HOUSTON – Yesterday was the Marine Corps Birthday. 241 years ago some guys got together in a tavern in Philly and the next thing you knew, we had a Corps. Slop Chutes, POGEY BAIT, Gee Dunks, Fart sacks, and Kentucky windage. (The last 2 things are not related).
I have been discharged for 47 years but still fear a quick inspection or a failure to put my thumbs along the seams of my trousers. I wear trousers. Sailors wear pants.
I WAS TRAVELING yesterday and as luck would have it I went through a couple of airports. It was like the good ole daze. Get in a line, put your stuff in a bucket, and don't talk. All that was missing was someone yelling at me.
Today is Veterans Day.
In grade school we called it Armistice Day. A friend was asked if he knew why we got out of school and he said "Yes, it's Armistice's Birthday". He later joined the Navy. My dad and grandfather were sailors. My dad was on a sub in the Pacific IN WWII. Can you imagine how brutal that was? My grandfather was stoking coal in the boiler room of the U.S.S. Oregon in the battle of Santiago de Cuba in 1898. He weighed 115 pounds and later served on the coaltender U.S.S.Vermont. History told me the Vermont's crew was on that vessel for complaining about a lack of beer on the OREGON.
Here's a tip of the cap (cover) to all you VETS. Keep your powder dry.