24 December 2013

Then You Might Know


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 you were proud you were not a POG…


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.

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