"Hoo-yah!"...where did the term come from? When did you first use it in the military?

The Warrior Elite: The forging of Seal Class 228 | Dick Couch

[ken5050]

I just finish reading "The Warrior Elite: The Forging of Seal Class 228" by Dick Couch, Capt, USN (Ret) and a former Seal. It's a superb book, a great read, and I commend it to any of you with an interest in the military and/or special forces. On one page there is a brief discussion, during a "beer blast" after the class completes Hell Week, of the source of the term "Hoo-yah!". Several theories are suggested, with no strong advocates, and some credence is given that it was a purposeful transposition of the term "Yahoo"..which was commonly used in the 50-60's....

[ken5050]

So, I was wondering if any here had any ideas, or insight, as to the derivation, and if they remembered when they were first exposed to it in their own military service. Its use, as we know, has spread across the various branches of the military, and there is even some doubt as to which service first adopted it. It's now ubiquitous in civilian life as well, even on the homepage of "FR."

When I was enjoying the "pleasures" of Quantico in the mid 60's, during PLC the term was used often, but wasn't the institutional response it is today....

Please flag any others who might be iterested...

[Maceman]

I always thought it was from that movie with Al Pacino, where he plays the blind guy.

[da_toolman]

Hoo Yah Daddy...

[oyez]

"Hoo-yah!".

I don't recall that in my heyday (^67-^72 USN)

[phasma proeliator]

PING

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Since at least the early 80's, Marines have bellowed ooh-rah.

[phasma proeliator]

Richard Marcinko...

you here?

[tracer]

You had to ask.......

[Demosthenes]

In Joliet, we used to say "Boo-Yah..." ain't never heard of no "hoo-yah..."

[SkyPilot]

It's stupid.

[Illbay]

Wasn't that "Hoo-ah"?

And wasn't Pacino's character in Scent of a Woman a retired Army general?

[D-fendr]

A closely related cry, impossible to represent in letters, is used by Texas A&M cadets. It's called a "hoo-wah" but that's not exactly how it sounds. I don't know when it originated there, but at least before the 60s, possibly much earlier.

A&M used to be only for military, ROTC, students, was much like West Point or Citadel, and graduated a great many Army officers.

The hoo-wah was a junior (serge-butt) privledge, forbidden for freshman (fish) and sophomores (p!ssheads). At the moment that sophomores officially became juniors, you would hear thousands of hoo-wahs sounding like some jungle cacaphony.

[Billthedrill]

I first learned it being run around NRTC in 1970 in San Diego by a very large Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant. I was a skinny seaman recruit. He thought shouting "hoo-yah" (only it was more like "oo-rah") was a good idea. Correspondingly, I thought it was a VERY good idea...

[ken5050]

It seems to have come from the UDT/Seal teams back in the 60's, according to the book. I have no idea as to when the Corps adopted it......I didn't really recall it being used much.....course, I was always sucking for air in those days.....(G)

[MudPuppy]

Hooah (who-ah), adj., U.S. Military Slang. Referring to or meaning anything and everything except "no."
A masculine guttural sound often used when at a loss for words. More specifically relates to: good copy,
solid copy, roger, good or great; message received; understood; glad to meet you; welcome;
I do not know, but will check on it; I haven't the vaguest idea; I am not listening; that is enough of your drivel;
sit down; stop sniveling; you've got to be kidding; yes; yes sir; affirmative; sure; ok; you got it; thank you;
go to the next [briefing] slide; you have taken the correct action; I don't know what that means,
but am too embarrassed to ask for clarification; that is really neat, I want one too; and amen.

[DrNo]

How many years did you do in Joliet? What was your crime?

;^)

[MudPuppy]

Mr Marcinko is a friend of a friend.
I've met him :) Have almost all his books, too.

OOH-RAH!

[harpseal]

Okay according to the story as it existed in 1967 the first use of the term HooYah was at a volley ball game in 1954 I can not remeber the class number that supposedly used it. By 1967 it was part of the drill in BUDS. I did not hear other groups using the term the way frogs did until much later. Even then Hoorah is used much more frequently by the USMC than Hooyah the two terms are different and can often be confused by those whose ears are not attuned.

Stay well - Stay safe- Stay armed - Yorktown

[phasma proeliator]

I should have given him the respect of "Mr." as well. He deserves much more than that.

[Cold Heat]

You beat me to it!