid metal. There is nothing in it, and if there were, I would hope it would be much more useful than a handful of stuff you might find in a kitchen utility drawer.
There are many problems with this specific myth. First, the idea that a permanent American military installation is being overrun is absurd. American troops will call in airstrikes on their own position rather than just let the enemy overrun their fellow soldiers. Secondly, as much as troops love Old Glory, if their base is being overrun, the base flagpole is not a high priority. Finally, imagine how long it would take to bring down the flag and burn it respectfully. Retreating soldiers have better things to do.
Of all the myths and urban legends I’ve heard in my time in the military, this one was always especially astonishing because it’s the one that makes absolutely zero military sense. It sounds like something an overly patriotic civilian would make up. The simple fact is that U.S. troops fight and don’t care about symbolic gestures when someone is trying to kill their buddies. Even in a scenario where a base is being overrun, a retreating U.S. troop might take down the flag, but they wouldn’t burn it. They would save it because raising the same flag when we retake our base would be that much more badass.
As for defending a base until the last man, the United States has never needed such a thing. We don’t leave our fallen behind, and if we ever did leave them on a base taken by the enemy, the enemy would know for certain that we are coming back for our people. They can keep the flagpole.
Read About Other Military Myths and Legends
If you enjoyed learning about The Base Flagpole Truck, we invite you to read about other military myths and legends on our blog. You will also find military book reviews, veterans’ service reflections, famous military units and more on the TogetherWeServed.com blog. If you are a veteran, find your military buddies, view historic boot camp photos, build a printable military service plaque, and more on TogetherWeServed.com today.
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