Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Ramius
I was a Coastie when the no-beards rule came down.

Some of us sent our beards in envelopes to the Commandant. But we shaved 'em.

You have my gratitude. Guard duty is harsh and boring, but absolutely imperitive.

I did a few years in the USMC, cold war.

The only Marine officer I ever saw with a beard was an black American who obviously had a shaving chit because of 'pseudofolicularitis' (shaving bumps). He was giving some private a good toasting for not being alert on duty, and well deserved. The private in this question was on guard around our armory. He failed to salute the Lt. This indicates that the private was asleep on his feet or was stupid.

Anyway, you have to shave to use a gas-mask or OBA. This is very unfair to those who suffer from pseudofolicularitis. War is also unfair and does not care about anyone's 'rights'.

In the middle '80s I was stationed with a black Marine who paid out of his own pocket to have his facial hair removed by electrolysis. He couldn't shave, and he didn't want to leave the Corps. (No, the Corps wouldn't pay for that back then.)

17 posted on 02/27/2004 5:51:21 PM PST by LibKill (Ketchup-Boy is more French than the French!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies ]


To: LibKill
Thanks, and you have my gratitude.

The ship I was on worked with the Marines from time to time. There was a recon platoon that we carried somewhere on an exercise... and they weren't like anything I'd ever seen before. Hard core. :-) I remember being grateful that they were on *our* side.

20 posted on 02/27/2004 6:01:17 PM PST by Ramius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson