Q: After big battles where huge amounts of ordnance were expended, did U.S. forces ever go back after the fighting was over to salvage ammunition clips left behind to be reloaded again for future use?
—Patrick J. Kirkland, Wylie, Texas
Several military historians looked into this question.by senior historian Lida Mayo. Several times Mayo references ordnance collecting companies that scanned the field after World War II battles to recover usable items. Most of the items recovered seem to have been spare parts or tanks that had been disabled by enemy fire. The companies were equipped with tractors and often operated at night.
