shavetail-------second looie
I heard “shavetail” a lot from very old retired marines, but not in active duty. Is it still in current use?
Now hear this!
Indeed the “golden rivet” was the mythical first rivet -------but-----
it wasn’t what the old sea dog meant when he told the “cute recruit” he’d take him down into the double bottoms and show him the “golden rivet”.Of course it wasn’t always the “double-bottoms”-----just anywhere private
Generally the Cutie was known as a poge------and things that were used as enticemants were known as pogey bait.
Why a poge? I don’t know.
"A"platoon was a special group of misfits at boot camp who couildn’t handle left from right and generally F.U’d.by the numbers.
Brown noser was a general suck-up whose schnoz was referred to as an appropriate color for where it usually was.
Fart sack was ones bunk----didja ever listen to the night noises in a barracks?
Feather merchant was a person who,no matter what, was unmilitary in attitude and generally untrainable.
Lash up was any group who functioned together as a unit,but generally referred to their organizational skills. Derived from the custom of lashing small boats together in a marina.
Joe and Side Arms--------coffee,cream and sugar.
Top-----First Sergeant.
Gunny,or guns---------gunnery sergeant
Chowhound pretty well speaks for itself-----but a chowhound didn’t care if anybody else got fed as long as he had his fill--------not always a popular figure
The rest I covered in a previous writing.
HEY—it’s been a blue sea and a fair breeze------and I thank you all.
Ez
We called Flight Suits by the term Fart Sacks. When the wearer farts, it blows up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy for a second. Not really, but it is a nice thought.
Yeah, ‘gung ho!’ means ‘all together!’, and was adapted by Marines who stole it off Chinese troops whose arses they’d kicked in battle, apparently. When I find the book I originally read this in, I’ll post the exact origin.
Einzelwesen
I know that the battle cry of the Flying Tigers when they were flying over the Hump was “Gung Ho”.
I also know,or at least remember, that it was also the motto of the First Marine Raiders.
The second,third andfourth raiders may have also have used it butI’m not sure. maybe there’s an old hand around that does.
I cannot recall,however, any marine/chinese clashes in the pre-Korea days-----------although it might date back to the Marco
Polo bridge thing in 37or 38
Interesting!
Ezstrete
Some I heard when the “Salts” were jaw-jacking. Let’s see if I can translate them to what we used:
Mate-Bro, “P”, Man you would trust in a Fire-Fight
Joe[coffee]-Mud, Mid watch Juice, Java
side arms[cream and sugar]-Pussified
Joe/mac ,for east and west coast recruits-PI (for East), and Shades (for West)
pongyo-civilian?
gunny-Gunnery Sargent
Top-First Sargent or First Shirt
on the beach[leave]-R and R, or In the rear with the gear
Lash-up-Clusterfuck, or “Charlie Foxtrot”
feather merchant-Shithouse Lawyer
‘A’ platoon-The “Old Mans” Pets
asiatic-Gone Native
“missed too many boats”-Reupped, Lifer
forty knot stare-Thousand Yard Stare
Charley Noble-House Mouse, or Clerk (Remington Raider)
hashmark-KIA
stupid stripes-Staff Rocker
chowhound-Feed me First, not a Mate
brown noser-Smakass
pogey-bait-Geedunk (junk food)
golden rivet-don’t remember that one
f–t sack-Mattress cover for your Rack
Some I remembered for sure. Some I guessed at.
Sempre-Fi. Do or Die!
Gaimes-------and all the otherswho helped
A lot of those are later variations but the similarities are obvious.
And for ALL who have responded let me clear up one thing------
Pongyo is the round eyes spelling of the chinese word for Friend.
This old 6 digit serial number is going back into the archives!
So-----to pongyos,one and all--------it’s time to lower and furl--------
Outa here!