Can someone tell me how to “gird my loin”?
I will, but first you need to batten down the hatches.
It refers to a preparation of your clothing for running, when wearing a long wrap around garment. Grab the bottom rear and pull it up around your loins. Then tuck it through your waistband, your girdle, so that it is all above your knees like a big diaper. “Gird up your loins” then means to prepare for exertion.
Going back to earlier times, “slave driver.”
1) “Hey, cut me a Hus.”
The HUS, a Sikorsky CH-34 piston driven helicopter was a reliable and frequently available 16 passenger helicopter used by Marines in early Vietnam. When somebody was seeking to lighten their infantry or logistics burden in humping to a remote location or uphill, they would appeal to the aviation controllers to “Cut me a HUS”, when unscheduled and they were available for the asking.
Now part of Marine parlance, it is synonymous with “Give me a break”.
2) “Nothin but Maggie’s Drawers”
During Rifle Markmanship training, a shooter would aim at a target downrange, with other Marines below the target behind the berm, and they would pull down the target, mark the bullet hole with a large 6” spot, hoist back up the target, so the shooter could identify how he scored on his shot. The Marines marking the target would then raise a large stick with a White or Black disc, holding it over the target or to the side indicating the score of the shot, 1-5. 5 being the bulls-eye.
When the bullet missed the cheesecloth entirely, there was no where to place the spotter, and the markers would wave the White side of the disc across the target, communicating a complete miss or score of “0” for that round shot. Since the movement of the placard caught everybody’s attention in their peripheral vision, it was nicknamed waving “Maggie’s Drawers”. Synonymous with a complete failure or miss of the target.
Standin’ Mail Buoy Watch.
Go polish the Golden Rivet.
Go fetch me some Chow Line.