The graffitied helmet cover has become somewhat of an iconic legacy from the Vietnam war. But why did military officials allow this to happen? Sure uniform regulations are often relaxed in combat, especially in tropical environments, but this is very different. The act itself is an affront to military codes of discipline and pride in appearance, especially considering many of the slogans were lewd, rebellious, and even political. How were the soldiers not reprimanded by their officers? I know some had poor control of their men in the later stages of the war, the worst cases epitomised by "fragging", while cannabis use is another legacy. But these were more "covert" offences, the helmet graffiti was deliberately blatant and consequently ubiquitous in media footage. Weren't officials concerned about their soldiers appearing like rebellious dissenters to the public?