[witnesstothefall]

Hooah


I believe 'huzzah' is the appropriate term. I've always found this a mysterious tradition, and sure enough Webster's lists its etymology as 'unknown'. But's it's a very old tradition in the army, a way for the ranks to pump up the officers (and themselves). Surely there are Freepers more knowledgeable than I on the subject.....

[Gamecock]

Concerning "Hooah!"
Hooah (who-ah), adj. U.S. Army Slang. Referring to, or meaning anything and everything except "no." Generally used when at a loss for words. Also:

-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.
-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.
-amen.

A few years ago, the Army sent me to graduate school. In one of my first classes I let a big Hooah out of my mouth. The whole class came to a stop. Without a beat, the professor, a former soldier answered with a Hooah and kept lecturing.

And now an article by Article by SGT Audrey Brunson - Soldier's Magazine; Jan 95

You can hear it echoing from the hallowed halls of Fort Benning, Ga.’s Infantry Center to the ranges of Fort Lewis, Wash. It is uttered at award ceremonies, bellowed from formations, and repeated before, during and after training missions. Visit just about any Army office building, sports field, dining facility, gymnasium or academy and you will probably hear someone exclaim "HOOAH!"

No matter how one might spell the word - with or without a hyphen, a U instead of two Os or so on - the word is still an expression of high morale, strength and confidence. And, when powered by an overwhelmingly proud, and usually loud, tone of voice, hooah seems to stomp out any possibility of being bound by the written word.

"It’s an affirmation that I fully agree with and support the idea or intent expressed by the person to whom I make that response," said Maj. Gen. F. A. Gorden, Military District of Washington commander. "I t applies not only to the letter of what was said, but to the spirit of what was said."

Former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan has his interpretation. "I don’t know how exactly to spell it, but I know what it means," Sullivan said. "It means we have broken the mold. We are battle focused. Hooah says ‘Look at me. I’m a warrior. I’m ready. Sergeants trained me to standard. I serve America every day, all the way.’ "

The modern hooah, primarily associated with but not restricted to the infantry, originated with the Second Dragoons in Florida as "hough" in 1841. In an attempt to end the war with the Seminoles, a meeting was arranged with the Indian Chief Coacoochee. After the meeting, there was a banquet. Officers of the garrison made a variety of toasts, including "here’s to luck!" and "the old grudge" before drinking. Coacoochee asked Gopher John, an interpreter, the meaning of what they said. Gopher John responded, "It means, How d’ye do," whereupon the Chief, with great dignity, lifted his cup above his head and exclaimed in a deep, guttural and triumphant voice, "HOUGH!"

And so the expression was born. It has since achieved high popularity – having lasted for more than 150 years, through the American Civil War, two world wars, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam war, Operation Just Cause in Grenada and the Persian Gulf war.

And the expression continually grows in popularity. Once heard mainly from infantry soldiers, hooah has spread throughout the rest of the Army. Soldiers will continue to acknowledge a mission to be accomplished, a job well done, victory at a sporting event or any occasion imaginable with "HOOAH!"

[Dedbone]

Ou-Ah sounds uncommonly like the Vietnamese word for yes, as in:
Are you a maggot faced mama's boy recruit?
Ou-ah drill sergeant.

[Eagle Eye]

"Hooah" has come to be nothing more than a puntuation mark or and acknowledgement of what was said.

At one time it was a much more excitied uulation with meaning, but now it is as common and as a REMF.