THE OLD CORPS
Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, November 10th, 1775 Captains Nichols and Mullens, having been tasked by the 2nd Continental Congress to form 2 battalions of Marines, set up the Corps' first recruiting station. The first likely prospect was, in typical recruiters fashion, promised a "life of high adventure in service to country and corps", as an extra bonus if he enlisted now he would receive a free tankard of ale. The recruit gladly accepted the challenge and, receiving the free tankard of ale, was told to wait at the corner table for orders. The first Marine sat quietly at the table sipping the ale when another young man, who had two tankards of ale, joined him. The first Marine looked at the lad and asked where he had gotten the two tankards of ale? The lad replied that he had just joined this new outfit called the Continental Marines, and as an enlistment bonus was given two tankards of ale. The first Marine took a long hard look at the second Marine and said, "It wasn't like that in the old Corps." PARTY AT THE COMMANDANT'S QUARTERS…(A TRUE STORY) The Commandant of the Marine Corps was General Al Grey, a crusty old "Field Marine." He loved his Marines and often slipped into the mess hall wearing a faded old field jacket without any rank insignia on it. He would go through the chow line just like a private. (In this way, he was assured of being given the same rations that the lowest enlisted man received. And, woe be it to the mess officer if the food was found |
to be "unfit in quality or quantity.")
Upon becoming commandant, General Grey was expected to do a great deal of "formal entertaining, "fancy dinner parties in full dress blue uniform. Now, the general would rather have been in the field eating cold (C-rats) around a fighting hole with a bunch of young "hard charging" Marines. But, the General knew his duty and as a Marine, he was determined to do it to the best of his ability. During these formal parties a detachment of highly polished Marines from "Eight and Eye" (Marine Barracks located at 8th and I Streets in Washington, D.C.) were detailed to assume the position of "parade rest" at various intervals around the ballroom where the festivities were being held. At some point during one of these affairs, a very refined, big chested, blue haired lady picked up a tray of pastry and went around the room offering confections to the guests. When she noticed these Marines in dress blues, standing like sculptures all around the room, she was moved with admiration. She knew that several of these men were fresh from our victory in Desert Storm. She made a "beeline" for the closest Lance Corporal. As she drew near him she asked, "would you like a pastry young man?" The young Marine snapped to "attention" and replied, "I don't eat that s--t, Ma'am." Just as quickly, he resumed the position of "parade rest." His gaze remained fixed on some distant point throughout the exchange. |
The fancy lady was taken aback! She blinked, her eyes widened, her mouth dropped open. So startled
was she that she immediately began to doubt what she had heard. In a quivering voice she asked, "W-W-What did you say?"
The Marine snapped back to the position "attention" (like the arm of a mousetrap smacking its wooden base as it is tripped). Then he said, "I don't eat that s--t, Ma'am." And, just as smartly as before, back to the position of "parade rest" he went. This time, there was no doubt. The fancy lady immediately became incensed, and felt insulted. After all, here she was an important lady, taking the time to offer something nice to this enlisted man, (well below her station in life). And he had the nerve to say THAT to HER! She exclaimed, "Well! I never…!" The fancy lady remembered that she had met "that military man who was over all these 'soldiers' a little earlier. She spotted General Grey from across the room. He had a cigar clenched between his teeth and a camouflaged canteen cup full of liquor in his left hand. He was talking to a group of 1st and 2nd lieutenant. The blue haired lady went straight over to the commandant and interrupted, "General, I offered some pastry to that young man over there. And, do you know what he told me?" General Grey cocked his eyebrow, took the cigar out of his mouth and said, "Well, no Ma'am. I don't." The lady took in a deep breath, confident that she was expressing with her body language her rage and |
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