The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-09
Leatherneck Legends
By a U. s. Marine

Marine slang is cOlorfui; You can SNOW the waiter in your favorite CHOW HOUSE by ordering JO AND SIDE ARMS, coffee with cream and sugar. And your favor kte cook probably never .ieard of dishing up COLLISION MATS, pam cakes to you. Shop talk to Leath- ernecks is SCuTTLEBUTT. 0TZMO k . word to use when you can't think of Q better one it's 0 Whatsit, 6 yeu-know-whatchama. callit. Overseas caps are GO-TO- HELL CAPS to the soldiers of the sea, and the HOUSEWIFE is his sewing kit. There's nothing to keep up 6 Marines morale like a SUGAR REPORT not Q state- ment on staples, but dispatch from his dolly. Slow thinker is a KNUCKLEHEAD, and with him things are seldom DING HAU, or Q. K. SLOPCHUTE is any place that serves drinks. SEA DUST is salt, tapioca is named FISH EYES, and canned milk is an ARMORED HELPER.
 YOu call them Leathernecks, not because they're tanned and tough, but because they wore leather stock as a collar in the days of John Paul Jones. Favorite Marine ex- pression, Some Joe never gets the word" originated on the Bon Homme Richard when Marine sharpshooters in the rigging marveled at Jones coolness in fighting the Serapis. He refused to surrender when the cause looked hopeless, so the Leathernecks gave the sailors lift by dropping grenades down the open matches of the English man-of-war, putting the clincher on that party. So that sure-shot Marine riflemen in the riggings wouldn't pop off their own officers in sea-fights, the Corps of- ficers devised 8 braided knot to be worn on their hats to identify them from aloft .. wear them still today. Neatness of appearance is 8 car- dinal virtue in this he-man out fit enlisted men have no hip pockets, carry no junk in other pockets. A Marine would just as soon go on liberty without his trous- CTS as without his battle-bar (col- lar pin) and field scarfs (ties) are never worn tucked in shirts.
 Corps officers have a knack of saying as well as doing the right thing at the right time: Captain Lloyd Williams words at Belleau Wood will live as long as the Leath- erneck Corps. When retiring French ordered him to retreat be- fore a Boche Blitz, he answered: Retreat, helll We just got here" Forthwith launched an attack, and helped turn the tide. Colonel James Devereaux's inspiring last message from Wake Island, Send us more Japs," is likely to be as famous in years to come. Richard Harding Davis is credited with originating the phrase, The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand" Germans gave the Marines the name Devil Dogs. Corp. Tom my xoughran, retired undefeated hght-heavy champ, learned some new tricks from Marine hand-to- hand fighting experts while in boot camp. Tyrone Power and Stirling Hayden, movie idols, have mixed publicity while in the corps .. both want action.
 Famous Firsts: First American troops to land in Japan, 1853. with Commodore Perry. Their drill and precision greatly impressed the em- peror Betting is iOO-to-l they'll impress Hirohito more next time they call. First shot of World War was fired by a Leatherneck, in Guam harbor across the bow of a German cutter. First time the flag was raised on the banks of the Rhine was by Capt. Gaines Mosely of tEe Fifth Marines. First Dis- tinguished Service Cross was award ed to Gener"l c. A. Doyen for | forming the Fourth Brigade of un- dying glory. First Commando raid | was staged by Marines led by Lieut.. | Stephen Decatur in North Africa. |