I think this is a question for Warph or Jarhead. I see whats his name, O! Obama salute as the bodies of the fallen soliders are brought off the plane. I understand that only people in the military are to salute? Not sure where I heard that.
Jane.
The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of military forces.
He salutes.
Yes he salutes and it looks like someone gave him lessons---finally. Today it was a 'smart " salute. I still cringe when I remember what Slick Willie Clinton thought a salute was.Marines never salute unless they have a cover(hat/cap) on and never wear a cover inside unless they have a duty belt on, therefore they do not salute inside very often. Think the Army rules were differant--Waldo---Varmit ?
That's interesting. I didn't know there was etiquette in saluting. Remember when we saluted the flag? No, you younguns probably don't remember.
Wilma, In just the last year or so they passed a law saying if you are a veteran you can salute the flag even while out of uniform-----------BUT---General Conway the Commandant of my beloved Corps issued a statement telling all Marines, past & presant THEY WILL NOT SALUTE THE FLAG IF OUT OF UNIFORM---and trust me, my uniform MIGHT fit my big toe at this time !!!
I am scratching my brain, but the Army rules might have been similar. There was indoor saluting when reporting to an officer at his desk. But that seemed to be going out when I was in. There could also be indoor saluting if engaged in a formal ceremony. If in an organized group outside, the OIC or NCOIC saluted for everyone, if under cover. I can recall that some outside areas were designated a "no salute" zone because everyone was distracted from what they were doing by having to stop and salute.
I think every professional soldier in the entire armed services cringed when Bill Clinton first saluted. As I recall his White House military staff gave him lessons, which he was reluctant to receive. I think he gave in after he became aware that his troops in the field were hee-hawing at the commander-in-chief's version of saluting.
But the Clinton's were both anti-military.
There was a Lt. Col. Assigned to the White House under Clinton, who wrote a book about his experiences with both Clintons. Hillary did not want the military in her sight. She also forbid the military staff to appear in uniform while they were on duty in the White House. They had to wear business suits. The Lt. Col. carried the nuclear football and on one occasion Bill Clinton lost his copy of the nuclear codes and they were never found—probably a court martial offense for any man in uniform. Come to think of it, those nuclear codes might have been lost in a blue garment.
He also wrote that Hillary was quite profane at times.
I just looked up the book I am referring to and it is Dereliction of Duty by Lt. Col. Robert Patterson and was written in 2003 or 2004. Written, of course, after he retired. The Clinton's sloughed off everything he had to say. The book is still being sold in hardcover in some places and in softcover on Amazon. I liked the book first from a military point of view, and second from how the Clinton's acted.
Waldo,
I know if you were walking along on a sidewalk and met an officer, you saluted him but I think a salute is supposed to be rendered from the position of attention only. As a Newby I even saluted a car if it had an officers decal on the bumper and I think that was protocal. When marching as a unit to "salute " you did an "eyes right" and if you had a weapon you did the "present arms" and that was the same as a salute. Does this sound right or is my cheese sliding off it's cracker ?
I swear, leave it up to a grunt to educate you leathernecks ;)
Indoor Salute is rendered when reporting to an officer, or during special ceremonies. A salute is rendered outside when passing an officer, the flag, during reville and taps while facing the flag. Eyes Right and Present Arms you had correct. When out of uniform a salute shall not be rendered.
That is all. Carry on.
Things have changed then. I remember Al telling about having to salute an officer's car too. Very interesting.
Oh yea, for the first time I don't wholly agree with Vamit. To set the record straight a grunt is a term used signify one being infantry---and I was !!
With all due respect ,Sir Varmit. I think Army does salute an officer inside even without a cover, but not in my beloved Corps. For example, when I was Sgt of the Guard in Khanehoe Bay, Hawaii. I sit right inside the door at Bn headquarters but wore a cover because I also had on a duty belt. Boo Koo officers entered the building and I would snap to attention, render a salute and say"good morning , Sir. Because they had removed their cover upon entering the building they did not salute back but usually nodded or muttered something back. I also snapped to attenion when the Bn. Sgt Maj entered and ALWAYS said,"Good morning Sgt/ Maj " but that was done just out of respect for anyone that reached the rank of E-9.
The saluteing the flag when out of uniform was just signed into law in the last year, i think. I know a vet can do it now but i don't think it would look right for some old vet with a beer belly to try and render a smart salute every time the colors passed.
I just love it when a Leatherneck can correct a dog faced soldier. :)
As you were Varmit, stand down !!
What about the "flaky" "right shoulder arms" salute and "left shoulder arms" salute?
I think the right shoulder arms salute using the left hand may have been the only time the left hand was used in a salute. Saw it used a number of times in formation but never saw an actual left shoulder arms salute using the right hand, except in training.
Check that. I think there was also a "order arms" salute with the left hand.
Saluting officer's cars was a duty especially if you were on MP duty. But, that is another one that may not be used anymore. Things are a little hazy, but it seems to me there was some talk of driver safety back then and a command had the authority to do away with it altogether--unless it was a general's car and he was always chauffeured. Around 1968, or so, though, it seems to me that Congress stopped the chauffeuring of generals at least to and from work. Generals were using GIs for everything from chauffeuring to cooking to baby sitting. The GI was not complaining, though, he sailed through the rating and promotion process after receiving a General's glowing recommendation.
Waldo, A General ?? Who ever saw a general ?? :) The generals cars had a little flag with a star/stars in it and was on the top of the fenders above the headlights and if a young soldier/Marine knew what was good for him he had better salute that car. Now you are making my old tired brain go into overtime but I think "order arms 'was when your weapon was beside your right leg with butt plate on the deck, and you at attention, The next move was 'port arms" which was the weapon in front of your chest. From Port arms all other "manuel of arms" commands were given from there which included Right shoulder arms , left shoulder arms and present arms and that was the way you saluted with a weapon. At no times with a weapon was a hand salute used.There was one more move and that was at order arms a command of "trail arms" was given which meant raising the rifle an inch off the deck and then marching ahead. Varmit really needs to jump in here because it wasn't that many years ago he was doing this kind of stuff. Larry wouldn't know because back in his day they were still using muskats & powder horns !!! :)
funny story about generals..Right after 9/11 we were put on a high alert status, had to post guards and checkpoints all over Ft. Campbell. We had a post set up outside the Post Commanders house. I got stuck stand guard. Anyway, he liked to go to the gym alot, when he came home he was in civies and his wifes car. I didn't recognize him and asked to see his ID. He said "Son, don't you know who I am?" Being a cocky E4 with a full load and slightly pissed off at having to spend my weekend guarding some officer I had never met I answered "No sir and frankly don't care, now you can either show me your ID, or carry your ass out of here, understand?" He showed me his ID. Upon realizing who he was I felt a very strange sensation of a suddenly non-existant ego. I popped tall, rendered a salute, and apologized. He called for the SOG.
That night I learned that the weight of an M16 would actually increase when held over ones head for an extended period of time. Of course the weight is increased even more when that person is double timing it around a generals house.
Being from a family whose service was in the Navy, the only thing I can add to this discussion is the overwhelming sense of country that flows through ones self while watching the immaculately precise manuevers during the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington.
I finally agree with you on something Flint. It is awesome. When I was there the Staff/NCO changing the Guard had a Medal fall off his uniform. as you know the crowd is very quiet and that medal hit the deck it sounded like a shot put falling on cement. The guard never missed a beat and they acted like nothing had happened.
Varmit,
You were lucky that the general was an ol softie. If that had been Col. David Hackworth he would have ripped your throat out and then reached in and removed both lungs !!!! :)
Thanks for all the information, we have a daughter that is with the 252nd Military Police stationed in Ft Leonard Wood MO.
She spent 2 years in Germany and did her tour in Iraq for 15 months as a Humvee driver. What is funny we have yet to see her salute anyone.
It does bother me to watch him do anything with the military as he has never served.
A big THANK YOU to all of you who have served your country. Hope you have a great life.
Jane
Alright, alright, it is time to brush some cobwebs aside and straighten you young whippersnappers out. (There's that whippersnapper word again.)
In the Army, outside required an salute to an officer. If you saw a senior officers car coming towards you, you stopped and saluted. Inside, approaching an officer at his desk required a salute and of course, no cover being inside. Inside, walking in a hallway and meeting an officer coming toward you required a salute. MPs at the gate saluted the car if the insignia or flag indicated an officer. There might not be an officer in the car, but the car required the salute.
HOWEVER, rules changed depending where you were at. Some officers did not require a salute when you entered their office. You only entered and stood at attention while announcing yourself and were then told to stand at ease. Doctors were officers and mostly detested anyone saluting them or having to return a salute. Chaplains the same way. On my first day in Korea, I was going up some stairs outside the mess hall and encountered a second lieutenant coming down. I smartly saluted and I guess I caught him on a bad day, for his return salute involved the middle finger of his right hand. I never saluted him again.
As for weapon salutes-----------Present arms meant holding the weapon in front of you vertically as a salute. Port arms meant holding the wapon at an angle to your body for times when the weapon had to be in readiness while running. Order arms meant standing the weapon next to your right leg with the barrel vertical and at attention. When given the at ease command and the weapon is in an order arms position, the weapon is then moved to an angle away from the body.
That was the way I remember it. Stuff like that is pretty hard to forget when you spend countless hours doing it over and over again. Times have probably changed, but that was the way General Washington taught us at Valley Forge.
LOL
Larryj
Holy Cow!! They had cars, MPs, and gates at Valley Forge :o
lol
Second note: When I spent some time working as a battery clerk in Korea (before going back into the medics), my desk was just inside the door. When an officer entered, I was required to stand at attention and call "attention." The First Sergeant would stand and salute. I don't remember having to salute, but I probably did. Again, being there in Korea, there were some different rules. You didn't salute the Captain as he was in and out of the building all the time. Most Lt's. didn't want a salute.
As far as saluting the flag as a civilian, I do place my hand over my heart. There have been occasions when I felt like giving a formal hand salute. But, I have been told that hand salutes are only from active duty troops. But, if I feel like saluting the flag with a hand salute to the brow, I will do so.
AND, Billy, good ole Ft. Campbell. I was there for basic in 1966. That was when the army was trying to decide if Ft. Campbell would be a good basic training area. I think we were probably the second or third class of recruits to go through basic there. We didn't have regular drill instructors, we had the "Screaming Eagles" 101st Airborne. They were tough. After eight weeks there and ten weeks in San Antonio at medic school, I returned to the hospital at Ft. Campbell as my duty station. By that time, they had regular D.I.s. We got called out for splinters in the hand, blisters, etc. It wasn't that way when the Airborne ran it. If you went to sick call, it was "prove you are sick and die" from the medics! I remember also, because they were airborne, the mess hall was up on stilts common to Kentucky. There were steps going into the mess hall, but after you ate, you went out the back door where there were no steps. You were required to jump and roll like landing with a chute on.
Aaaahhhh---such memories!
Larryj
LOL :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Cows are holy?
Larryj
I love hearing you guys talk about this stuff...
Memories are more wonderful when you get to share them. :)
Quote from: larryJ on October 30, 2009, 11:02:02 PM
LOL :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Cows are holy?
Larryj
Only in India and Chik-Fil-A
Larry,
I'd imagine being at the DMZ in Korea was alot like Vietnam. In Nam if you even acted like you were gonna salute an officer out in the bush, you did it with the risk of receiving a broken jaw. Back in our rear area ,LZ Stud, you still didn't salute the grunt officers, but once in awhile a REMF officer would rip into you for not saluting him, but we had the mind set of what are you gonna do about it--"shave my head and send me to Nam ??? " We had officers in other platoon I didn't even know they were officers. No rank insignia and they were just as grungy as the rest of us peons. Of coarse I knew my platoon commander was an officer but except for being the bravest SOB I ever saw Scar (Lt Linn) was just another one of us.
Well, there was a big difference between the line in Korea and the line in Nam. In Korea, there weren't very many instances of being shot at. You failed to mention about the fact that saluting an officer out in the bush made him a bigger target as the enemy would target the officers. Officers in Nam in the bush didn't wear insignia indicating they were officers. Back in the R&R areas, they probably didn't get saluted much either just out of habit. You also didn't mention about some of the officers who went around being idiots and demanding salutes and demanding your respect for his idiocy who were "fragged" or "KBFF". Maybe you were just being nice, Jarhead. My favorite officer-----------was a Major who was the Assistant Chief Medical Officer at Ft. Carson Colorado in the waning year of my enlistment. He was a Doctor, a good Doctor, my boss at the infirmary, and I was his chauffeur into town on those occasions when he wanted to keep from having to "dry out". He insisted that I join him in trying to see which one of us would be driving back home. Because of him, I was given "perks" above and beyond, such as the First Sergeant who had weekend duties would allow me to borrow his car as long as it came back washed. I didn't get mundane duties such as KP or guard duty as I was "on call" to the Major. I did pull my share of night duty at the dispensary when he didn't want to go to Colorado Springs for the night.
Glad you like the "war stories", Teresa. "War stories" are a way of looking back and saying, "how in the hell did I survive that and how in the hell did you get away with that?"
Here's one and it is a true story-------------A sergeant went to the supply room to get a step-ladder. The supply Sergeant told him that he didn't have one, but would get it for him in a few weeks. With that, the Sergeant went over to the Officer's quarters and stole the spare tire off the Generals jeep and went over to the adjoining platoon and traded the spare for a step-ladder. When the ordered step-ladder came in, the sergeant took it over to the platoon next door and traded it for a spare tire for a jeep and replaced the tire on the Generals jeep who wasn't aware it was missing. The sergeant got a "way to go, son" and everybody was happy.
Larryj
http://www.usmc1.us/military_salutes.html
I was wondering if I might be rustier than I thought I was.
I found a leatherneck's web site that discusses saluting from "order arms" and "right shoulder arms." No "left shoulder arms" salute, though.
There is also a Blue Jacket's web site and a Coast Guard web site that contain the same types of salutes with photos.
On another web site there was a discussion of a salute while at "trail arms" but I have never seen that.
What the hel------- ?????I had a reply to you Larry about a fragging. Longest damn post I ever pecked out--I hit "post" and it disappeared. I think Waldo intercepted it and trashed it !!!!!! Gotta rest up a day or two before attempting it again.
You know Waldo , I think you're right. At right shoulder arms and order arms you used your left hand to put on the back of the rifle receiver and that was a salute. I will write my old drill instructor and ask him because after 6 years on the drill field he will know.
Whenever I type out a long reply, I highlight the whole thing, right-click, and Copy it into thin air. Then if it disappears when I hit post, I can just go back, right click and Paste, and bingo!
Don't get in trouble during your 48 hours of 'shore leave'. :D
48 hours of shore leave ??? You do come from a family of swabbies !!! :) Army gets a 48 hour pass to get drunk and visit Red Light districts. Marines get 48 hours to visit the Chaplin, write their dear ol Mothers a letter and might partake of copius amounts of beer if time allows.And if Larry tries to tell you differant--you gotta remember the lad is inhaling all that smog out west and is not thinking clear.
Quote from: jarhead on October 31, 2009, 04:46:19 PM
Army gets a 48 hour pass to get drunk and visit Red Light districts.
Damn Skippy :D :D HOOAH!
Can't wait to hear the fraggin story.
None of the places I visited for those two years were anywhere close to an ocean. I had to come home on leave to see that.
As far as the smog--------------------If you can't see it, it ain't worth breathing.
I spent ten weeks at a medical school with army and marines and I can tell you, most assuredly, that the Marines did visit the Chaplain (he needed a ride to the red light district), they did write their moms asking for more beer money (I mean, donations for the church), and I never met any of them who could out drink me.
My body may be going, but the old brain is still working on all cylinders especially if you remember I am a member of this forum!
This is how it works----------The marines go in and make a hole. The army comes in behind and fills the hole with decent living arrangements, PX's, and somewhat decent bars for the marines to relax in. The marines then leave town and the army cleans up the mess they left behind.
I have even met marines who could not tell me what "Semper fi" meant.
Always faithful
Larryj
Larry,
If a Marine don't know what Semper Fi means, then he must have be drunk'n a waltzing piss ant :)
You sound like Sarge's granddad, my great uncle. He was an old WW-I vet. He always said the army went to battle and kicked arse--then the Marines came in to get their picture taken--after the battle.
The "fragging " aint much of a story. We only had one fragging that I know of and it was in our sister company. It was a racial thing. A Bro thought a white Lt. was "mean to him" so he threw a frag in a tent. Trouble was he threw the frag in the wrong tent. Killed a couple guys and wounded several more. We were having what we called "stack Arms"., kinda like in in country R&R at Cau Viet Beach on the China sea. Teresa would have loved being there. No one had swimming trunks so a couple hundred ,lean, mean, fighting shape Marines----and all naked !! :)
Second night there was a typhoon hit and the huge tent I was in blew down. We were trying to get out from under a ton of wet canvass when that dude threw the grenade in the tent beside us. We shot out from under that downed tent like we were greased pigs. I bet we looked like a bunch of super moles burrowing around.
My brother Steve was down near Da Nang at Red Beach. They had a fragging one night while a USO show was going onl. It was also a racial fragging. Three Bro's threw 3 grenades over a fence into the crowd but some REMF put electrical tape around a frag to keep the spoon in place, and two out of the 3 frags did not go off because they didn't remove the tape. It killed one guy and it seems like there were 60 -70 guys wounded---which seemed like alot for just one M-26 grenade but I googled it once and read about it. have to go look it up again because if I remember right they caught the 3 guys but none ever served any time for the deed.
When you guys get ready to sell some of this stuff, let me know as I need a load to put on the garden spot next spring! ::) ::) :angel:
SIXDOG, I guess I miss your point.
Larry, I meant to ask you---do medics and Navy Corpsmen go to the same med school , and I mean back in our days. I'm not postive but seems like one of our Corpsmen I'm in contact with, said he went to school at Balboa . Aint that out your way ?
Did you stay in some medical field after the Army ? Both my Doc's had all of it they wanted. Dobt many people know it but Dr. James McDermott that runs the Moline clinic was a Navy corpsman in Nam. My hat is off to all medics /corpsmen.
No, there are several medic training sites. It was the time (1966 and on) that the services were using any and every facility they could find. The Navy pretty much stayed to themselves as far as training, as well as the marines. But, some marines were sent to army facilities to be trained. Nam was really heating up and they needed medics as fast as they could get them out there.
SDM------------I am shocked at your statement. Referring to our memories and war stories as so much doo-doo is hurtful and a slap in the face to those of us who experienced these events. These things actually did happen and are very real in our memories. There were those who did die and those who were injured.
Now, would you prefer your shipment in the 20 Lb. or the large economy 50 Lb. colorful recyclable plastic bag?
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
jarhead, no, I didn't want anything to do with the medical profession after the service. I didn't enjoy being a medic and knew it wasn't for me when I got out. I do have a cousin that was also a medic about the same time as I. He went on to medical school and became a doctor and remains so today.
Larryj
An Op-Ed article from The New York Times, on saluting:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/opinion/01winfrey.html?th&emc=th
Agian, I think it is a matter of opinion or how one feels about saluting. I was told at one time that agrees with this article, that saluting is only done under cover (hat) and outside. But, as I said, different places had their own rules.
My wife and I were in Hawaii on vaction one time and there was a big parade going on. Several sailors were in the crowd dressed in civvies. When the flag approached, they stood and gave a hand to the brow salute. I thought at the time they were just being overly patriotic. But, I approached them and asked why they did the hand salute. They told me they were in the Navy and always saluted the flag that way.
Then there was that look. You know, well, veterans know----------the look that says--------------
I will defend you to the very death.
Larryj
I have an honest question, please read no politics into it.
The military has a civilian CIC, the President. Where does the Sec't of Defense fall as it relates to saluting? Some say the Sec't is between the President and the Joint Chiefs, others say on par with the Joint Chiefs.
Your veteran thoughts, please.
Charles
Ah yes, war stories. I was a dog handler in Vietnam '67-'68. On one dark night during the TET offensive of '68, I was on partol with my dog Shep. We were searching an area called "The Ridge" which was a tall ridge that went down into a swamp. As we made our way to the bottom of the ridge into the swamp, Shep went on alert. His head was high and his ears were standing up forward. I knew it was a human alert; if it was an animal alert his nose would've been on the ground. I followed Shep's lead and as we slowly moved forward he became increasingly nervous and was pulling hard on the leash. I had to lean backwards to keep him from pulling me off balance. I could see his muscles bulging and straining against the resistance of the leash I held tightly in my hand. He wanted to go faster, but I knew caution was absolutely necessary. Then, he slowed and became rigid, his head high, nose sniffing. And from the depths of his chest I heard a low rumble, almost undesernable. The hair on the back of my neck raised like the hackles on Shep. My eyes tried to pierce the darkness to see some sign of movement or a silouette, something, anything, but it was useless. We both stood like marble statues in the pitch dark, fear wrapped around me like a blanket. I wanted to be someplace else, someplace safe, comfortable, someplace where I could feel secure, but that wasn't going to happen. I very slowly got my radio, keyed the transmitter and very softly whispered into the mic that I had a strong human alert in the swamp below "The Ridge". I then put the radio receiver to my ear with the volume turned very low. I could hear the person at security control say that they were having a mortar battery fire a flare over the area. My heart sank and my blood ran cold, before I could say anything I heard the whistling of the mortar round in the darkness above me. The flare ignited, speading a white glare over the area and there 20 feet in front of me was a zapper squad consisting of 6 Viet Cong, each carrying a satchel charge and armed with AK 47 rifles.
OK Sarge I'll be a guppy. What the hell happened after that ? You tell me you got kilt I will be down to the water plant and Make sure you're grave-yard dead !!!!!!
yeah, Sarge, you gotta finish the story. What? you got the hell out of there? You killed them all with your bare hands? You called the mortar battalion and gave them the coordinates? You made a mess in your pants? None of the above?
WHAT? ???
Larryj
The President is the Commander-in-chief, or CIC, and orders from him are passed down through the Secretary of Defense, (a civilian position) and on to the Joints Chiefs which consists of the various Secretarys of the different armed forces. The Secretary of Defense is in the chain of command and is saluted as is any Officer.
Curiously, I can find nothing that says the Secretary of Defense has to salute the President as they are both civilians-------?
Maybe because he is a cabinet minister appointed by the President, he is not required to salute unless it is in a formal situation.
Any thoughts on that?
Larryj
Quote from: larryJ on November 01, 2009, 12:42:55 PM
Sarge, you gotta finish the story.
Larryj
I don't know what happened. I always wake up when gets to that part.
You shit bird!!!
Finish the story!! You had me sitting on the end of my seat!
Now you finish it right now.. or tell another one ..or I will come down there personally and give you a cousin ass whuppin'... >:(
And Ron....... you shouldn't publicly let everyone know I like to watch naked men run around at night..
Jeese... try to keep "some" of my secrets ........... ::)
Trust me Teresa. I know Jimmie like a book and he was gonna tell us he got killed until I let the cat out of the bag. Anyway it was'nt 6 VC there. That was me and our Kit Carson Scout, Lei Von Kwong, and we was'a fix'n to put the sneak on ol Sarge and Shep and have us some German Shepard stew. :)
See? I told ya' you could spread this stuff! :D :D
LOL :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Teresa, I think he finished the story and----------I would think there was something seriously wrong with you if you didn't like to watch naked men running around at night.
SDM, you got me now. Some of this stuff is usable for the garden.
If I ever get back there, we are all going to get a case and sit by the river and tell all the war stories we want and if Teresa is watching, we can all run around naked in the river. Wait---------------I guess that wouldn't be the same as a bunch of younger marines running around naked. Never mind.
Larryj
ohh nooo Larry ..you aren't getting off the hook that easy.. I'm bringing fried chicken..and you all can run naked and tell stories..and I will set and listen and watch.. (remember.. old women don't mind seeing old men.. ) hahaha ;)
SDM,
Yea but Sarge started it.
Teresa,
There aint no way this 'pleasingly plump" feller is gonna be seen naked by anyone----young or old !!!
Larry,
That would be great sitiing down over a few brews with you and talking war stories. I could tell you about the black sands of Iwo Jima----and about how cold it was at the Frozin Chosin---and about that damn mustard gas in WW-I. But let's not invite ol Sarge cause he's a windy son of a gun. Not honest like me !!!!
WHAT !!!!!!!!!!! I've heard it all now. :P
I mean!! My ears just plumb fell off with THAT statement.. LOL
I was doing a last minute look at the forum before hitting the sack. So, I am laughing and thinking about what a great bunch of people on the forum. I wasn't going to sign on. I usually just read and wait until morning to do any posting.
BUT I GOTTA TELL YA!
YOU PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Larryj
DISCLAIMER!!!
Upon awakening this morning and rereading last night's post, I realized that I may have insulted, or otherwise, denigrated some members of this forum. I would not, in clear conscience, express any thoughts that some of you are mentally incapacitated. I would apologize to those whom I may have offended. Far be it from me to purposely hurt the feelings of those whom I consider my friends. There is no reason to believe that some of you may have some mental health problems.
Oh, who am I am I kidding!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
Larryj
You were right on Larry. That Teresa and Sarge are both crazier than a pet coon. I think it must be in the McD bloodlines or something !!! :)
Whoa there Hoss !! I better point out that Jo married into that bloodline so she's sane. whew !!! My alligator mouth almost cost my canary arse a trip out behind the fur shed.
LOL!
I have gone back into my family history and although I am related to some members of this forum, I can say with all honesty, there is not a McDonald in there. I guess that would be a bad thing. Judging from the description you put on here while discussing naked men, and looking at the picture of Jo, I would think there is nothing to worry about. On the other hand, my mother stood five feet tall on a good day and was not adverse to using the handle part of a wire flyswatter on my behind.
Larryj
Trust me Larry---that "lean , mean, fight'n shape Marine' was 40 years ago , and Mother Nature has not been kind to this lad.
Teresa's cousin is my cousin but we are in no way related !!! Did I say that right and is it possible ? Then Jo's brother in law is my uncle but Jo and me are not related !! This is starting to sound like a Jeff Foxworthy,"you might be a redneck if-----"
Wouldn't Jo's brother-in-law be related by marriage? There are blood, or direct, relatives such as a couple of cousins of mine on this forum and then, there are relations by marriage, however distant. For example, Wilma and I are related, somewhat distantly, by marriage. As she is related to the Weyrauchs by marriage and my Aunt's second marriage was to a Weyrauch from the same family, she and I are related by marriage. I've been doing family history for a lot of years and I still get confused about who is who. My wife's family is even worse as her grandmother married her first husband and he died and she married his brother. The first marriage resulted in three brothers, and the second resulted in a daughter, my wife's mother. So, good ole' Uncle John is really a step-uncle (?). At any rate, I didn't like him much and I didn't have much contact with him so I was okay.
The really questionable relatives are the ones who show up right after you have won the lottery.
Larryj
Quote from: jarhead on November 02, 2009, 11:04:57 AM
Trust me Larry---that "lean , mean, fight'n shape Marine' was 40 years ago , and Mother Nature has not been kind to this lad.
Teresa's cousin is my cousin but we are in no way related !!! Did I say that right and is it possible ? Then Jo's brother in law is my uncle but Jo and me are not related !! This is starting to sound like a Jeff Foxworthy,"you might be a redneck if-----"
long as ya all know who yur grandpa is, makes no never mind ! ! ! ;D :angel:
Yes! And Jarhead if you win the lottery I'll be right on your doorstep. ;D ;D ;D
Yea Guns, and I'll shoot you and swear I thought you was a Great White shark swimming across my yard !!!!!:)
Ok, that story I told actually happened except all after the call I made informing security control of Shep's alert. After that, the rest of the story is made up to make it more interesting. Actually after making the call I very quietly made my way out of that area and let the big boys take care of the rest. That scenario happened to me many times over there and each time I was able to sneak away, which was what I was supposed to do. I wasn't supposed to engage unless absolutely necessary.
Now, another story. As I said I was only out at night, so I would make my way to a prescribed pick up point where myself and my dog would be transported back to my tent. One night I was not scheduled to go out so I got to sleep that night. The next morning I awoke with a cobra coiled up on my chest. I tensed up and remained perfectly still, barely breathing. My mind was racing with ideas of what to do, none of which seemed like a good plan. Then I heard giggling. What happened was one of the other dog handlers had killed a cobra that night and brought it in and coiled on my chest while I was asleep. Naturally I tried to act "cool" saying I knew it was dead all along. I lied.
I should have told them to lay a big old spider on your chest..
(http://www.animationer.dk/2/s/spider2.gif)
No.. better not..
You would have beat yourself to death and died on the spot! ;D
Good one, Sarge. Here's a similar one. I was stationed at Ft. Sam in San Antonio for medic school. We had a National Guard trainee with us from NJ. He was deathly afraid of snakes. Lots of snakes in Texas. So one day we came back from helo evac training with a dead snake and during the night coiled it on the floor by his bunk. As he was acting Corporal, he had to be up first to wake us up. Of course, that morning we were all awake and laying quietly in our bunks. He hit the lights and turned to face the snake and lit out the door screaming. We couldn't stop laughing. Later, we threw the snake out by the dumpster. We came back after lunch and the snake was gone. We thought an animal might have taken it, but there were definite slither marks in the dirt leading away from the dumpster. We couldn't figure out how the snake could have "come back to life" until the end of the school when our good buddy informed us that he had come back and drug the snake in the dirt to make it look like it revived and crawled away. He later moved to Hollywood and became an actor doing small bit parts.
Larryj
I saw a video on another blog I read and I thought it was great. Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of how to get it from there to here. But, I will tell you what to type into the search on your browser and maybe someone can embed it.
And, Jarhead, I was thinking of you and Sarge and all us vets when I saw this.
Search for ------------ Marines doing the cha cha slide
;D
Larryj
I love these stories of experiences from military duty and I don't care if they are true or not. This kind of humor is what has kept our military so great. You can't keep an American down.
Wilma,
True or not ??? humor ??? I guess you're right when it comes to Larry and Sarge, unlike anything I say. Mind you the time there at the Chosin Reservior, in Korea, back in "52"---or was it "53" ?? Well any-hows there I was a sit'n in my fox hole, freezing my tail off and all of a sudden about a kazillion Chinese came swaring across the Yalu river. Now the river was froze over but most of em had ice skates so twernt no problem fer'em. They came a'screaming---blowing whistles---blowing bugles. Now I aint ashamed to say I was a tad scared but I knew Chesty Puller had my back so------------------------------------------------Crap, Wilma. My wife told me to quit playing on the computer and take the trash out. Don't know who she thinks she is bossing a hero around---but I better do it !!!
One of the worst things in the world is being interupted by the wife in the middle of a good war story! Never mind she has probably heard a thousand times. But, she should remember the story changes over time. The facts kinda change and the story has to be juiced up time to time.
Larryj
Pretty much like the big fish that got away?
That is one of the things in life that I always questioned. If you didn't have him hooked, how did he get away? Wait----------I get it. He got the bait, but not the hook. I see (sayeth the blind man). On the other hand, if there was no visual sighting, how do you know he was the "big one." And, even if you did see him, water distorts the sizes of objects so how would you know he was that big. Do I need some serious pyche counseling today? Probably. ::)
Larryj
Good Lord Larry, You sound just like Sarge when we go fishing !!! He talks the same talk and after 4 hours I aint got a clues as to what he said or not a clue to the meaning of what he said !!!! :) BUT---when I say I had a big one, you can bet your sweet bippy it was a big son of a gun.
The "Honest One"
Yep, definitely gonna need that counseling today. Or just sign out of the Forum.
Sarge and I may a lot alike, but I don't have anywhere near the talent he has.
Larryj
Kinda dissapointed in Larry, Vamit & Sarge . Thought they would tell me "Happy Birthday" I was born 234 years ago today at Tuns Taveran. No wonder I feel like crap, being that old and all.
Sorry I was late, but check out the miscellaneous section and the "Wry" column. I did mention it and dedicated it to you. I was just busy this morning and didn't get around to posting til later.
Larryj
well dad I told you Happy Birthday already today but I will say it again happy birthday to my favorite MARINE......Jar Head....love you dad!!!
A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Ron !!
I WILL TOAST YOU THIS EVENING WITH A GLASS OF "FINE WINE".
ps: if you would put your birth date on the calendar, you would be more apt to receive wishes. tee hee
Jar,you really did have a special day? Well shucks, hope it was a fun one.
Jarhead, do you want to tell them or me do it?
Never mind, I want to do it.
Ladies, please note that Jarhead said his age was ------234--------------. 234 years ago today the United States Marines was formed by the Continental Congress. It is not his birthday, at least, I don't think it is. It is a day of celebration of the birth of the Marine Corps.
Semper Fi
Larryj
I got it ....I said a "special day"....I didn't really think he was that old! ;) If he did also have a birthday, then Happy Birthday too. :-*
Larry, The day I was actually born was no longer my "b-day on the day I graduated boot camp. Gunny Hensley groweled at me and said," from now on you filthy maggot your birthday is Nov 10th." He said Chesty Puller was my daddy and I guess I aint got a mamma or Gunny never mentioned her !!! Off subject Larry, but you ever watch the movie"Full Metal Jacket" ? First time I saw the DI I about freaked out. Told my wife---"That's Gunny Hensley-, my senior DI----I know it is cause every thing the actor said I had heard. Well the actor is R. Lee Ermey (from Emporia ,Ks) and Ermey had been a Marine and a DI. Years later I located Gunny Hensley (Ret. Sgt Maj ) Turns out Ermey was a junior drill instructor under Gunny Hensley so Ermey learned from the best.Small world.
Thanks Jarhead,
I sure did not know Old Gunney was from Emporia.
Waldo,
If I remember right the gunny lived in Emporia until he was 9 years old. I better look it up to make sure but i think that's right. Not very many years ago Ermey was a guest speaker at a Veterans Day gig in Emporia. we stood for 3 hours in cold wind and drizzle to see the Gunny and I told my wife I wouldn't do that to see Elvis and there I did it. Gunny missed his flight that day but told them as long as there were people there to see him he would stay---and he did. A real nice guy.
I recognized him in Apocalypse Now the other night and never realized he had been making movies that long. A check on the internet shows him being in sixty movies plus his History Channel ventures.
Jarhead, I did see "Full Metal Jacket" and that was a tough one for me to stomach. Maybe it brought back some not-so-pleasant thoughts.
Another story for you. When I was drafted, I was sent to Ft. Campbell, KY, for basic. We got there about 2 AM. A Sergeant came on the plane and told us we were to exit the aircraft and stand at attention. Looking at the windows we could see a red carpet and a military band playing march music. I (we) thought this is pretty great-----band---red carpet, what a nice welcome. By 3 AM we were at the barracks and putting our gear away when we were called out to the quad and stood in formation. After 43 years, I can still remember the name of the Airborne Drill Sergeant. His name was Sgt. Cook. Why do I remember that name? When he was calling out names to be answered, "Here, Sgt!" there was a young man named Cook. Well, when the Sgt. called out Cook, the young man answered and the Sgt. looked at him and told him to drop and give him "twenty" for having the same name! That is when I knew we were in trouble.
Apocalype Now was one of my favorites. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
Larryj
Aint seen it in years but I did not like Apocalypse Now. The boot camp part of Full Metal Jacket was just like it really was but I hate the Nam part of it. I guess ,except for Americans killing each other and killing civilians, "Platoon" is the best Nam movie in my opinion. They had the lingo right, jungle looked very familiar and the" firefights "almost gave me a bad case of PTSD .
The Vietnamese firefight scenes in Full Metal Jacket were filmed in England in an abandoned old town or shopping center. They planted palm trees and such to try giving it a Vietnam flavor.
I doubt if the Viet Cong had as pretty female fighters as the one who was riddled with bullets in the movie.
Waldo,
The VC had pretty female soldiers ?? That figures !! At the DMZ where my sorry arse was stuck there were no VC --only them NVA fellers. In my next life I'm joining the army. :)
You know, Jarhead, I was going to join the Marines originally, but scored too high on my ASVAP. ;)
LOL-----my first day with the U.S. Army, the one where you give up your guns and knives and blackjacks and swear the oath, etc., they asked if anyone would care to join the Marines. After the initial laughter subsided, there were three out of a hundred that joined up. I, too, scored too high. Just kidding, jarhead.
Larryj
Billy & Larry, That crap aint funny !!!! Trying to say Marines aint very smart. True ,but still aint funny . :)
A couple weeks into boot camp we would do our daily 5 mile run and could see across some bay and see the Navy boot camp. Navy dudes were over there playing volley ball or shooting hoops while we were running our young arses off. One night while we were all lined up having our one cigareette of the day Gunny Hensley came out and told us the Navy was short of men and anyone that wanted to switch over to the Navy to line up in front of his duty hut, then he went back inside. Now Mother Edwards's baby boy might not be Army smart but he didn't fall for that line of crap-----but about 20 ,skin headed recruits did. Yea them lads played all kinds of silly games out there in the sand, most of the night, but they got their "heads stright" .
I was reminded of a joke. I told this to a fellow co-worker one time, a Marine veteran, and he chased me around the LA Times press room for three days until his fat butt couldn't keep up any more. This is what I told him.
It was approaching 4 PM at the USO club. The "donut dolly" stood up and went to the microphone and announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now 4 PM. For you Army and Air Force personnel, that is 1600 hours. For you Navy Personnel, that is 8 bells, and for you Marines,------------------------------------------Mickey's little hand is on the 4, and the big hand is on the 12."
Sorry, I couldn't keep that one in!
Larryj
Larry,
That little joke just cost you a whole can of Kansas whup ass if you ever come back here !!!!!! After we drink a few cold ones. :)
LOL Jarhead, I ain't worried. Besides after a few cold ones, I won't be conscious anyhow.
Larryj
That's good Larry because there aint nothing more pathetic than two old farts acting like banty roosters !! Get all winded just trying to tell to the other what a Billy Bad Ass he is.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
You are so right, Jarhead. We would be so busy trying to "one-up-ya" there wouldn't be no time for physical stuff. And, besides we would laughing so hard and drinking so much, we couldn't stand up straight anyway. Best we just stay in our chairs and toast each other!!!! Here's to you, pal.
Larryj
Larry,
Well I had the pleasure of finally meeting Varmit today. It was a brief meeting but long enough for me to have a little "talk " (if you catch my drift )with the lad about trash talking my beloved Corps. I will admit he's a scrapper but in the end he got his head on straight. Might not hear from Varmit for a spell cause his knuckles are all swollen from throwing lefts--and rights and jabs but let that be a warning to you------ you ol Califorinia condor !!!! :)
Oh, I had my head straight well before then. But I will admit our litte "talk" did take longer than I had anticipated. Of course, you being my senior and all, I didn't wanna make you look bad in front of everybody. :)
Senior? ??? What did he mean by that, jarhead? Oh well, he is just one of those "whippersnappers" mentioned on the forum previously. And, how did his knuckles get messed up? I know, what you being a leatherneck, he couldn't have hit you. So what was he hitting? And, about that "ol California condor" crack-----------that is one of the stupidest things they ever did in California. You know, capturing those birds and breeding them so they don't become extinct. All those birds eat is roadkill. No way are they beneficial to the environment. We got people that can go out and pick up the dead stuff off the highway. And, to tell you the truth, they are probably the ugliest bird on the planet.
Larryj
Why not let the birds have the carrion? Those people can eat something else! ;D ;D ;D ;D
:laugh: :laugh:
Diane, here in California, as I imagine happens in other states, some lawbreakers of minor offenses are given community service. This means that they get an orange vest and an orange helmet and go stand next to the traffic on the freeway whizzing by at 70 mph and pick up trash. If there is roadkill, the state hauls out four trucks to the site. One to hold whatever tools may be needed, i.e., shovel and/or dust pan, a water truck to hose off that which can't be picked up, a truck to carry at least ten people to pick up the roadkill, and a smaller SUV to carry the three supervisors needed to manage the situation. When all is in readiness, the CHP is notified and a highway patrol unit is sent to an on-ramp several miles ahead of the roadkill. The officer then begins to run a traffic break by weaving back and forth with lights on to slow the traffic down. Once the traffic is sufficiently cleared from the roadkill, read backed up for miles, several "community service" offenders run onto the freeway to observe what needs to be done in order to remove the roadkill. They do not, repeat, do not care that a thousand people are trying to get somewhere while they are deciding who should pick up the roadkill.
That being said----------The California Condor is released into the wild where there is little or no roadkill. This means they have to wait for some other animal to kill something so they can get their share.
Did I get that straightened out for you?
Larryj
On another note------------
Jarhead, I don't know what you said to Varmint, but he is moaning and groaning about the language used on the forum on another thread. (I had to clean up the "moaning and groaning" part.)
Larryj
Quote from: larryJ on November 20, 2009, 08:34:14 AM
:laugh: :laugh:
Diane, here in California, as I imagine happens in other states, some lawbreakers of minor offenses are given community service. This means that they get an orange vest and an orange helmet and go stand next to the traffic on the freeway whizzing by at 70 mph and pick up trash. If there is roadkill, the state hauls out four trucks to the site. One to hold whatever tools may be needed, i.e., shovel and/or dust pan, a water truck to hose off that which can't be picked up, a truck to carry at least ten people to pick up the roadkill, and a smaller SUV to carry the three supervisors needed to manage the situation. When all is in readiness, the CHP is notified and a highway patrol unit is sent to an on-ramp several miles ahead of the roadkill. The officer then begins to run a traffic break by weaving back and forth with lights on to slow the traffic down. Once the traffic is sufficiently cleared from the roadkill, read backed up for miles, several "community service" offenders run onto the freeway to observe what needs to be done in order to remove the roadkill. They do not, repeat, do not care that a thousand people are trying to get somewhere while they are deciding who should pick up the roadkill.
That being said----------The California Condor is released into the wild where there is little or no roadkill. This means they have to wait for some other animal to kill something so they can get their share.
Did I get that straightened out for you?
Larryj
Larry, looks like a typical text book run government project. I am surprised they don't have to get clearance from Queen Nancy before they do the removal .
Larry I knew how that worked. I'm sorry my poor attempt at a joke flopped. I have followed the condor project with interest for many years. What did the birds do before there was road kill? In really dry states like Nevada, the road kill tends to mummify. When we've done road traveling and wanted to stop to eat, I'd usually say we'd plan to pick up something along the way.I don't say that any more! I'd have my choice of many mammals, reptiles and birds. ;D
Diane, I got your joke. It takes a certain amount of aging to understand these things. I am surprised that as young as you are, that you understand it.
Hey, I think there was a backhanded compliment in there somewhere. ;D