The purpose of Side Boy Honour Guard aboard military ships In today's military, we have many unique customs. What is not realized is that what is now custom formerly had a real purpose. Take the use of Side Boys to welcome a ranking visitor aboard a military vessel. It is the task of assigning two, four, six, or eight men to line both sides of the gangplank based on the ascending rank of the officer visiting the vessel, with two being assigned for ensigns and Lts, up to eight for admirals and above. More rank, more honour guard, right? But this system originally served a darker purpose....
this custom came from the British Navy of the 17-18 century. back then, men did not often have the luxury of walking on to their ships: most had to transfer from a small boat to the larger ship by Ladder, or by a device called a bosun's chair, which was essentially a seat attached to a yardarm by a block and tackle. Here where the relevance comes about: the younger and less rank you had, the lighter you were. thus, a light midshipman or LT needed only two men on the haul rope, while a long endurance and often very stout Admiral, having eaten everything and then some over their forty year careers, tended to need eight men to pull them up. additional jobs, such as availing themselves to steady the person after getting them to the deck, and helping with the persons luggage and other dunnage they would bring with them, also necessitated a required number of hands based on their weight or amounts of belongings collect throughout the years.
The Whole 9 Yards.. The term "the whole 9 yards" came from W.W.II fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards." Another explanation is this one: British Frigates of the 19th Century had 27' masts. The ship speed was controlled by the amount of sail raised. To achieve full speed, the 'whole nine yards' was hoisted. This usage of the word is in the QM's book from one of the few ships that fought at Trafalgar *and* the Nile - pre-dating WW2 by 150 years.
Radio Interview with General Reinwald This is an exact replication of National Public Radio (NPR) interview between a female broadcaster, and US Army General Reinwald who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military installation. FEMALE INTERVIEWER: So, General Reinwald, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?" GENERAL REINWALD: We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery, and shooting." FEMALE INTERVIEWER: "Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?" GENERAL REINWALD: "I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range." FEMALE INTERVIEWER: "Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?" GENERAL REINWALD: "I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm. " FEMALE INTERVIEWER: "But you're equipping them to become violent killers." GENERAL REINWALD: "Well, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you? "
This is fiction. According to NPR no such interview ever took place. But it's a good story anyway.... :)
Definition of bad policy: Training your military to break things and kill people, then denying them their VA benefits.
"Caring for a dead veteran is easy...bring a wreath, say a few words and walk away. Caring for a living veteran requires time, money and a life-long commitment. Every Veterans Day our politicians show they don't know the difference as they visit a cemetery instead of a VA hospital."
"It is illogical to put a cap on VA funding when it is impossible to put a cap on the number of wounded and injured who serve their country."
"It is easier and much less expensive to praise dead veterans than it is to care for those who live."
"Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man." --Ronald Reagan
Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, "uncommon valor was a common virtue." (Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, 16 March 1945.)
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome - Enjoying your freedom? Thank a veteran!
"If you can read this, thank a teacher, if you are reading it in English, thank a soldier!"
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not!" --Thomas Jefferson
"A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not
likely to have what it takes to make a living." --John F. Kennedy
"It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that
alone, which no good man gives up but with life itself." --Declaration of Arbroath, Scotland, 1320
"Special Flavor The Protected Will Never Know" -Anonymous: Khe Sanh Grunt
Being a soldier is a serious job for serious people! - Col. Dudley Cosgrove
A Few Good Men: On 20 March 1779 in Boston, Capt. William Jones, USMC, advertised for "a few good men" to enlist in the Corps for naval duty. The term seemed ideally suited for Marines, mainly because of the implication that "a few" good men would be enough. This term has survived for over 200 years and has been synonymous with U.S. Marines ever since.
Chinese learned this Time sensitive note: This joke pertains to the crash of a Chinese plane into a United States plane over International waters. China demanded an apology from us and stole technology from our plane when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Chinese lands.
Top Ten Things The Chinese Have Learned By Examining Our Spy Plane
10. American codes can be broken by anyone with a basic understanding of Pig Latin
9. On-board computers were mainly used for Internet casino video poker
8. According to plaque, "When Bush gives order, nod politely, wait to hear what Cheney says"
7. Cockpit full of Colt 45 bottles
6. Mission was to determine if Chinese people can fly like in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
5. "Cloaking device" button only there because pilot's a "Star Trek" fan
4. Maybe not the best idea to write "Spy plane" on wings
3. The plane's sole security feature: an angry kitty
2. Plane is so high-tech lavatories feature futuristic blue water!
1. Americans smell like Doritos and Aqua Velva
"Blue water Navy truism: There are more planes in the ocean than submarines in the sky." From an old carrier sailor
"If the enemy is in range, so are you." -Infantry Journal
"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.." -U.S. Air Force Manual
"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons." -General MacArthur
"You, you, and you ... Panic. The rest of you, come with me." -U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt.
"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do." Unknown Marine Recruit
Clean it, if it's Dirty. Oil it, if it Squeaks. But: Don't Screw with it, if it Works! USAF Sgt.
"If you see a bomb technician running, keep up with him." -USAF
"Mankind has a perfect record in aviation; we never left one up there!" "Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it." "The Piper Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill you." -Attributed to Max Stanley (Northrop test pilot) "There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime." -Sign over squadron ops desk at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1970 "If something hasn't broken on your helicopter, it's about to." "You know that your landing gear is up and locked when it takes FULL Power to taxi to the terminal." As the test pilot climbs out of the experimental aircraft , having torn off the wings and tail in the crash landing, the crash truck arrives; the rescuer sees a bloodied pilot and asks, "What happened?" The pilot's reply: "I don 't know, I just got here myself!"
More DI Sayings I am sure that everyone has heard it from time to time in The Corps but the most profound thing that I remember my SDI, GySgt Bruce E. Boltze saying to us was "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war". Gunny Boltze was promoted to CWO# and was shot down in an OV-10 Bronco over the South China Sea in 1971...his 3rd tour. Researching his accomplishments and medals, he was a Marine's Marine. Proud to have known him, even for only 8 weeks in 1969.
Semper Fi Jim Wolter 1969-1974
FLSG-A Khe Sanh 1-30-1968
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Jesus Roberto Vasquez (MCSN: 2126694), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician with the Ammunition Company, Supply Battalion, First Force Service Regiment/Force Logistic Command in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 30 January 1968. During a mortar and rocket attack at the Khe Sanh Combat Base, several rounds landed in the ammunition supply point, igniting a stack of ammunition. Sergeant Vasquez, unhesitatingly rushed to the burning munitions and assisted in fighting the fire. Observing an 81-mm. mortar round burning and aware of the proximity of his comrades and the possibility of detonation, he lifted the round in an attempt to throw it into a deep crater where its lethal effects would be absorbed should it detonate. In his attempt to throw the round, it exploded, mortally wounding him. By his bold initiative, gallant fighting spirit and loyal devotion to duty, he was instrumental in saving his comrades from further injury or possible death by absorbing most of the impact with his own body. His great personal valor reflected great credit upon himself and enhanced the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Quotes "We may never have tyrants.. but if we should have them, they will seek to accomplish the downfall of free government, not by directly overriding the Constitution, but by using the forms of law to strangle and subvert the spirit." U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland (1862 -1942)
Never miss a good chance to shut up. Will Rogers
"Guadalcanal is no longer merely the name of an island. It is the name of the graveyard of the Japanese Army." [MGen. Kiyotake Kawaguchi, Imperial Japanese Army, 1943 after the US Marines handed the Imperial Japanese Army its first military defeat in over 1,000 years]
