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

Skip to comments.

Marine uses music as motivation, pastime (USMC & BAGPIPES)
Marine Corps News ^ | July 5, 2005 | Lance Cpl. Joshua C. Cox

Posted on 07/05/2005 5:03:42 PM PDT by SandRat

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (July 5, 2005) -- As the sun begins to set around camp here, the musical tones of bagpipes can be heard and service members gather to enjoy traditional songs.

Lt. Col. Patrick J. Carroll, foreign area officer, G-5, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (Forward), has been mastering the art of the legendary bagpipes.

“I actually play highland bagpipes,” said the Shrewsbury, Mass., native. “I started playing them about 10 years ago.”

The Irish descendent takes his pipes wherever he treks, even on deployments.

“That’s the mark of a piper, you’ve always got to take your pipes with you,” he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at usmc.mil ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; US: Massachusetts; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bagpipes; iraq; marine; music; oif; pipers; usmc
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-60 next last
Photos and the rest of the story at source.
1 posted on 07/05/2005 5:03:43 PM PDT by SandRat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Kathy in Alaska; Fawnn; HiJinx; Radix; Spotsy; Diva Betsy Ross; ...

Marines with an Olde Weapon of War - the Pipes!


2 posted on 07/05/2005 5:04:44 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

I LOVE BAGPIPES! Must be the celtic blood in me.


3 posted on 07/05/2005 5:11:33 PM PDT by Fudd Fan (fiat voluntas Tua)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

Weapon of war? I see the Brits utilized bagpipes in WW2. Why? Do you happen to know what is behind this?


4 posted on 07/05/2005 5:13:42 PM PDT by sasportas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

Fire them up and drive the enemy nuts.


5 posted on 07/05/2005 5:14:14 PM PDT by handy old one (It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims. Aristotle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SandRat; Old Sarge

Hey Sarge ~ maybe you'll bump into this guy sometime!! :o)


6 posted on 07/05/2005 5:43:01 PM PDT by StarCMC (Old Sarge is my hero...doing it right in Iraq! Vaya con Dios, Sarge.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sasportas

Ever hear them played? They'll make the hair stand up on your head if played right and fire you up.


7 posted on 07/05/2005 6:21:19 PM PDT by crz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: crz

They stir something in the blood. Pride, hauteur, the will to close with the enemy.


8 posted on 07/05/2005 6:23:09 PM PDT by squarebarb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

I just wished they would get them in tune.


9 posted on 07/05/2005 7:06:56 PM PDT by squirt (POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED, FOR THE SAME REASON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ducks1944; Ragtime Cowgirl; Alamo-Girl; TrueBeliever9; anniegetyourgun; maestro; TEXOKIE; ...

Marine uses music as motivation, pastime
10 posted on 07/05/2005 7:22:07 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sasportas

Excerpt:

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, bagpipes were common all over Europe. During the latter days of knights in shining armor on into the eighteenth century, the clan chiefs in Scotland, with their great kilts and huge claymore swords, carried the responsibility of supporting a piper for local festivities and for playing for the chief's own enjoyment. Three types of music evolved: piobaireachd, the great music of the highland bagpipe; and the music we call "light music," which was played for dances - jigs, reels, and strathspeys. Many of the clans adopted tunes of both types as their own. Warring clans would be led into battle inspired by the pipers playing their battle tune.

The Scots fought long against domination by the English. The noise of the pipes together with the fierce war cries of the kilted "savages" of the north would strike fear into the hearts of the English soldiers. The Scots were finally disastrously defeated at the famous battle of Culloden in 1745. The English, determined to rid themselves of a thorn in their side forever, passed laws prohibiting playing of the bagpipe and wearing of the kilt on pain of death. It was not until the 1800s that the ban was lifted. Much of the musical piping tradition was lost because the tunes were not written down, but three vessels carried some music through those many times. First was the oral tradition - piping tunes were sung without words as "mouth music," as style of singing still preserved by a few in Scotland today. Second, many piobaireachd were preserved with a special language called cantaireachd, which represented the notes and gracenotes using syllables which could be written by anyone who knew the alphabet; and finally, there were a very few people who preserved the skill of playing the pipe despite serious threat to their lives.


11 posted on 07/05/2005 7:26:48 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Fudd Fan

Must have a touch myself.


12 posted on 07/05/2005 7:44:58 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (Democrats haven't had a new idea since Karl Marx.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: sasportas

Well, the Brits used them in Gulf War 1 also; the Black Watch had their pipers and drummers in Iraq during this present conflict, caught them at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (on CD).

There's a number of US Troops (individuals) who play the pipes and they are over there as well. The Marines were trying to develop a piping/drumming program until the core members were deployed (see marinepipers.com). There's some sailors playing the pipes who have piped their respective ships into port, sort of an "official/unofficial" thing, shows good high-morale leadership.


13 posted on 07/05/2005 7:50:36 PM PDT by brushcop (We lift up Pvt. Johnny Chrzenowski in prayer, recovering from burns received in an ambush, Iraq.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SandRat; All

Personally used little Metallica that drive terrorist nuts remember Manual Norgia


14 posted on 07/05/2005 7:55:31 PM PDT by SevenofNine (Not everybody in, it for truth, justice, and the American way,"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Calpernia

Thanks for the ping!


15 posted on 07/05/2005 8:06:44 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

Lance Armstrong uses Led Zeppelin to psych him up.


16 posted on 07/05/2005 8:07:38 PM PDT by Poser (Joining Belly Girl in the Pajamahadeen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sasportas

psyops - Kind of "here we come you SOBs, prepare to get your arse handed to you" sort of thing.

I think leaflet drops before dropping a daisy cutter is a tad more effective these days. It is certainly much louder.


17 posted on 07/05/2005 8:16:26 PM PDT by ASOC (Insert clever tagline here: _______)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Fudd Fan
I LOVE BAGPIPES! Must be the celtic blood in me.

Anybody else remember the now defunct drum and bugel corp - The 27th Lancers from the Boston area - part of the Drum Corp International group? They were my favorite. Danny Boy and Shannondough (spelling?) would bring tears from the audience.
18 posted on 07/05/2005 8:22:04 PM PDT by tang-soo (Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks - Read Daniel Chapter 9)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

BTT!!!!!!!


19 posted on 07/06/2005 3:40:44 AM PDT by E.G.C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SandRat; Pure Country; I Luv Bush; Asphalt; Cogadh na Sith; Tax-chick; Monkey Face; sionnsar
Missed this one. Sorry!


Pipes and Drums of FreeRepublic ping!

This is an ultra-low-volume ping list (typically weeks to months between pings).
FReepmail me if you want on or off this list.

20 posted on 08/02/2005 3:47:31 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || Trad-Ang Ping: I read the dreck so you don't have to || Iran Azadi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-60 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

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