A number of years ago, I was given a small pocket sized Bible that was carried by a U.S. serviceman during the War. The outer back cover of the Bible is made from a heavy cloth material. What makes the item interesting is that the front cover is made from a thin piece of steel. Across the metal cover are the words, "May This Keep You Safe From Harm". The thinking I am sure is that the owner would place the metal covered Bible in his left shirt pocket over the heart. The hope was that should a bullet hit that area, the metal covered Bible would save/protect the owner’s life. These small, metal covered good luck pieces were often purchased at stores or through the mail. Whether or not they worked or not is doubtful. Additionally, a wound caused from a bullet or shrapnel strike, were it to pierce both covers, was bound to be serious At the very least they may have offered a measure of hope or psychological comfort as the man approached personal danger in battle.

Japanese servicemen had similar items of protection. Probably the most common overt good luck item was the senninbari. Some men also carried charm pouches with them to provide protection. Items with the mantra, "Samuhara" were also intended to offer "protection from the bullets". At times Japanese soldiers also wore various kinds of body/chest armor. The military officially tested these, and men did buy them as private purchase. I know that Geoff has a nice example of just such a piece of chest armor that I think he has posted here in the past.

This particular Japanese item of protection has been in my collection for quite a while. It is a rather thick piece of steel that measures approximately 2.75" wide by 3.75" high. The front of the metal is painted white and has a large round red circle in the center like a Japanese national flag. The vertical line of characters on the upper right-hand corner literally says, "Bullet Proof Mascot". Directly across from that in the upper left-hand corner, the vertical line of characters say, "Presented to Second Lieutenant Yoshimura". The horizontal line of characters across the bottom say, "Presented in the year Showa 12 (1936-1937) for the China-Japan Incident Expedition. From the Inuzuka Family of Arato Town".

MichaelB

Click to enlarge the picture