Marines: The Few, the Proud, the Clowns?

Today's blog entry is on Jarheads.

Macky Rae, my youngest dog, has become an admirer of the Marines after he found out they are sometimes called "Devil Dogs." 


The Marine Corp was also originally

organized in a tavern, which explains

a lot about them.

According to Macky (who looked it up online) The United States Marine Corps is currently the largest marine force in the world, responsible for much of the United States of America's expeditionary operations. Created in 1775, they were originally intended only to guard naval vessels during the American Revolutionary War.

While the USMC is a component part of the Department of the Navy in the military command structure, it is a military branch separate from the Navy. The USMC also provides marines as security guards at U.S. diplomatic posts throughout the world. They also provide helicopter transportation for the President of the United States aboard Marine One.

The Marine Corp motto is Semper Fidelis, which means "always faithful" in Latin, but most Marines just say "Semper Fi," the reason (I believe ) is that it is easier for a Marine to remember three syllable as opposed to five.

Keep it simple, trooper.

Many former Marines have gone on to successful and honorable career, such as businessmen, sports figures, mall cops, writers and journalists, some even elected to congress (as to whether this is successful and/or honorable is subject to debate).

Others, however...


Send in the Clowns

Mr Moose was not a Marine (although

from his looks, it is easy to believe that

he was.)

Robert James "Bob" Keeshan was an American television producer and actor. He is most notable as the title character of the children's television program Captain Kangaroo, which became an icon for millions of people during its 30-year run from 1955 to 1984.

He was also the original "Clarabelle the Clown" on the Howdy Doody Show.

Bob's co-star on the show Hugh Brannum, better known  as "Mr. Green Jeans," was also a jarhead. 

Robert Lewis (Bob) Bell was famous for his alter-ego, Bozo the Clown. He was the original portrayer of the character for Chicago superstation WGN-TV

FYI: One of the top ten fears is coulrophobia, the fear of clowns. Gyreneophobia is the fear that the U.S.Marine Corp is going to invade your country, a fear suffered by many third world dictators.  

Clinton is currently applying to the

Government to start a Clown

College for veterans. 

And speaking of clowns: Clinton Crowder.

Although neither a celebrity or famous, Clinton was a former Marine. I've know him for decades, since Junior High School. Unlike the other clowns (above), Clint started out as a clown, and later became a Marine.

 The few, the proud, the brave...  

...ask him about the hour he spent trapped in the wood shop class sawdust bin.

---

 

Semper Fi, Mofos!

(Former Marines turned Rappers)

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, better known by his stage name Nate Dogg, was an American rapper, singer and actor. He was noted for his membership in rap trio 213 and his solo career in which he collaborated with other rap artists.

Orville Richard Burrell, better known by his stage name Shaggy, is a Jamaican-American pop singer and rapper. He is known for his hit singles "Boombastic", "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel". He is said to have taken his stage name from his shaggy hair.


Some years ago, I worked in a fast food restaurant with a young man by the name of Ernie, who was enrolled in the Junior ROTC program at his High School. Ernie wanted to be a Marine Admirable, except Ernie stood 5'2" and maybe 115 pounds (soaking wet). Also working there was Dewayne "Red" Wilson, who was a former Marine. Red, like myself, was one of the shift supervisors. And like myself, Red thought Ernie had two chances of making it the Marine Corp: Slim and None. One evening, Red and I (and Ernie) were working the same shift. The other High Schoolers decided to have a bit of fun at Ernie's expense, and when Ernie went into the walk-in refrigerator, they barricaded the door and turned of the light. Ernie could only get the door opened about two inches, not enough to escape. He was pleading, tearfully, for the others to let him out. Red and I came out of the office to investigate, only to find Ernie's face sticking out of the door, still pleading for them to release him. Red just shook his head in disbelief. "Ernie!" Wilson yelled. "Marines don't cry!"  I couldn't stop laughing for an hour.

Get Smart

Who is that man talking on his shoe?

"You missed it by that much,

jarhead! Drop and give me 99!

Don Adams was an American actor, comedian and director. In his five decades on television, he was best known as Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) in the television situation comedy Get Smart (1965–1970), which he also sometimes directed and wrote. Adams won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Smart (1967–1969). He provided the voices for the animated series Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales (1963–1966) and Inspector Gadget (1983–1986) as their title characters,  as well as others.

He, too, was a Marine.

During World War II, he joined United States Marine Corps at 16 by lying about his age. Adams participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theater of Operations. His combat service was short-lived; he was shot and contracted blackwater fever, a serious complication of malaria, known for a 90% rate of fatality. He was evacuated and then hospitalized for more than a year at a Navy hospital in Wellington, New Zealand. After his recovery, he served as a Marine drill instructor in the United States.

Macky Rae likes Get Smart, which he watches it on TVLand. He tells me it is like James Bond, except stupid. He also thinks TVLand is a real place. He wants to "visit" some of his favorite show, but so far has been unable to find where TVLand is on GoogleMaps.

 

Yo, Jarhead. Come on down!

Drew Allison Carey - After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as host of the U.S. version of the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. He replaced Bob Barker (Navy fighter pilot, WW2) as the host of  The Price Is Right in 2007.

All three of my dogs enjoy The Price is Right.



The Golden Marine?
Although she denied being a Marine,

official records confirm her military
service. The photo on the left is her
military ID photo.

Another famous entertainer (and former Marine) was Bea Arthur. An American actress, comedienne, and singer whose career spanned seven decades. Arthur achieved fame as the character Maude Findlay on the 1970s sitcoms All in the Family and Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls, winning Emmy Awards for both roles. A stage actress both before and after her television success, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Vera Charles in the original cast of Mame (1966).Bea Arthur (Bernice Frankel), who served during WW2, later denied being in the Corp (for reasons unknown). Her Marine Corps records, however, are available for perusal at the  National Archives and Records Administration.

 Sadly, real female Marines personnel do not look this good. FYI, a female Marine is called a B.A.M. - Broad Ass Marine. Commonly used by the Marines themselves, the term is "unofficial." Bea Arthur was, therefore, a B.A.M. True story: Marine MPs are trained on Lackland Air Force Base, the school being located near the squadron were I did basic training. During our second week of training, we were give partial liberty (mainly the exchange and the student recreational facility). Before we went, our Sergeant gave us the following warnings: Alcohol is available at the rec center. Do not drink! Don't even think about it. (We were not permitted alcohol until after basic training. You may encounter female Marine personnel. Do not f--- with them! Female Marines has the same genitalia as you do. (I cleaned this up a bit).

 

Mail Call!

And perhaps the most famous Jarhead turned entertainer is R. Lee Ermey, and for me to exclude him would be unforgivable.

Best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He is a retired U.S. Marine and an honorary Gunnery Sergeant; during his tenure in the U.S. Marine Corps, he served as a drill instructor.

Cast as tough drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, he was initially intended to be only the technical advisor. Director Stanley Kubrick changed his mind after Ermey put together an instructional tape, in which Ermey went on an extended hair-raising drill instructor tirade towards several extras, convincing Kubrick he was the right person for the role.

FYI: What does Taco Bell, Little Caesars, and Domino's have in common? All three were founded by former U.S. Marines. (Glenn Bell, Mike Ilitch, and Tom Monaghan)

Onward Christian Soldiers



Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson  an American media mogul  and a former Southern Baptist minister. Robertson has a distinguished career as the founder of several major organizations, such as The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and the International Family Entertainment Inc. (ABC Family Channel). He is the host of The 700 Club. He also ran (unsuccessfully) for the office of the President of the United States.

He is also a former Marine.

I had a friend in college who's brother, a Marine reservist, was engaged to a devout Mormon. While having lunch at the Student Union, I jokingly asked "What do you get when you cross a Mormon with a Marine?" Although the question was rhetorical, our devious minds clicked on, He, I, and several others came up with a list of about two dozen answers, such as: There were others, but after all these years time has partially erased our memories, and neither myself (or the others I am still in contact with) could remember them all. Children born in squads Amphibious landing craft full of bicycles. One year supply of C-rations in the basement (today it would be MREs). Semper fidelis (ad Dominum) - Always faithful (to the Lord) Q: Have you found Jesus? A: Sir! Yes, sir! Missionaries in Camo Mission/Recon teams of two. LDS-ROTC Improvise, Adapt, Baptize. and the obvious one: "Onward Christian Soldiers"

 

Although none have been

President, one former Marine

did assassinate a President.

 Presidential Marines.

In the history of the United States 31 Presidents served in the military: Mostly in the Army (or the Militia), six Navy (or Reserves), and one Air Force (Actually, it was the Texas Air National Guard. It was George, Jr.).

There has never been a Marine to go on to become Commander-in-Chief.

One former Marine went on to become president of another country.



The former Corporal Aidid

Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid emigrated to the United States when he was 17 years old. In April 1987, Farrah enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Following his training, he was stationed at the Marine Corps reserve base in Pico Rivera, California as a gunner in Battery B of the 14th Marine Regiment. He served in Somalia as a translator during Operation Restore Hope, having been chosen because he was the only United States Marine who spoke Somali. Following his discharge, he remained in the United States and became a naturalized citizen.

In 192 Farrah was selected by the Habar Gidir clan as successor to his father and returned to Somalia. Upon his father's death on August 1, 1996, Hussein was sworn in as President, serving from August 2, 1996 to December 22, 1997.

Has our government considered this as an alternative to full-force invasions?

---

Private James Buchanan,
United States Army

James Buchanan, our 15th President of the United States (1857–1861), held the rank of private in the Army during the War of 1812. When the British invaded neighboring Maryland, he joined a volunteer light dragoon unit and served in the defense of Baltimore. He is the only future President who enlisted without going on to become an officer.

---

Famous non-Marines

Actor/singer Jim Nabors played Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show who became so popular that he was made a regular on the show and was later given his own show, the spin-off Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., in which his character joined the United States Marine Corps.

Shazam! Jim was never a real Marine (surprise! surprise! surprise!).

Frank Sutton, who played Sgt Carter, served in the Army during the World War 2.

Can you say Semper Fi? I knew you could.



I love the smell of Napalm

in the neighborhood.

Fred "Mister"Rogers, famous for creating and hosting Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001), which featured his gentle, soft-spoken personality and directness to his audiences. In spite of rumors, he was not a Marine Corp sniper, nor did he serve in any branch of the service.

He was an ordained minister. For all you veterans can you imagine Fred as your chaplain?

Macky Rae likes Mister Rogers. But he's only 3 years old, so that is understandable. He often often tells me he is going to "the land of make believe." 

He also like Sesame Street, except he does not like Elmo (but who does?) and he suspect Bet and Ernie are gay.

He once came up to me and proudly announced that he could count to ten.

"Want to hear me do it?" he asked.

"Sure" I answered.

"One! Ah-ah-ah. Two! Ah-ah-ah. Three..."

But I digress...



Count von Count was also not a Marine

 My cousin Herb's son, Alfred, is currently on his second term as a Marine and just made Corporal (E-4). After misspelling his name on the ASVAB, joining the Corp was his only option.

Cousin Herb sent me an e-mail recently, relating the following story:

Alfred was placed in charge of a work detail to square up the headquarters area for a pending visit by a high ranking General from Washington, D.C.  Square up, as in mowing, raking, painting, etc. "Yard work." Around eleven-hundred hours, Alfred dismissed his work detail in order to get chow. Shortly after they left, the female Lieutenant in charge of "squaring up" came out, looked around. Noticing that nobody was working, she went up to Alfred and asked "Corporal! Where are your privates?"