<P> Some twenty years later, a folk legend about the ace of spades being used by American soldiers during the Vietnam War was popularized . Supposedly, US troops believed that Vietnamese traditions held the symbolism of the spade to mean death and ill - fortune and in a bid to frighten and demoralize Viet Cong soldiers, it was common practice to mockingly leave an ace of spades on the bodies of killed Vietnamese and even to litter the forested grounds and fields with the card . This custom was said to be so effective that the United States Playing Card Company was asked by Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment to supply crates of that single card in bulk . The crates were often marked with "Bicycle Secret Weapon". However, no evidence of this practice actually being used during the war exists . The ace of spades, while not a symbol of superstitious fear to the Viet Cong forces, did help the morale of American soldiers . It was not unheard of for US soldiers and Marines to stick this card in their helmet band as a sort of anti-peace sign . </P> <P> More recently, in 2003 a deck of most - wanted Iraqi playing cards was issued to US soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom, each card had the picture of a wanted Iraqi official on it . Saddam Hussein got the nickname "Ace of Spades" as that card bore his image . </P> <P> Various idioms involving the ace of spades include "black as the ace of spades" (which can refer either to color or to race), and the French expression fagoté comme l'as de pique--that is, "(badly) dressed like the ace of spades ." </P>

What is the meaning of spades on cards