Solo Marines Often Refused Entry to Some D.C. Bars

dcist.com ^ | August 6, 2007 | Sommer Mathis

[SkiHatGuy]

I also lived in DC and Wilmington (45 minutes from Camp LeJeune) and have seen this happen in both places. I understand the reasons why, but it just doesn’t sit right in my gut...

[WBL 1952]

Out of curiosity I called the bar to ask them what was going on with their Marine policy.

They hung up on me.

[Ranger Warrior]

When I was in the USAF, establishments that discriminated against active duty personnel were declared “off limits.” Sounds like the USMC should put such a policy in place unless it already exists. Even so, if I knew of any military personnel being restricted from entering such a place, I would take my business elsewhere!

[naturalman1975]

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

[CatoRenasci]

Should my fiancee invest in a wig to hide the crew cut so he can have a beer three blocks from the capital?

During the Vietnam War a whole lot of young soldiers owned wigs so that they wouldn't be taken for soldiers when they were on furlough or a pass. Usually junior enlisted, but I even knew some junior officers who wore wigs off post.

[untrained skeptic]

It doesn't sound like the best way of dealing with the apparent problem, but I think it within their rights. I also don't think it would be unreasonable for Marines to not patronize that establishment because of that policy.

I suspect that it is dive bars that have more such problems than nicer establishments, so it isn't surprising that it is a dive that has this policy.

It might be a good idea for these establishments to contact the Marine base for advice on how to discourage such problems in the future. I suspect that the Marines will police their own well enough if made aware of the problem.

[ladyjane]

The best event in D.C., hands down, is the Friday evening parade held at the Marine Barracks at 8th and I. I’ve gone to it a couple of times and have taken friends there.

[patton]

Yes - it is a congressional hang out.

[sam_paine]

Gee, I mean, I can see how a native Belizean might have strong feelings one way or another about the RAF, what with the British Honduras things and all.

[lowbridge]

Yes - it is also private property. Drunk Marines without dates = fights and a trashing of your bar.

Marines dont start fights. They end them.

[CholeraJoe]

There is a fairly large RAF garrison in Belize City. They engage in border security and AA defense of the former colony’s capital. Apparently, this bar in San Pedro didn’t like vacationing RAF.

[untrained skeptic]

Well, it is debatable how much the really discriminate against them.

They allow them in if they are in uniform.

They allow them in if they are accompanied by a date.

However, in what may be an overreaction to past problems, they don't allow in solo Marines who are out of uniform.

It sounds like they are making an attempt to tailor the policy towards those who have cause not only trouble, but expensive damages.

I was under the impression that the Marines deal pretty harshly with their members who cause such trouble, so it seems strange that the bars couldn't deal with this by simply contacting the base.

However, this doesn't appear to be discrimination against Marines in general as an attempt to filter out the troublemakers among the Marines.

[sam_paine]

From what I’ve heard in Belize, the brits probably had a hand in keeping the Quetzali folks on the other side of the border in the 90s.

Still, barkeeps are probably extra gunshy about (1) ferners in their bar and (2) young military guys and (3) testosterone levels in hot and humid bars (4) and easily upset and bored underemployed and/or high local patrons.

Wrap all that up, and I figure I’d get a little edgy, maybe, too?

[RC2]

Could be true.....unless they were Ex-Navy Seals. Then they wouldn’t give a dam.

[skinkinthegrass]

Yes - it is a congressional hang out

Well, Now I understand. How embrassing, If a 'Rat CongressCritter were to try and "pick-up" any Male Congressional Page(s) there. *snicker*
Bwarney Fwrank, Would be so...so insulted/upset. :D

[dangerdoc]

I wasn’t a marine but served with them for four years.

An old gunny told me, when Marines go out drinking they will either fight or f***. The owner apparently prefers the latter.

[PsyOp]

They should change the name of the bar from “Hawks N’ Doves” to “Dove Only”. They obviously do not like real hawks.

[mithglin]

What really butters my biscut is that this attitude just reeks of sexism. I’m female and if some bar owner told me that I couldn’t enter his establishment because I was unescorted it would be the flippin last time he would see my face.

As far as the “private property” arguement goes, then I guess all of the bar owners and restraunts can just ignore that no smoking law, and of course they could have firearms in their place of business right? There are many laws that limit what a business owner can dictate about his property.

This is just another disrespecful attitude toward our military as far as I’m concerned.

mithglin

[Jacquerie]

Thirty-three years ago I was denied entry to the Middleton Tavern in Annapolis MD.

I haven’t been there since and have encouraged others not to visit either.

[leda]

this reminds me a bit of my college days in norfolk.
patton’s airborne buddies came up to visit a few times.
they were never denied access to the college bars then,
but they did get quite a few “looks” from the regulars
there. i guess it was the “regulars” way of saying keep
things civil and there won’t be any trouble here.

guys from the naval base didn’t spend much time, if any
at all, at the college bars.