Thank you for the HUA explanation.
Now, what about Ooh-rah?
“The 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company, FMFPAC can be credited with the introduction of “Ooh-rah!” into the Marine Corps in 1953, shortly after the Korean War.[citation needed] Recon Marines served aboard the USS Perch (ASSP-313), a WWII–era diesel submarine retrofitted to carry Navy Underwater Demolition Teams and Recon Marines. Whenever the boat was to dive, the 1MC (PA system) would announce “DIVE! DIVE!”, followed by the sound of the diving klaxon: “AHUGA!” In 1953 or 1954, while on a conditioning run, former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John R. Massaro, while serving as company Gunnery Sergeant of 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, simulated the “Dive” horn sound “AHUGA!” as part of the cadence. Legend has it, he took it with him when he went to serve as an instructor at the Drill Instructor school at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. He there passed it on to the Drill Instructor students and they, in turn, passed it on to their recruits where it eventually and naturally became a part of the Recon cadence, and thereafter infiltrated Recon Marine lexicon.[4] Over time, “AHUGA!” morphed into the shorter, simpler “Ooh Rah!” Today, the official Marine Corps Training Reference Manual on the history of Marine Recon is titled “AHUGA!””
Cain't tell ya. Maybe they just couldn't get it right.
“Aarugha” was used when I was in. My understanding is, oorah became short for “Aarugha”.
dissertation here