# "commando"

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 20, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705 "2002-09-20T01:58:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![mandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@mandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandi)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/1 "2002-09-20T01:58:11Z")

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Does anyone know where the term “commando” came from, when referring to not wearing underwear? It has been bothering me for some time, so hopefully someone can help!! Thanks!!

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### Author: ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/2 "2002-09-20T02:17:37Z")

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Because commando’s don’t wear underwear.

In the tropics, undies give you crotch rot. In a beach assault, they trap sand. When you are running around a lot, without a lot of opportunity to clean up and change clothing, undies can chafe, and clean undies are just more stuff that you have to pack along. Undies aren’t a necessary item like clean socks. Not a lot of field servicemen wear underwear.

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### Author: ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/3 "2002-09-20T02:27:03Z")

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[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47809&highlight=commando](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47809&highlight=commando)

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### Author: ![mandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@mandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandi)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/4 "2002-09-21T03:02:31Z")

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Thank you both! I did a search on here, and couldn’t find anything, but this really helps!

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### Author: ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/5 "2002-09-21T03:37:54Z")

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We live to serve;)  
and go commando:)

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### Author: ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/6 "2002-09-21T04:14:17Z")

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“your wish is our command(o)”

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### Author: ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/7 "2002-09-21T04:37:42Z")

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Just remember, going commando might not be without its risks. When I occasionally wish to blame something for those annoying [testicular torsions](http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic573.htm) I had, and had [corrected](http://atoz.iqhealth.com/HealthAnswers/encyclopedia/HTMLfiles/918.html), it occurs to me that keeping The Boys in check with some support might have helped. Am I full of crap? Our fine medical staff here at the SDMB will no doubt tell us.

Sofa King–still commando, when not completely nude.

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### Author: ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/8 "2002-09-21T04:43:13Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sofa King \*  
> **[testicular torsions](http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic573.htm)**

:eek:

> [@](#):
>
> **Sex:** Testicular torsion affects males only.

:rolleyes:

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### Author: ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/9 "2002-09-21T05:27:48Z")

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[Editorial comment not fit for this forum] See, if **Arnold Winkelried** had not rejected my excellent “scrotum” smilie out of hand, you wouldn’t have needed to use two emoticons there. [/Editorial comment not fit for this forum]

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### Author: ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/10 "2002-09-21T10:22:48Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Drug Category: Analgesics – Pain control is essential to quality patient care. It ensures patient comfort, promotes pulmonary toilet, and enables physical therapy regimens. Most analgesics have sedating properties, which are beneficial for patients who have sustained painful trauma.
> 
> Drug Name  
> Morphine sulfate (Duramorph, Astramorph, MS Contin) – DOC for narcotic analgesia due to reliable and predictable effects, safety profile, and ease of reversibility with naloxone.  
> Various IV doses are used; commonly titrated until desired effect obtained.
> 
> ::snip::
> 
> Pregnancy B - Usually safe but benefits must outweigh the risks.

I’m sorry, I HAD to share that…I just picked myself up off the floor.

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### Author: ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/11 "2002-09-21T10:45:40Z")

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When I was in the service I got a catalog aimed at soldiers in certain fields. In it were mesh undergarments designed to prevent uniform abraison and provide support while lowering or eliminating the risk of humidity related problems.

I can tell you that getting a nut pinched in a climbing/rapelling or chute harness because you failed to wear briefs is a lot more of a practical issue for most soldiers today. Especially the latter, swaying up in the sky with one of your nuts wedged between a harness strap and your thigh and being powerless to do anything can really make you think about collapsing your rig just to end the pain.

Jock straps are a common accessory among some jump veterans.

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### Author: ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/12 "2002-09-21T23:15:00Z")

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**Lynn** I’m sure that someone will explain it, but I just don’t get the joke.

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### Author: ![cdhostage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cdhostage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdhostage)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/13 "2002-09-21T23:26:03Z")

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I think the joke is the last line.  
Pregnancy - the benefits outweigh the risks. It’s quite reasonable statement actually.  
Righto about using ropes and harnesses - some form of scrotal containment is preferable to none when you need to ascend or descend quickly.  
I wonder if… well-endowed soldiers prefer to wear undies when in combat. I imagine free-swinging ugandas can impair running ability.

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### Author: ![GopherGod72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@GopherGod72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GopherGod72)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2002, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/14 "2002-09-22T02:18:47Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by zen101 \*  
> \*\* swaying up in the sky with one of your nuts wedged between a harness strap and your thigh and being powerless to do anything can really make you think about collapsing your rig just to end the pain.
> 
> \*\*

Good god Man!! Why’d ya have to put THAT thought in my head??

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### Author: ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2002, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/15 "2002-09-22T03:26:16Z")

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**samclem** :  
**Lynn** ’s quote from **Sofa King** ’s link to the report on Testicular Torsion is taken from the section on medication used in its treatment. The line about pregnancy refers to possible risks in taking the indicated medication if the patient is pregnant. Since, as previously pointed out, Testicular Torsion only affects males, any reference to the patient being pregnant would seem to be of questionable use.

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### Author: ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/16 "2002-09-22T03:37:38Z")

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D’oh!:smack:

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### Author: ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2002, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commando/128705/17 "2002-09-22T11:41:22Z")

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\*\* GopherGod72\*\*: Well if you really want a detailed image I was just thinking about how much weight exacty was on my nut and I figure it to be at least 43.75lbs, but probably more like 60lbs. Thinking your rig has four major points of contact and it seemed like most of the weight was on my thighs via my sling and I weighed about 175 thats what I figure the pressure on my ball was.

I kind of admire the little guy a bit more after thinking about it. I didn’t even visit the infirmary after this one (embarassed and afraid of anything that may have kept me from advancing with my cycle).
