Marine uses music as motivation, pastime
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 ...
Marines with an Olde Weapon of War - the Pipes!
I LOVE BAGPIPES! Must be the celtic blood in me.
Weapon of war? I see the Brits utilized bagpipes in WW2. Why? Do you happen to know what is behind this?
Fire them up and drive the enemy nuts.
Hey Sarge ~ maybe you'll bump into this guy sometime!! :o)
Ever hear them played? They'll make the hair stand up on your head if played right and fire you up.
They stir something in the blood. Pride, hauteur, the will to close with the enemy.
I just wished they would get them in tune.
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.
Must have a touch myself.
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.
Personally used little Metallica that drive terrorist nuts remember Manual Norgia
Thanks for the ping!
Lance Armstrong uses Led Zeppelin to psych him up.
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.
BTT!!!!!!!
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.
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.