If you
have ever mounted your rack, said “G’nite Chesty Puller wherever you are”,
prayed, then slept in the position of attention…
Then you might know
what it means to serve as a United States Marine.
If you have
ever been asked “Whose hand is on that weapon?”….
If you have
ever stood on the yellow foot prints…
If your
Drill Instructor misunderstood your girlfriend’s name and called her Suzy
Rotten Crotch…
If you knew
what Suzy was doing with Jody….
If you know
the difference in spelling between the Island and the French city…
If you have
ever pulled “pits”….
If you have
ever received a five-five-six hickey…
If you have
ever been told “stand by to stand by”….
If you have
ever been sent to the rose garden….
If you have
ever taken part in a Chinese field day…
If you know
where “The Rock” is…
If you have
ever experienced “the suck”…
If you know
the acronyms BAMCIS, BRASSF, SMEAC, SALUTE…
If you have
ever done a “Side Straddle Hop”…
If you have
ever received individual instruction on the quarter deck…
If your
definition of MSG is not MonoSodium glutamate…
If you have
carried either ALICE or MOLLE on your back…
If you have
ever slept on a rubber bitch…
If you know
where 29 Stumps is located…
If you have
ever used the phrase “Big Green Weenie” and BOHICA in the same sentence…
If you know
the answer to “what keeps a chicken’s butt from dragging the ground?”[i]…
If you use
terms rack, ladder-well, deck, hatch, head, porthole, and bulkhead…
If you have
ever allowed “John Wayne” to open your meal….
If you know
the difference between your rifle and your gun…
If you know
which of the above is for shootin’ and which is for fun…
If you know
all the “deuces”, (Ma deuce, deuce and a half, four-deuce, deuce gear)….
If you have
ever been called a Devil Dog, Gyrene, Jarhead or Leatherneck…
It you have
ever saluted a CPO/SCPO/MCPO because you saw brass/silver on the collar…
If you know
the true origin of OOH-RA[ii]
If you still
know the words to the Marine’s Hymn after leaving the Corps…
If you are
able to adapt, improvise, and overcome…
If you can
still name your Senior and other Drill Instructors…
If you have
ever heated your chow on a vehicle engine…
If you get
a lump in your throat when you hear the National Anthem…
If you have
ever self-reported your actions…
If you
understand Honor, Courage, and Commitment…
If you live
by the creed Semper Fidelis…
If you have
ever reassured a “hit” Marine he will see his family again…
If you have
ever been down range, away from your family, eating a cold MRE while lying in a
cold, muddy hide on Christmas…
If you continue giving your all, remaining “always faithful”, protecting this country
from all enemies regardless of what Congress does to your pay and benefits…
Then you might know
what it means to serve as a United States Marine.
If you know a Marine either still serving or not, give them a hug and kiss, buy them a round, and tell 'em thank you for serving.
[i]
Asked by “airborne” or jump-qualified Marines (either static-line or freefall
parachute). The answer is a “pair of dirty stinking LEGs”. This differentiates
those Marines with “wings” from those without, or LEGs.
[ii]
Marines of 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Co., during the Korean War
were often transported to remote beaches for insertion and traveled via
submarines. The klaxon call signaling “DIVE, DIVE, DIVE” prompted the Recon Marines to start imitating the “Aarugha” call, often called “barking”. The Marines
eventually morphed this into OOH-RAH. Sometime in the late 70s, the motivational
call migrated from Recon Marines into the Fleet.
