• "Wars come and go. What remains are only the values of culture." — Erich Fromm in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1974)
    "Shortly we will be fighting our way across the Continent of Europe in battles designed to preserve our civilization. Inevitably, in the path of our advance will be found historical monuments and cultural centers that symbolize to the world all that we are fighting to preserve. It is the responsibility of every commander to protect and respect these symbols whenever possible." —General Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a message to troops on the eve of the Normandy Invasion (June, 1944)
    "I trust that future conquerors will learn ... not to plunder cities they capture … to adorn their homelands." — Polybius, Greek historian (c. 202-120 BC)
    "The military of the future must be able to go to war with enough cultural knowledge to thrive in an alien environment. Empathy will become a weapon. Soldiers must gain the ability to move comfortably among alien cultures, to establish trust and cement relationships that can be exploited in battle." —Major General Robert H. Scales (Ret) in "Clausewitz and World War IV"
    "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." — George Orwell (1903-1950)
    "We will probably be judged not by the monuments we build but by those we have destroyed."—New York Times editorial, October 30, 1963
    "The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know." —Harry S. Truman
    "According to the law of nature, it is only fair that no one should become richer through damages and injuries suffered by another." — Cicero (106-43 BC)
    "Cultural awareness and the ability to build ties of trust will offer protection to our troops more effectively than body armor." — Major General Robert H. Scales (Ret) in "Clausewitz and World War IV"
    "Cursed be the man who removes his neighbor's landmark." — Deuteronomy 27:17
    "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." — Proverbs 22:28
    "New planes, ships and combat vehicles will have to be built to win World War IV, but building new social, cultural and learning structures will have to become the first priority for resources within the Defense Department." — Major General Robert H. Scales (Ret) in "Clausewitz and World War IV"
  • CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards
    CPP Playing Cards

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  • More than 10,000 pounds of CCHAG Archaeology Awareness Playing Cards were shipped to troops in Iraq, Egypt and Afghanistan during 2007-2009.

  • One distinctive feature of the CCHAG Archaeology Awareness Playing Cards is the background on the face of each of the four suits of cards, which functions as a piece of a puzzle. When the 13 cards are properly arranged, the entire image is revealed. Shown here are the 13 clubs from the Operation Iraqi Freedom playing cards, arranged to reveal the Spiral Minaret at Samarra.

    The puzzle serves as more than an interesting mind-teaser. They function as a metaphor, reminding the card user that 'when artifacts are looted and ruins are destroyed, valuable pieces of the cultural puzzle disappear forever.

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Teaching the basics of Cultural Property Protection (CPP) was a significant challenge for the U.S. military during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The CCHAG Archaeology Awareness Playing Cards were designed to educate U.S. military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq about the importance of respecting ancient sites and monuments and preserving host nation cultural heritage during military operations and post-conflict reconstruction.

Each playing card conveys a specific message, and the top of every card states “ROE first!” to remind soldiers that the military’s Rules of Engagement – strict operational rules for engaging the enemy and protecting one’s safety and health – precede all other considerations.

Each suit in the deck has a theme for its messages: diamonds for artifacts and treasures, spades for historic sites and archaeological digs, hearts for “winning hearts and minds” and clubs for heritage preservation.

The goal of the publication of the cards, according to CCHAG director and Fort Drum archaeologist Dr. Laurie Rush, is to foster CPP awareness, prevent  damage to ancient sites and monuments during military operations and post-conflict reconstruction, and stem the illegal trade of Afghan artifacts.

The military has long recognized that educational playing cards are a good way to capitalize on the time soldiers spend waiting for orders.

Part of the “In-Theater Heritage Training for Deploying Personnel” program, the playing cards were developed by the Fort Drum Cultural Resources Program and the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) at Colorado State University with support provided by the DoD Legacy Resource Management Program, which falls within the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment.

On November 7, 2007, the  “In-Theater Heritage Training for Deploying Personnel” program received the Chairman’s Award from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of historic resources in the United States and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy.

As Wall Street Journal reporter Malik Kaylan observed in 2008: “the cards get on with the business at hand: to alert card-playing GIs to the sacred terrain around them and their responsibility to it.”

The CCHAG playing cards were also featured in “Army Project Teaches Cultural Awareness to Deployed Troops,” by Toni Eugene in the March 2008 issue of Armymagazine and in “Cards Protect Combat Zone Historic Sites,” by Nancy Greenleese in VOA News, July 27, 2012.

For information on ordering a sample set of In-Theater CPP Training Cards for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom or Exercise Bright Star, please make a request via the Contact Us link at the top of this page.

 

 

 

 

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