Souveniers

My dad was in the Navy in the Pacific in WWII and brought back nothing except stories, but I can give a first person account about Viet Nam. I had a Chinese AK-47 and a Winchester M-1 Carbine that I put in a GI footlocker to send back as hold baggage. I stenciled "Contains Magnetic Tapes - Do Not X-Ray" on the outside and nailed the lid shut. They told us we would go to jail for roughly forever if we were caught sending full auto guns back. The M-1 Carbine was also illegal because it was US manufacture (even though captured from the VC). I chickened out and took the guns out before sending the footlocker. When I later received it at home there was no evidence that it had been opened.


I bought the carbine from an army troop for $25 and the AK had been presented to my USAF unit (with brass plaque) by the 101st Airborne. If I had it to do over again, I would make the effort to buy an SKS and whatever else I could find, and send them back legally. Oh, well, I have a carbine in better condition now and also a Chinese AK semi-auto, as well as Chinese and Soviet SKSs. And I'm not in jail, so I can buy more Lugers.