Star Trek's Most Resiliant Redshirt: James Doohan

Paramount Pictures

Any fan of the original Star Trek knows that the minute a crewman wearing a red shirt is tasked with accompanying an away team to the surface of planet, somebody is about to die.  It was so common for "redshirts" to buy the farm it has since becoming a running joke.

America's Special World War II Tanks

Insignia for the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops

Imagine you are a German scout in the Rhine River Valley during waning days of World War II.  Your mission is to gather reconnaissance on an Allied unit near your unit.  As you sneak up on the camp you see a massive convoy of trucks and tanks in the distance.  You briefly question why the large convoy is so poorly camouflaged, but more importantly you realize your unit is in serious trouble, as they have no idea how much fire power the Allies have in the region. You hurry back to your unit to tell them you need to retreat in the face of such power.